Greek Origin: διάβολος (diábolos)
- διάβολος (diábolos): slanderer, accuser, one who divides
- διαβάλλω (diabállō): root verb — “to throw across, accuse falsely”
- This term existed in Greek culture long before ancient West‑Semitic scrolls tied to Yhwh’s Word were translated — it simply meant someone who accused or divided others, not a spiritual being.
The Septuagint’s First Shift (Greek Translation, 250 BC)
In the Greek Septuagint (LXX) — a Greek translation project begun around 250 BC — translators replaced the ancient West‑Semitic term śṭn (satan) with the Greek word διάβολος.
- śṭn (satan): adversary, opposer, challenger — a task or role under Yhwh’s authority
- It is a function, not a personal name — sometimes applied to people, never an eternal spirit‑being.
By inserting diábolos, the Greek translators planted the seed of dualism — turning a Hebrew testing role into an independent adversary.
The Roman Catholic Reinforcement (4th Century AD)
- Rome adopted the Greek term and institutionalized it in Latin as diabolus.
- Church councils and theologians later turned “the devil” into a singular cosmic enemy of Yhwh.
- This merged Greek dualism with Roman power, creating the myth of an eternal evil being.
- From that point, all Western translations inherited this false image.
📜 Ancient Truth from Yhwh’s Word
- In the earliest West‑Semitic usage within Yhwh’s Word, satan is always a role — one who resists or tests.
- Yhwh Himself can “satan” (oppose) someone when disciplining or testing them (see Numbers 22:22).
- There is no rival god or devil in any of the five ancient scroll lines.
- The Roman idea of “Satan vs Yhwh” never existed in the ancient line of Yhwh.
📌 Summary
- “Devil” = Greek diábolos, later Latin diabolus.
- The mistranslation began in Greece — but Rome made it law.
- In Yhwh’s Word, śṭn (satan) describes a temporary adversary or tester, not a rival power.
- This Roman-Greek invention reshaped theology, hiding Yhwh’s absolute oneness.