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28:6–8 NRSV)</p></blockquote><p id="af05">When read alone without context, these passages seem to fit the story of the “fall of Satan the worship leader”, but is this what this passage is talking about?</p><p id="6c24">One simple hermeneutical principle we can apply that will help us understand this passage is to <i>read the verse in context</i>.</p><p id="98cd">When we simply scroll up (assuming you are on your phone/computer) to the beginning of the chapter we can understand what this section of scripture is talking about.</p><p id="3ab0">The Isaiah section starts like this,</p><blockquote id="dc1b"><p>“When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the King of Babylon.” (Isaiah 14:3–4 NRSV)</p></blockquote><p id="541a">The Ezekiel passage starts with,</p><blockquote id="87be"><p>“The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God” (Ezekiel 28:1 NRSV)</p></blockquote><p id="12e2">It is clear from this passage that the context of this section is a prophecy about the <b><i>King of Babylon</i></b> and the <b><i>Prince of Tyre</i></b>, not Satan.</p><p id="0264">Read in this context, this passage is not about the origin and fall of Satan, instead, it is talking about the King of Babylon and the King of Tyre falling from their glory.</p><p id="7f3c">Though it seems clear that these passages are talking about other characters other than Satan, it’s interesting how some still think that these passages are talking about Satan.</p><p id="cd8b">What do you think?</p><div id="c649" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/we-

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Was Satan a Fallen Angel?

Bible passages reconsidered

For many of us who grew up in the church, we grew up with the story of Satan as the worship leader who wanted to be like God, rebelled, and was cast to hell with his followers.

Where does the story come from? Is it even in the bible?

It mainly comes from two passages, a passage from Isaiah and Ezekiel. I will mention only a portion of the text, feel free to read the whole chapter.

Isaiah reference

“How have you fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! you said in your heart I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High. But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depth of the Pit.” (Isaiah 14:12–15 NRSV)

Ezekiel reference

Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you compare your mind with the mind of a god, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, the most terrible of the nations; they shall draw their sword against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. They shall thrust you down to the Pit, and you shall die a violent death in the heart of the seas. (Ezekiel 28:6–8 NRSV)

When read alone without context, these passages seem to fit the story of the “fall of Satan the worship leader”, but is this what this passage is talking about?

One simple hermeneutical principle we can apply that will help us understand this passage is to read the verse in context.

When we simply scroll up (assuming you are on your phone/computer) to the beginning of the chapter we can understand what this section of scripture is talking about.

The Isaiah section starts like this,

“When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the King of Babylon.” (Isaiah 14:3–4 NRSV)

The Ezekiel passage starts with,

“The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God” (Ezekiel 28:1 NRSV)

It is clear from this passage that the context of this section is a prophecy about the King of Babylon and the Prince of Tyre, not Satan.

Read in this context, this passage is not about the origin and fall of Satan, instead, it is talking about the King of Babylon and the King of Tyre falling from their glory.

Though it seems clear that these passages are talking about other characters other than Satan, it’s interesting how some still think that these passages are talking about Satan.