Satan

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For the Magatama of the same name, see Satan (Magatama).
Satan
サタン
MT2SMT2 HumanoidSMT2 BossSMT4AMIPDCBR

Artwork from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II

Humanoid artwork from Shin Megami Tensei II

Boss artwork from Shin Megami Tensei II

Artwork from Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

Artwork from Megami Ibunroku Persona

Artwork from Devil Children Black Book and Red Book

Other Name(s) DredalusDemiKids Light Version and Dark Version

The Judge of Man and Demonkind
The Ancient Angel
The Arbiter
The Adversary
Origin Abrahamic religion
Race(s) BossDevil Children Light Book and Dark Book
Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book

DivineDevil Children Black Book and Red Book
Devil Children White Book

FallenDevil Survivor 2
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker

GodlyShin Megami Tensei II (Boss)
Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine

HeraldShin Megami Tensei II (Ally)
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX
Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner

PrimalShin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

TyrantDigital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Kyūyaku Megami Tensei
Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX
Majin Tensei
Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis
Majin Tensei: Blind Thinker
Soul Hackers 2
Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2
Alignment(s) Light-LawShin Megami Tensei II
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX

LawShin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
Arcana Judgement
Voice Actor(s) Isamu YusenShin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
 (JA)
Keith SilversteinShin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
 (EN)

Satan is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Profile

Origin

Satan is a figure in all three major Abrahamic religions. The term "Satan" comes from the Hebrew word meaning "opposer" or "adversary."[a][1] In the earliest section of the Hebrew Bible, the term was a generic noun used to refer to human adversaries, for example in the Book of Samuel, the Philistines refer to King David as a satan.[2] A figure known as ha-satan ("the satan")[b] later appears in the Book of Job and the Book of Zechariah as the title of a heavenly prosecutor or accuser in the divine court and as an agent of God who tests the loyalty of God's followers.[3] The idea of Satan gradually developed into an enemy of God in the Second Temple period, especially during Hellenistic and Roman rule;[4] scholars have proposed that this may be influenced by the Zoroastrian figure of evil, Angra Mainyu.

In Judaism, Satan is usually seen as a representation of the sinful impulse in humanity, known as the yetzer hara,[c] rather than as a literal being. However, Satan is also depicted as a divine being, often portrayed as an angel. In the Exodus Rabbah, Satan is associated with the angel of death, Sama’el, one of the names commonly used in Kabbalistic texts to refer to Satan. Belial, the angel of lawlessness, is identified as Satan in the Ascension of Isaiah. In the apocryphal Book of Jubilees, the angel Mastema plays a role similar to that of a satan.

In Christianity, Satan,[d] also called the Devil[e] (meaning "slanderer," derived from the Greek translation of the word Satan in the Septuagint), is viewed as a fallen angel who disobeyed God and tempts humanity to sin. He is identified with the serpent in the Garden of Eden who tempted Eve to sin,[5][f] which, under the doctrines of original sin and ancestral sin, is seen as the origin of human sinfulness. In the Book of Revelation, Satan is depicted as a great fiery red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, wearing seven diadems. He is ultimately cast into hell in John's vision.[6] The Christian version of Satan is occasionally called Lucifer, based on a traditional interpretation of Isaiah 14:12.[7]

In Islam, an Arabic cognate of the term Satan (Shaytan) is used to describe demons in general, though Iblis is specifically identified as ash-Shayṭān ("the Shaytan"). Iblis is a jinnī who disobeyed God's command to bow down before Adam. Like the Christian Satan and some interpretations of the Jewish Satan, Iblis tempts humanity to sin.

In modern Satanism, Satan has been reinterpreted as a symbol of freedom and defiance against the deity YHVH. He is often associated with Baphomet, as in Aleister Crowley's interpretation in The Book of Thoth. However, as an atheistic religion, modern Satanism generally treats Satan not as a literal being but as a symbolic figure representing rebellion and opposition to theism.

