Lucifer
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Topical Encyclopedia
Etymology and Biblical References:

The name "Lucifer" is derived from the Latin word "lucifer," meaning "light-bringer" or "morning star." This term is traditionally associated with a passage in the Book of Isaiah, specifically Isaiah 14:12, which in the Berean Standard Bible reads: "How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations." The Hebrew term "helel ben shachar" is translated as "day star" or "morning star," and the Latin Vulgate rendered it as "Lucifer."

Context in Isaiah:

Isaiah 14 is a prophetic taunt against the king of Babylon, using vivid imagery to describe his downfall. The passage has been interpreted by many Christian theologians as a dual reference, addressing both the historical king and a more profound spiritual reality concerning the fall of a celestial being. The description of falling from heaven and being cast down to the earth has led to the association of Lucifer with Satan, the adversary of God.

Lucifer and Satan:

The identification of Lucifer with Satan is not explicitly stated in the Bible but has been a traditional interpretation within Christian theology. This connection is often supported by passages such as Luke 10:18, where Jesus says, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven," and Revelation 12:9, which describes the great dragon, "that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, who leads the whole world astray," being hurled down to the earth.

Theological Significance:

In Christian theology, Lucifer is often understood as a high-ranking angel who became prideful and sought to exalt himself above God, leading to his rebellion and subsequent expulsion from heaven. This narrative is inferred from various scriptural passages, including Ezekiel 28:12-17, which, while addressed to the king of Tyre, is interpreted as an allegory for the fall of a once-glorious angelic being.

Lucifer in Christian Tradition:

The account of Lucifer's fall has been influential in shaping the Christian understanding of the nature of evil and the origin of Satan. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and the consequences of rebelling against God's authority. The narrative underscores the belief in a cosmic struggle between good and evil, with Lucifer as a central figure in the opposition to God's divine plan.

Cultural Impact:

The figure of Lucifer has permeated various aspects of culture, literature, and art, often depicted as a symbol of rebellion and the embodiment of evil. This portrayal has been explored in works such as John Milton's "Paradise Lost," where Lucifer's pride and fall are central themes.

Conclusion:

While the name "Lucifer" appears only once in the Bible, its association with Satan and the broader theological implications have made it a significant topic in Christian doctrine and cultural discourse. The narrative of Lucifer's fall serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of pride and the ultimate triumph of God's sovereignty over evil.
Topical Bible Verses
Isaiah 14:12-15
How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 12:4
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Topicalbible.org

2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Topicalbible.org

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Lucifer

bringing light

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Lucifer

(light-bearer), found in (Isaiah 14:12) coupled with the epithet "son of the morning," clearly signifies a "bright star," and probably what we call the morning star. In this passage it is a symbolical representation of the king of Babylon in his splendor and in his fall. Its application, from St. Jerome downward, to Satan in his fall from heaven arises probably from the fact that the Babylonian empire is in Scripture represented as the type of tyrannical and self idolizing power, and especially connected with the empire of the Evil One in the Apocalypse.

ATS Bible Dictionary
Lucifer

Light-bringer, the Latin name of the morning-star, or "son of the morning." In the figurative language of Scripture, a brilliant star denoted an illustrious prince, Numbers 24:17. Christ was given to men as the "bright and morning Star," Revelation 2:28; 22:16. The word Lucifer is used once only in the English Bible, and then of the king of Babylon, Isaiah 14:12. It is now commonly, though inappropriately, given to the prince of darkness.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Brilliant star, a title given to the king of Babylon (Isaiah 14:12) to denote his glory.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The planet Venus, when appearing as the morning star; -- applied in Isaiah by a metaphor to a king of Babylon.

2. (n.) Hence, Satan.

3. (n.) A match made of a sliver of wood tipped with a combustible substance, and ignited by friction; -- called also lucifer match, and locofoco. See Locofoco.

4. (n.) A genus of free-swimming macruran Crustacea, having a slender body and long appendages.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
LUCIFER

lu'-si-fer, loo'-si-fer: The morning star, an epithet of the planet Venus.

See ASTROLOGY, 11.

Strong's Hebrew
1966. helel -- a shining one
... lucifer. From halal (in the sense of brightness); the morning-star -- lucifer. see
HEBREW halal. 1965, 1966. helel. 1967 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1966.htm - 6k
Library

Lucifer
... Chapter XCV. Lucifer. Lucifer, [2522] bishop of Cagliari, was sent by Liberius
the bishop, with Pancratius and Hilary, clergy of ...
/.../various/jerome and gennadius lives of illustrious men /chapter xcv lucifer.htm

Of Lucifer and Eusebius.
... Book III. Chapter V."Of Lucifer and Eusebius. About the same time Lucifer
and Eusebius [472] were by an imperial order, recalled ...
/.../chapter v of lucifer and eusebius.htm

