The Devil, Satan, and Lucifer. One in the same or Not?

[Skwim]

In the Bible there are there three supernatural "badies."

The Devil, Satan, and Lucifer.

Luke 4:2 (KJV)
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Job 2:7 (KJV)
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV)
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
​

As I ask in my title, what difference, if any, is there between the three? If there isn't any difference then why bothering to use three different names?

 

[InChrist]

Satan is the name of the devil. Lucifer is the name of the angel he once was.

 

[lukethethird]

It's the unHoly Trinity.

 

[Cooky]

In the Bible there are there three supernatural "badies."

The Devil, Satan, and Lucifer.

Luke 4:2 (KJV)
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Job 2:7 (KJV)
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV)
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
​

As I ask in my title, what difference, if any, is there between the three? If there isn't any difference then why bothering to use three different names?

What about Beelzebub?

Bible Gateway passage: 2 Kings 1:2-3, 2 Kings 1:6, 2 Kings 1:16 - New International Version

 

[Hockeycowboy]

In the Bible there are there three supernatural "badies."

The Devil, Satan, and Lucifer.

Luke 4:2 (KJV)
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Job 2:7 (KJV)
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV)
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
​

As I ask in my title, what difference, if any, is there between the three? If there isn't any difference then why bothering to use three different names?

Names in the Hebrew Scriptures, sometimes, relate to the respective person’s personality. For example, Nabal (who was Abigail’s husband), his name in Hebrew means “senseless one.” It’s hard to imagine any parents naming their children that! He had another name given him, but we’re not told what it was. However, that’s what he became, what he became known as, as we read the interaction between him and David. David almost killed him, because of his attitude!

The same with Devil and Satan. The Hebrew word for Satan means “Opposer/Resister”; Devil means “Slanderer”.

Lucifer means “shining one.” Isaiah 14:12 .

 

[Skwim]

Names in the Hebrew Scriptures, sometimes, relate to the respective person’s personality. For example, Nabal (who was Abigail’s husband), his name in Hebrew means “senseless one.” It’s hard to imagine any parents naming their children that! He had another name given him, but we’re not told what it was. However, that’s what he became, what he became known as, as we read the interaction between him and David. David almost killed him, because of his attitude!

The same with Devil and Satan. The Hebrew word for Satan means “Opposer/Resister”; Devil means “Slanderer”.

Lucifer means “shining one.”

I knew that "Lucifer" meant "the shining one," and I'm not surprised that the other two names have specific meanings themselves, but are they separate beings or not?

.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

I knew that "Lucifer" meant "the shining one," and I'm not surprised that the other two names have specific meanings themselves, but are they separate beings or not?

.

Well, remember the account where Jesus was tempted in the Wilderness? Luke 4 and Matthew 4.

It keeps saying, “the Devil” did this...did that. But after the last test, Jesus said, “Go away, Satan!...”

So they’re the same.

However, Isaiah 14 (where Lucifer is mentioned — not in all Bibles, though) was actually talking about Babylon (King Nebuchadnezzar’s empire); it “brought nations low”, as vs.12 says.

 

[Skwim]

.

Well, remember the account where Jesus was tempted in the Wilderness? Luke 4 and Matthew 4.

It keeps saying, “the Devil” did this...did that. But after the last test, Jesus said, “Go away, Satan!...”

So they’re the same.

However, Isaiah 14 (where Lucifer is mentioned — not in all Bibles, though) was actually talking about Babylon (King Nebuchadnezzar’s empire); it “brought nations low”, as vs.12 says.

Okay, looking through a few Bible verses I see that there's a "the Devil," (proper singular designation)

Matthew 4:8
Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness.


​

and there are "devils," plural.

Matthew 8:16
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

​

I guess the Bible isn't sure what the word "devil" refers to.

.

 

[Skwim]

What about Beelzebub?

As I recall, he's the chief of all the devils.

.

 

[Skwim]

Satan is the name of the devil. Lucifer is the name of the angel he once was.

So at one time there was an angel named Lucifer who what, fell from grace, and changed from an angel into a devil named Satan? Hmmm. So where does this tale come from?

.

 

[Jumi]

In the Bible there are there three supernatural "badies."

If you believe some modern interpretations that make it to the bible, yes.

Job 2:7 (KJV)

7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Back then the writers and readers didn't believe it was a "badie".

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV)

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

People do love to spread bad translations. How did a Roman name/god end up in a Hebrew Book anyway? Well it didn't, but the translators thought it did. See what else was translated with that word.
​

As I ask in my title, what difference, if any, is there between the three? If there isn't any difference then why bothering to use three different names?

A beloved child has many names. You instantly know that someone hasn't looked closely into the Bible and it's writing if they speak of Lucifer.

 

[Jumi]

So at one time there was an angel named Lucifer who what, fell from grace, and changed from an angel into a devil named Satan? Hmmm. So where does this tale come from?.

It's actually a poetic description of king Nebuchadnasser the second.

 

[EtuMalku]

Isaiah 14:12
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!"

Revelation 22:16
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

I suppose Jesus is referring to himself as Lucifer?

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Well, first the KJV is perhaps the worst possible translation to use in determining this. They are, however, completely different beings in their native beliefs.

The Devil is a mish-mash sham of various beings, names, and archetypes. A vague, ever-shifting boogyman meant to instill obedience through fear for the Church.
Satan (properly Ha-Satan) is a high-ranking angel in the Hebrew faith who has never fallen from grace or challenged the Throne.
Lucifer is the Roman deity personifying the dawn.