Design

Satan's design in Shin Megami Tensei II has six arms, six wings, six breasts, and six fingers on each hand; the former three are a reference to 666, the number of the beast in the Book of Revelation.[8] According to Kazuma Kaneko, the design features both masculine and feminine aspects to represent duality, similar to Baphomet.[9]

In Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, Satan's design draws upon Satan's description as the great red dragon in the Book of Revelation. Satan has a blackened body and seven scarlet-colored heads, four resembling human skulls, two draconic, and a final at the center that combines both human and dragon elements, with each head having one horn except for the one at the center which has four, referencing the seven heads and ten horns of the Dragon of Revelation.[10] The hands and legs are a reference to his imprisonment in hell,[11] with his hands impaled by massive nails with chains at the end and the legs lack feet and appear to be covered in cooled magma. Satan also has two pairs of wings and a tail with six thagomizer spikes.

Gameplay

For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Satan.

Compendium

Compendium Entries
Shin Megami Tensei II
(A-Mode DDS) 		出身地: イスラエル
名が「敵対者」という意味の天使。元来は天使達の中にあり、人間を試 すために遣わされ、罪を犯した者を 主に報告し告発する役割を持ってい た。キリスト教から派生した天使学では 熾天使の長の首位であったものが、 己の怠慢により天から堕とされたと されている。エデンの園で、イヴを唆して知恵の 実を食べるように勧めた蛇であると される。「古き蛇」と呼ばれるのは このためである。サタンは、起源をエジプトの邪神セ トに求めている。
セトもまた、蛇に変身し、主神達に 立ち向かった。また、元来階級の低かったサタンの 名は、セトの犬という意味の「セト ・アン」から来ているとも言われる。
Translation: Place of origin: Israel
An angel whose name means "adversary". Originally one among the angels, he was sent to test mankind, tasked with reporting and accusing those who sinned against the Lord. According to angelology, which derived from Christianity, it is said that the leader of the Seraphim was cast down from heaven through his own negligence. He is believed to be the serpent that tempted Eve to consume the fruit of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. That is the reason it is called "the ancient serpent". Satan's origins can be traced to Set, the evil god of Egypt.
Set disguised himself as a serpent and faced the principal deities, too. It is also argued that Satan's name, originally of an inferior rank, comes from "Set An", meaning Set's dog.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

The prince of darkness in Judeo-Christian lore, known for his role as the snake that tempted Adam and Eve at Eden. It is also said he is sent by God to test man's piety.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

A Judeo-Christian angel of darkness with a name that means "adversary."

Also known as the evil serpent that tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In the Book of Job, he is depicted as a servant of God who tests Job, a man of faith, and is said to be the accuser angel sent from the heavens to judge mankind.

Soul Hackers 2

The prince of darkness in Judeo-Christian lore, his name means "opposer," and he is best known for his role as the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Some believe that he has been sent by God to test man's piety.

Persona 2: Innocent Sin

King of all demons in Christianity. Also known as Lucifer.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

Another name for the Evil Lord, Lucifer.

Persona 3 FES

The prince of darkness in Judeo-Christian lore, known for his role as the snake that tempted Adam and Eve at Eden. It is also said he is sent by God to test man's piety.

Persona 3 Portable
Persona 3 Reload

The prince of darkness in Judeo-Christian lore, known for his role as the snake that tempted Adam and Eve at Eden. It is also said that he is sent by God to test man's piety.

Persona 4

The prince of darkness in Judeo-Christian lore, known for his role as the snake that tempted Adam and Eve at Eden. It is also said he is sent by God to test man's piety.

Persona 4 Golden
Persona 5

The Judeo-Christian prince of darkness, he is known for his role as the snake that tempted Adam and Eve in Eden. It is also said that he was sent by God to test man's piety.

Persona 5 Royal
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

The prince of darkness in Judeo-Christian lore, known for his role as the snake that tempted Adam and Eve in Eden. It is also said he is sent by God to test man's piety.

Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth

The prince of darkness in Judeo-Christian lore, known for his role as the snake that tempted Adam and Eve in Eden. It is also said he is sent by God to test man's piety.

Persona 5 Tactica

The Judeo-Christian prince of darkness, he is known for his role as the snake that tempted Adam and Eve in Eden. It is also said that he was sent by God to test man's piety.