Letter L. --First Letter to Lucifer .
... Chapter II. Letter L."First Letter to Lucifer . To our lord, and most beloved brother
the Bishop and Confessor Lucifer. Athanasius greeting in the Lord. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter l first letter to lucifer.htm

Lucifer Goes to Antioch and Consecrates Paulinus.
... Book III. Chapter VI."Lucifer goes to Antioch and consecrates Paulinus. ... When therefore
Lucifer had constituted Paulinus their bishop, he again departed. ...
/.../chapter vi lucifer goes to antioch.htm

Concerning Lucifer and Eusebius, Bishops of the West. Eusebius ...
... Book V. Chapter XII."Concerning Lucifer and Eusebius, Bishops of the West. ... As Meletius
had not then returned from exile, Lucifer ordained Paulinus bishop. ...
/.../chapter xii concerning lucifer and eusebius.htm

Letter Li. --Second Letter to Lucifer.
... Letter LI."Second Letter to Lucifer. To the most glorious lord and deservedly
much-desired fellow-Bishop Lucifer, Athanasius greeting in the Lord. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter li second letter to lucifer.htm

How by Reason of Pride Lucifer was Turned from an Archangel into a ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter IV. How by reason of pride Lucifer was turned from
an archangel into a devil. And that we may understand the ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter iv how by reason.htm

Concerning Paulinus and Meletius, Chief-Priests of Antioch; How ...
... Book V. Chapter XIII."Concerning Paulinus and Meletius, Chief-Priests of Antioch;
how Eusebius and Lucifer antagonized One Another; Eusebius and Hilarius ...
/.../chapter xiii concerning paulinus and meletius.htm

Of the Return of the Bishops and the Consecration of Paulinus.
... But Eusebius, [602] and Hilarius [603] of Italy and Lucifer [604] who presided over
the flock in the island of Sardinia, were living in the Thebaid on the ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter ii of the return of.htm

After the Synod of Alexandria, Eusebius Proceeding to Antioch ...
... Catholics at Variance on Account of Paulinus' Consecration; and having exerted himself
in vain to reconcile them, he departs; Indignation of Lucifer and Origin ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/chapter ix after the synod of.htm

Thesaurus
Lucifer (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) A match made of a sliver of wood tipped with a combustible substance, and
ignited by friction; -- called also lucifer match, and locofoco. ...LUCIFER. ...
/l/lucifer.htm - 7k

Lucius (2 Occurrences)

/l/lucius.htm - 9k

Astrology
... 1. Chiun, Certainly the Planet Saturn 2. Saturn or Moloch Worship 3. Mazzaloth,
or Planet Worship 4. Gadh and Meni or Star Worship 5. Lucifer, the Shining Star ...
/a/astrology.htm - 38k

Lucas (1 Occurrence)

/l/lucas.htm - 7k

Weakened (7 Occurrences)
... He shortened my days. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS). Isaiah 14:12 How art
thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! ...
/w/weakened.htm - 8k

Weaken (5 Occurrences)
... Sarah's womb. (Root in WEB ASV RSV NIV). Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen
from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou ...
/w/weaken.htm - 8k

Day-star (2 Occurrences)
... DAY-STAR. (helel ben-shachar, Isaiah 14:12; phosphoros, 2 Peter 1:19): The Old
Testament passage is rendered in the King James Version "Lucifer, son of the ...
/d/day-star.htm - 8k

Daystar
... DAY-STAR. (helel ben-shachar, Isaiah 14:12; phosphoros, 2 Peter 1:19): The Old
Testament passage is rendered in the King James Version "Lucifer, son of the ...
/d/daystar.htm - 7k

Prostrate (25 Occurrences)
... (See JPS). Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning!
Thou art cut down to the ground, that didst prostrate the nations! (DBY). ...
/p/prostrate.htm - 14k

Latin (2 Occurrences)
... These give the Gospels, and a gives for John the text as it was read by
the 4th-century Father, Lucifer of Cagliari in Sardinia. ...
/l/latin.htm - 28k

Resources
Is Lucifer Satan? Does the fall of Lucifer describe Satan? | GotQuestions.org

What is Luciferianism? | GotQuestions.org

Did one third of the angels fall with Lucifer? | GotQuestions.org

Lucifer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Lucifer (1 Occurrence)

Isaiah 14:12
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!
(KJV DBY WBS)

Subtopics

Lucifer

Lucifer: Nebuchadnezzar Called by This Name

Related Terms

Lucius (2 Occurrences)

Astrology

Lucas (1 Occurrence)

Weakened (7 Occurrences)

Weaken (5 Occurrences)

Day-star (2 Occurrences)

Daystar

Prostrate (25 Occurrences)

Latin (2 Occurrences)

Version

Nehelamite (4 Occurrences)

Lucas: Fellow-Laborer of Paul
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