Is Satan Real or Just a Misunderstanding of “Satan” in the Original Bible?
Let me reveal something that will change the way you think about good, evil, and God. The idea of Satan as an independent, evil entity opposing God is a misunderstanding—a distortion of the Hebrew term שטן (Satan) in the Original Bible.
In Hebrew, שטן (Satan) simply means "obstacle" or "adversary." It’s not a proper name, and it’s definitely not a supernatural being fighting against God. It refers to something—or someone—that challenges or opposes. For example, in Numbers 22:22, an angel of YHWA is described as a שטן to Balaam:
Hebrew:
"ויחר אף אלהים כי הולך הוא ויתיצב מלאך יהוה בדרך לשטן לו."
English:
"God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of YHWA stood in the way as an adversary against him."
Here, even an angel of God is a שטן—an obstacle, not an enemy.
If God is truly almighty, then no being can exist outside of His will. Think about it. Would a God who is all-powerful allow an independent, evil entity to undermine Him? No. That would make God less than almighty. Instead, the שטן is a tool—a challenge permitted by God to test, refine, or teach.
Look at Job: The שטן in Job 1:6 is not a rebellious angel but a servant of God, fulfilling a purpose to test Job’s faith. The שטן acts only with God’s explicit permission:
"ויאמר יהוה אל השטן הנה כל אשר לו בידך רק אליו אל תשלח ידך."
"And YHWA said to the Satan, `Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on him.`"
Revelation, the book that fuels much of the Christian idea of Satan. It’s important to understand that Revelation is not Yeshua’s teaching. It was written by a man named John—his vision, his interpretation, and his opinion. It’s poetic and symbolic, not a continuation of Yeshua’s words.
Yeshua never taught about a cosmic war between God and Satan. His focus was on love, repentance, and the Kingdom of God. He called people to confront the obstacles—the שטן—within themselves: pride, greed, and fear.
Remember this: The Original Bible doesn’t support it. שטן means "obstacle" or "adversary," often something God uses for a greater purpose. God is almighty, and there is no rival to His power