satans

Satans is the plural form of Satan in English, used to refer to multiple beings or personifications that function as adversaries, accusers, or tempters in various religious and literary traditions. The name Satan derives from the Hebrew ha-satan, meaning “the accuser” or “the adversary.” In early Hebrew scripture the term is not always a proper name for a single entity but a role played by different figures who challenge humans or test faith; over time, the figure came to be understood in some traditions as a singular, malevolent being, while in others it remains a title for a class of adversarial entities.

In Jewish tradition, Satan is often seen as a functional role within the divine council—a tester or prosecutor rather than a rebellious devil in all cases. Some later texts portray a more personalized, malevolent Satan, which can lead scholars to distinguish between “Satans” as multiple tempters or accusers rather than a single figure.

In Christian theology, Satan is commonly treated as the chief embodiment of evil or the principal adversary of God and humanity. Nevertheless, some writings describe a hierarchy of demons or infernal beings allied with Satan, which in English may be rendered as Satans to indicate multiple malign agents.

In Islamic thought, the principal figure is Iblis (also called Shaitan), with the plural term Shayatin used for demons. English-language discussions may render the plural as Satans to denote multiple devils across traditions.

In summary, Satans is not a canonical doctrine in most traditions but a scholarly or literary label referring to multiple adversarial beings or roles encountered in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic texts as well as in later folklore and fiction.