How Satan Is Viewed in Judaism
Judaism Basics Print Hulton Archive / Stringer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images By Ariela Pelaia Updated on February 16, 2019 Satan is a character that appears in the belief systems of many religions , including Christianity and Islam . In Judaism "satan" is not a sentient being but a metaphor for the evil inclination – the yetzer hara – that exists in every person and tempts us to do wrong. Satan as a Metaphor for the Yetzer Hara The Hebrew word "satan" (שָּׂטָן) translates to "adversary" and comes from a Hebrew verb meaning "to oppose" or "to obstruct." In Jewish thought, one of the things Jews struggle against every day is the "evil inclination," also known as the yetzer hara (יֵצֶר הַרַע, from Genesis 6:5). The yetzer hara is not a force or a being, but rather refers to mankind's innate capacity for doing evil in the world. However, using the term satan to describe this impulse is not very common. On the other...