Devil Children Black Book and Red Book GBC: セカイをおおきな　ヤミのチカラで　はかいしようと　たくらむ　とてもわるい　テンシ
PS: 世界を大きな　闇の力で　破壊しようと　たくらむ　とても悪い天使
Translation: A very evil angel who seeks to destroy the world with its mighty dark power.
Devil Children White Book セカイをおおきな　ヤミのチカラで　はかいしようと　たくらむ　とてもわるい　テンシ
Translation: A very evil angel who seeks to destroy the world with its mighty dark power.
Devil Children Light Book and Dark Book 大きな闇の力で　世界を　ハカイ　しようとたくらむ　とても　強く　とても　悪い　神にさからう天使
Translation: A very strong and evil God-defying angel who seeks to destroy the world with its mighty dark power.
DemiKids Light Version and Dark Version

This epitome of evil uses its dark power to dominate or destroy all life forms.

Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book 大きな闇の力で　世界を　ハカイ　しようとたくらむ　とても　強く　とても　悪い　神にさからう天使
Translation: A very strong and evil God-defying angel who seeks to destroy the world with its mighty dark power.
Devil Survivor 2

His name means "opposer."

The prince of darkness in Judeo-Christian lore, known for his role as the snake that tempted Adam and Eve at Eden. It is also said he is sent by God to test man's piety.

Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker
Kētai Akuma Densho ヘブライ語で"敵対者"を意味するサタンは、神々の敵であり、天に刃向かう堕天使たちの指揮官である。一般的にはルシファーと同一視され、天にある姿をルシファー、地に落ちた姿をサタンとすることが多い。
Translation: Satan, meaning "opposer" in Hebrew, is the adversary of the gods and the commander of the fallen angels who strike back against Heaven. He is generally identified with Lucifer, and Lucifer is often considered his form in Heaven, with Satan being his form after having fallen to Earth.

Game Appearances

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II

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Prior to the game, Satan had previously been sent by YHVH to Russia in the form of Vladimir Lenin to implement communism in order to counteract Lucifer's invention of capitalism.[12]

Shin Megami Tensei II

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

Satan is the instrument of God's wrath that serves to judge all of humanity and demonkind, brought forth when Seth combines with his other half. According to Lucifer, when he awakens, everything will be destroyed, including the demons of the Makai. It is later revealed that Zayin is half of Satan, and when Aleph returns to Eden, he witnesses Seth arriving to merge with Zayin to take on his true identity. On the Neutral and Chaos routes, Satan then casts Aleph out of Eden, sending him all the way down to the Underground, and makes preparations to fire the Megiddo Ark. On the Law route, he instead joins Aleph's party.

Continuing on the Law route, to access Keter Castle, Satan forcibly rips open the doors to the castle and then journeys along with the others to Lucifer's room, where the two opposing entities have a brief argument before Lucifer attacks. Upon Lucifer's death, the Kuzuryu immediately awakens and starts to wreak havoc, forcing Satan to quickly teleport the party to the Ark and launch it out of orbit, saving it from destruction. With no one left to stop him, he uses the Ark's "Erase" function, which unleashes a massive wave of energy that cleanses the Earth of every living being on it. He and the party are then called to make an audience with YHVH in his realm, where, despite congratulating him, Satan reveals that he still has one more person to judge, that being YHVH himself, and so the party kills him. After YHVH's death, Satan proclaims Aleph as the true Messiah and Hiroko as the new Virgin Mary and bids them farewell, crumbling into dust as a result of completing his mission.

On the Neutral and Chaos routes, Aleph infiltrates the Ark and confronts Satan, whose attitude towards Aleph changes depending on the route. If Aleph is Chaos, Satan is enraged with him and Lucifer and tells them to burn in hell for all eternity.

If Aleph is Neutral-aligned, Satan is a lot calmer and briefly assumes the appearance of his former self, Zayin, to explain why the situation escalated to this state: God had abandoned Tokyo Millennium. Despite their pleas for a Messiah, God never sent one to humanity because it was never his intention to do so, as he believed that creating an ideal world would be impossible with how humanity currently is. So when the archangels took matters into their own hands and started the Messiah Project, he gave the fifth and final member of the project, Zayin, the soul of Satan, so that he would judge and punish all who were not chosen to be part of the new world. He expresses sadness that he has to judge Aleph, wishing that he would live in the new world, but notes that it is far too late for him to change his mind, giving him a final goodbye before transforming back into Satan. Regardless of whether Aleph is Neutral or Chaos-aligned, with their goals in opposition, Satan transforms into his demonic form and demands that the party accept his judgment and die. As he is defeated and dying, however, he questions what the one who escapes even God's judgment will do next.

