Question: The BibleProject video on Job says, “God is holding court with His staff team,” and “among the heavenly beings is a figure called ‘the satan.’” I thought God allowed the devil to cause all those horrible things to happen to Job. Is “the satan” in Job actually not the devil?
The BibleProject’s description of “God holding court with His staff team” does raise questions about who “the satan” is.
First, some key background. Scripture indicates that God holds “court” or meetings with angelic beings as part of how He governs the world (e.g., Zech. 1:8-11). It does appear that fallen angels, including the chief fallen angel whom we call Satan, are sometimes permitted in that court (e.g., Zech. 3:1-2; 1 Kings 22:19-23; Rev. 12:10). Scripture doesn’t fully explain how he gains access, what restrictions he faces while there, or why God permits his presence.
Second, in Hebrew, the word “satan” means “opponent, adversary, accuser” (e.g., see Num. 22:22). In Job, it always occurs with the definite article—“the satan.” This probably means that in Job “the satan” isn’t being used as a personal name (like John or James) but as a title (like the Lord or the Most High). This detail has led some scholars to question whether “the satan” in Job is the same being as Satan, the devil, in the New Testament (Rev. 12:9; 20:2).
Some point to ancient Near Eastern data that suggests divine councils included figures who played adversarial roles without being inherently evil. Others find it theologically inconsistent with God’s goodness for Him to give an evil being access to righteous Job. Others note that there is no explicit rebellion on the part of “the satan” in Job, nor does the narrative portray “the satan” as directly tempting Job.
A water-tight case isn’t possible for either the traditional view (Satan seeks to destroy Job) or the non-traditional view (an unfallen angel is assigned the role of adversary to test humans). However, here is what inclines me to favor the traditional view.
First, God had protected Job and all that he had with a hedge from “the satan” (Job 1:10). This suggests that “the satan” is someone from whom the righteous need protection.
Second, “the satan” predicts that Job will “curse” God to His face, if God lifts His protection of Job (1:11; 2:5). Then “the satan” acts to create circumstances that will produce such a reaction. This suggests that “the satan” wants Job to curse God, which is an evil desire reflecting an evil character.
Third, “the satan” had heard God’s perfect, omniscient assessment of Job: “there is no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:8; 2:3). The fact that “the satan” expresses a contrary opinion of Job and seeks opportunity to prove that contrary opinion suggests to me a being who does not believe God (Job 2:4-5). Such unbelief seems incompatible with an unfallen angel’s character. It also seems incompatible with God’s character to assign an unfallen angel to oppose His will.
Fourth, everything that “the satan” causes to happen to Job is calamitous and, as God Himself notes, “without cause” (Job 2:3). Nowhere else in Scripture does God commission or permit an unfallen angel to bring causeless calamity upon a righteous person.
Fifth, the traditional understanding is also reflected by almost all major English translations, and thus a great number of OT scholars. The book of Job uses the phrase “the satan” probably because the fallen angel was first labeled by his actions (the accuser / the opposer) and only later did that label become a “name.” This is similar to how names like Baker, Butcher, and Smith developed in English.
Job reveals Satan as a limited being who can act only with God’s permission. His accusations are ultimately proved false. God is vindicated. And, paradoxically, his attacks demonstrate the genuineness of Job’s faith and lead to greater blessing. While BibleProject’s video doesn’t explicitly identify “the satan,” viewing him as Satan aligns best with both the details of Job and the broader biblical narrative.
Adapted from the God’s Revivalist. Used by permission.
