The Greek word translated here as “devil” is literally diabolos
(from which we get the English word diabolic
), a composite from two Greek words rendering the meaning throw between
or throw around.
The sense is that of generating confusion. So the verbal form of this word comes to mean to slander.
This describes accurately what the ancient serpent did in Paradise in his misrepresentation of God (Genesis 3:1, Genesis 3:4–5) and what he has been doing ever since (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3).
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.