End of spoilers.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

At the end of YHVH's Universe, when the party comes across what they believe to be a dead end, the spirit of Walter and Jonathan appear to explain that Lucifer and Merkabah must become one to return to their true form. Upon fusing, they transform into Satan. Although he is technically a subordinate of YHVH, he explains that the defeat of YHVH to break free from His rule is simply the will of the universe. He then offers to guide the party to the throne of YHVH if they are able to defeat him.

Satan will join the party for the battle against YHVH in order to judge His worthiness as ruler, however Satan's role varies somewhat depending on which route has been chosen. On the Bonds route, Satan will split back in to Walter and Jonathan, who will form a party with Flynn and Isabeau. After defeating YHVH, the spirits of Walter and Jonathan will bid farewell to their fellow samurai and vanish.

On the Massacre route, Satan will remain himself and join Flynn in a separate party. Upon victory, Satan will disappear and return to the Axiom, explaining that he is but as aspect of YHVH, and thus cannot exist without Him.

End of spoilers.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

In the Canon of Vengeance, after clearing the game once, the subquest "The Great Adversary" becomes available, where Mastema will explain that the Lord showed him a vision of another world, where a transcendent Lucifer was defeated by the Nahobino, and the freedom from the system that governed that world as a result. Mastema was able to receive a remnant of the other world's Lucifer as well as a remnant of the previously defeated Samael. By fusing the two essences with Mastema's own, he is able to summon Satan.

Satan invites the Nahobino to the primordial land, where he explains that despite freeing one world from the Mandala System, countless worlds still abide by it, and that the whole of the system remains fully intact. Despite this, Satan acknowledges that the possibility of breaking free from the system cannot be ignored, and challenges the protagonist on behalf of the system to measure his worth. Upon defeat, Satan will be satisfied by the Nahobino's show of strength and wonders how he may affect the system in the future. He then advises him to walk the path of the Godborn.

End of spoilers.

Majin Tensei

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Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis

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Megami Ibunroku Persona

Satan is the only Judgement Arcana Persona that does not have Worst affinity with Reiji Kido.

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

Satan's solar data appears as a boss in the 6th layer of the The Sun, only accessible on hard mode and after defeating Seth. When entering his room, Satan will introduce himself as the judge below God and say that Seraph has chosen to retaliate, just as a certain man did, and attacks them so they receive God's eternal punishment of damnation.

Once defeated, his solar data will disperse and he will wonder where the one who avoids God's justice will go next.

End of spoilers.

Trivia

  • Datamines suggest Satan was originally meant to appear in Shin Megami Tensei V before being scrapped.[13]
  • Satan's reasoning for his actions in the Law route in Aeon Genesis's English translation patch of Shin Megami Tensei II are not part of the original script; it was added in by Aeon Genesis in an attempt to clarify his reasoning.[14]

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages
Language Name Meaning
English Satan
DredalusDemiKids Light Version and Dark Version
Japanese サタン Satan Satan
Simplified Chinese 撒旦 Sādàn Satan
Traditional Chinese 撒旦 Sādàn Satan
French Satan Satan
German Satan Satan
Italian Satana Satan
Korean 사탄 Satan Satan
Polish Szatan Satan
Brazilian Portuguese Satã Satan
Russian Сатана Satana Satan
Peninsular Spanish Satán Satan
Turkish Şeytan Satan; shaitan

Gallery

Notes

  1. ↑ Hebrew: שָׂטָן, romanized śāṭān
  2. ↑ Hebrew: הַשָּׂטָן, romanized haśśāṭān
  3. ↑ Hebrew: יֵצֶר הַרַע, romanized yēṣer haraʿ
  4. ↑ Greek: Σατανᾶς, romanized Satanâs
  5. ↑ Greek: διάβολος, romanized diábolos
  6. ↑ While the most common Christian interpretation of this verse is that the ancient serpent mentioned is the one from the Garden of Eden, biblical scholars have come up with other possibilities, such as alluding to Leviathan.