 

[wellwisher]

Lucifer, Satan and the Devil is an evolving paradigm. Lucifer was the morning star. The morning star symbolizes a place in time where night becomes day, or where unconsciousness interfaces the dawning of consciousness.

Lucifer is analogous to randomizing principle, that is added to the perfection of creation. This type of randomness is not necessarily bad, since it can lead to new things and more creation. In that sense, Lucifer was a creative spirit that unconsciously tweaked natural human instinct; night, to help create self awareness; consciousness or the dawn of a new day. The invention of fire is not natural instinct, but nevertheless was very useful for further human development.

Satan is connected to the next phase of change in the human psyche; self awareness. Satan is not thrown from heaven until Revelations. Satan is in heaven as a councilor to God and is in control of the earth and humans, from Adam and Eve, until after Jesus. Satan is connected to law and/or knowledge of good and evil. Law creates an internal polarization in the human psyche, from which randomizing impulses can appear; prohibition can create temptation. Sin taking opportunity through the commandment produces sin of every kind.

The Devil appears when Satan is thrown fro heaven. This transition meant that the randomizing principle is no longer connected to deep unconscious processes, induced by law, that are beyond the conscious mind and will. The Devil has a connection to willpower and choice.

A good analogy for the difference between Satan and the Devil is in murder trials. If one is criminally insane they are treated differently than someone who is charged with premeditated murder. Criminally insane is the time of Satan, while premeditated is connected to the Devil. Both can be trigger by the law and both are against the law, but the criminally insane is not fully responsible for their actions. This was the way of the ancient world; Caesar. The modern era of the Devil is about willful choices that often follow the path of evil and sin; Hitler.

 

[EtuMalku]

Lucifer, Satan and the Devil is an evolving paradigm. Lucifer was the morning star. The morning star symbolizes a place in time where night becomes day, or where unconsciousness interfaces the dawning of consciousness.

Lucifer is analogous to randomizing principle, that is added to the perfection of creation. This type of randomness is not necessarily bad, since it can lead to new things and more creation. In that sense, Lucifer was a creative spirit that unconsciously tweaked natural human instinct; night, to help create self awareness; consciousness or the dawn of a new day. The invention of fire is not natural instinct, but nevertheless was very useful for further human development.

Satan is connected to the next phase of change in the human psyche; self awareness. Satan is not thrown from heaven until Revelations. Satan is in heaven as a councilor to God and is in control of the earth and humans, from Adam and Eve, until after Jesus. Satan is connected to law and/or knowledge of good and evil. Law creates an internal polarization in the human psyche, from which randomizing impulses can appear; prohibition can create temptation. Sin taking opportunity through the commandment produces sin of every kind.

The Devil appears when Satan is thrown fro heaven. This transition meant that the randomizing principle is no longer connected to deep unconscious processes, induced by law, that are beyond the conscious mind and will. The Devil has a connection to willpower and choice.

A good analogy for the difference between Satan and the Devil is in murder trials. If one is criminally insane they are treated differently than someone who is charged with premeditated murder. Criminally insane is the time of Satan, while premeditated is connected to the Devil. Both can be trigger by the law and both are against the law, but the criminally insane is not fully responsible for their actions. This was the way of the ancient world; Caesar. The modern era of the Devil is about willful choices that often follow the path of evil and sin; Hitler.

Long before the Morning Star became exalted, it was a poetic term to denote any lesser being that attempted and failed to usurp a greater being.

 

[Mindmaster]

As I ask in my title, what difference, if any, is there between the three? If there isn't any difference then why bothering to use three different names?

From the point of view of Theistic Satanism, probably there is no difference.

Classical understandings:

Lucifer = The king of hell in classical magic texts, King Nebuchadnezzar, or a Roman god symbolic of Venus as the morning star. Modern Luciferians would probably try to make him into something of a Promethean figure rather than directly equate any of these understandings.

Satan = Archangel Samael's title, or those working under him directly. There are more than one.

The Devil = Equivalent to either of the previous, but also the spiritual boogeyman of Christianity. Largely a pejorative statement in reference to the Satan/Lucifer hybrid.


Spiritually, for me, they're synonymous. The medieval texts equated Lucifer functionally but did so in the context of obfuscation in a time where doing a rite to Satan would probably get you killed. If you could put two and two together you'd figure it out anyway by definition. So, I guess it's about what time in history you'd like to go with. I like the Lucifer/Satan equivalency, but I am interested in the old occult.

 

[Kenny]

In the Bible there are there three supernatural "badies."

The Devil, Satan, and Lucifer.

Luke 4:2 (KJV)
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Job 2:7 (KJV)
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV)
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
​

As I ask in my title, what difference, if any, is there between the three? If there isn't any difference then why bothering to use three different names?

Rev 12: 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Rev 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

But I'm sure there are other opinions.

 

[robocop (actually)]

In the Bible there are there three supernatural "badies."

The Devil, Satan, and Lucifer.

Luke 4:2 (KJV)
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Job 2:7 (KJV)
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV)
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
​

As I ask in my title, what difference, if any, is there between the three? If there isn't any difference then why bothering to use three different names?

In my opinion they are three separate beings. The Devil punishes people in hell. Satan wants to destroy or rule the human race. Lucifer wanted humanity to grow, offering them the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Also, Lucifer means son of the morning and Satan means prince of darkness, not exactly the same thing.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

I guess the Bible isn't sure what the word "devil" refers to.

Well, at least the translation you're using.
It says :

When the even was come,

What is "even" in this case?!

Use other translations, for comparison!