שֵׁד
shedmasculine
In Hebrew, the word for devil can be expressed as שֵׁד (shed) or שָׂטָן.
Meaning: evil creature (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| שֵׁד | shed | masculine |
| שָׂטָן | satán | masculine |
Both words can be translated as devil, but they serve different purposes. שֵׁד is used to describe a generic evil creature, such as a demon or a malevolent spirit. In contrast, שָׂטָן refers specifically to the personified figure of the Devil, often acting as a proper name for a singular adversary in religious contexts.
Which one should you use?
The term שֵׁד is a generic term for a demon, whereas שָׂטָן is the specific name for the chief devil.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the generic demon שֵׁד is שֵׁדִים.
How do you pronounce it?
shed
Did you know?
- In some Jewish mystical traditions, שֵׁדִים are viewed as failed attempts at creating humans who lack a physical body.
- The word שֵׁד is related to the ancient Akkadian word 'shedu', which referred to a protective spirit before it became associated with evil.
- In the Hebrew Bible, the figure called שָׂטָן often acts as a heavenly prosecutor working for God, rather than as God's opposite.
Examples in context
- הוא נראה כמו שֵׁד.hu nir'eh kemo shed.He looks like a devil.
- הסיפור עוסק בַּשֵׁד וביצור מוזר.hasippur os'ek ba-shed u-vi-yatzur muzar.The story deals with a devil and a strange creature.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “devil” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