References

General
  • "A brief history of belief in the Devil (950 BCE - 70 CE)", Izak Spangenberg. Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, 39(Supplement). Published August 2013 by The Church History Society of Southern Africa.
Specific
  1. ↑ Do Jews Believe in Satan? | My Jewish Learning. Retrieved December 2, 2023. My Jewish Learning.
  2. ↑ "וַיִּקְצְפ֨וּ עָלָ֜יו שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לוֹ֩ שָׂרֵ֨י פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים הָשֵׁ֣ב אֶת־הָאִ֗ישׁ וְיָשֹׁב֙ אֶל־מְקוֹמוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִפְקַדְתּ֣וֹ שָׁ֔ם וְלֹא־יֵרֵ֤ד עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֥נוּ לְשָׂטָ֖ן בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וּבַמֶּ֗ה יִתְרַצֶּ֥ה זֶה֙ אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֔יו הֲל֕וֹא בְּרָאשֵׁ֖י הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָהֵֽם" Translation: "But the Philistine officers were angry with him; and the Philistine officers said to him, “Send the man back; let him go back to the place you assigned him. He shall not march down with us to the battle, or else he may become our adversary in battle. For with what could that fellow appease his master if not with the heads of these men?" 1 Samuel 29:4 JPS, 1985. Retrieved February 13, 2025. sefaria.org.
  3. ↑ Spangenberg 2013, p. 215.
  4. ↑ Spangenberg 2013, pp. 221-227.
  5. ↑ "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:9. Retrieved February 13, 2025. Bible Gateway.
  6. ↑ "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Revelation 20:10. Retrieved February 13, 2025. Bible Gateway.
  7. ↑ "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!" Isaiah 14:12. Retrieved February 13, 2025. Bible Gateway.
  8. ↑ Translation: "Kaneko: That is entirely true, but I chose to design a Satan that stood out in particular. That is why I polished the design this time, but I think I can do something more with it next time. But I was pretty particular about the number six: 6 wings, 6 breasts and 6 arms. (laughs)" Shin Megami Tensei Fanbook: Jakyō-no-Yakata Club (1995), Famitsu Editorial Department. Published by Aspect. Page 75. Translation by dijeh. ISBN-13: 978-4-89366-358-0.
  9. ↑ "burahu: 金子先生こんにちわ！昔雑誌の懸賞で戴いたフィギュアを家宝にしております！大好きなサタンについて質問なのですが、ザインや人型のサタンがガッツリ男らしい姿なのに対し、神霊サタンが女性らしいお胸を持ってらっしゃるのは何か意図や元ネタなどございますでしょうか？" burahu, [1]. Published July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026. Twitter."kazumaKaneko666: バフォメットの図のように相反する二極を表現したかったので女性の乳房があります。" Kazuma Kaneko, [2]. Published July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026. Twitter.
  10. ↑ "And there appeared another wonder in Heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads." "Revelation 17:3", King James Bible.
  11. ↑ Translation: "I’ve been thinking for a long time that I’d like to see a demon illustration of Satan as the red dragon described by John in the Book of Revelation. I never thought I’d actually be the one to draw him, but this was a good opportunity, so I took it as a challenge. I didn’t want him to be mistaken for the Beast of the Harlot, so I only used the description of its head and emphasised the rest as a demon design. The details on his hands and legs are vestiges of his imprisonment in Hell. To me, this design is my biggest wish fulfilled." Shin Megami Tensei IV Final Kōshiki Settei Shiryōshū + Shinwa Sekai e no Tabi (2016). Page 55. Translation by Dijeh. ISBN-13: 978-4-7580-1495-3.
  12. ↑ "The Gods of Megami Tensei", Megami Tensei I · II Shōkan-ban · Gattai-ban (1991), Kazunari Suzuki. Published by Victor Entertainment. Japanese. pp. 31-32.
  13. ↑ Faz on X: "SMT V Unused DLC/Demon mentions DLC: Satan Krishna Dagda Maitreya (found by @regularpanties) Demons: Ardha Astarte Shesha" / X. Published November 26, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2024. Twitter.
  14. ↑ "サタン：……神よ　私の裁きは 未だ　終わっておりません 最後に　裁かれる者は…… 唯一にして　最高の神　我が創造主 Y　H　V　H Satan: ...God, my judgment is not yet finished. The last one to be judged is.... The one and only supreme God, my Creator, YHVH. Satan: “...O Lord, my judgement is not yet complete. There is one more not amongst the chosen that must be judged… One that has committed the grave sin of genocide… Yes, Lord, the one I must now judge… ...is the one, highest god, my creator… You, YHVH!”" [3]. Published September 19, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2024. Tumblr.
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