ColossiansOne

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Satan vs Lucifer

These two are identified with one another in the record, which is not the same as being the same figure. Fused by Christian tradition, though Isaiah 14 and Job describe unrelated figures.

Demonic · Infernal Court · c. 400 BCE

Satan

also called ha-Satan, The Adversary, Shaitan, The Devil, Satanas, Shaytan, Sam Hill, Lord of This World

Not originally a name but an office — 'the accuser'. In Job he is a member of the divine court doing his job; only later does he become the enemy.

Alignment
Fallen
Rank
Adversary
First attested
Hebrew Bible & Deuterocanon · c. 900–100 BCE
Named there as
ha-Satan
Texts naming it
5
Powers attributed
5
97attestedChristianJewishIslamic

Demonic · Infernal Court · c. 400 BCE

Lucifer

also called Lucifer Rofocale, Helel ben Shachar, The Light-Bearer, Morning Star, The shining one, Light-Bringer, Eôsphoros, Helel, Heosphoros, Eosphoros, Hêlēl

The morning star of Isaiah 14. Christian tradition reads the phrase as the devil's own name; the passage itself makes no such claim.

Alignment
Fallen
Rank
Emperor
First attested
Hebrew Bible & Deuterocanon · c. 900–100 BCE
Named there as
Lucifer
Texts naming it
6
Powers attributed
4
90attestedChristianJewishFolk & Demonological

Where do they actually overlap?

Texts naming both

Powers credited to both

Commands LegionsDeceives & Tempts

Common questions

Are Satan and Lucifer the same figure?

These two are identified with one another in the record, which is not the same as being the same figure. Fused by Christian tradition, though Isaiah 14 and Job describe unrelated figures. ColossiansOne records the link rather than asserting the identity: where texts disagree about whether two names denote one figure, the disagreement is what gets shown.

Which is older, Satan or Lucifer?

Both are first attested in the same period, around c. 400 BCE.

Do any texts name both Satan and Lucifer?

Yes — 3 texts name both. A single text naming both figures is the strongest evidence available here that its author treated them as distinct, whatever later writers did with the pair.
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