_Devil_ (Vol. v., p. 508.).--If [Greek: Diabolos] was used as an equivalent
for Adversarius, I should say that "the rendering _would_ be accurate" in
no slight degree; especially when understood in the juridical sense. But
the "adversarius in judicio" is the character of the Hebrew Satan in Job,
c. i. and ii., and Zechariah, c. iii.; and the same appears clearly in
Revelations, c. 12:
"The accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before
our God day and night."
The term [Greek: diabolos] adds, to that of [Greek: katêgoros], the idea of
falsehood and injustice, essential to the accuser of the Saints, but not
expressed in the latter word[4]. Why the word should mean "a supernatural
agent of evil," I cannot form the slightest idea. The name of a thing does
not express all which that thing is! _Physician_ does not mean a natural
agent of good. As little can I understand how the correctness of a
derivation can form "a case of ecclesiastical usage."
With what words, manifestly and analogically Greek, but yet clearly derived
in reality from the vague sources termed _Oriental_, nay even from Hebrew,
are "the Septuagint and Greek Testament replete?" I say "clearly," because
one paradoxical conjecture cannot obtain support from others.
I am surprised that MR. LITTLEDALE should be struck by the "similarity" of
the gipsy word _Debel_, "God," "and our word devil," after himself
admitting that our word is _diabolos_, and confining his attack to that
"first link in the chain."
I will add a very few words on the other point, though not relevant. What
is holy at one time, becomes the direct contrary in subsequent times and
circumstances. Homer's Minerva ascended to heaven [Greek: meta daimonas
allous], among the other dæmons. But that word in modern Europe means a
devil of hell. _Deva_ and _Devi_ are (I believe) god and goddess in
Sanskrit. _Div_, in Persian (MR. L. says), is a wizard or dæmon. I have no
_Zend Avesta_ at hand: but we require to know whether _Div_ had a decidedly
evil and Ahrimanian sense, in the language of the dualistic Pagan ages; or
only in Ferdoosi and the like. If _afriti_ is "blessed" in Zend, and "a
devil" in Arabic, I again ask whether the allusion be to the literary
remains of Arabic polytheism, or to Islam? I suspect the latter; and so, it
would come to nothing.