שָׂטַן sâṭan — to attack, (figuratively) accuse
Translated in the KJV as adversary, resist.
a primitive root; to attack, (figuratively) accuse.
sâṭan in each stem
Qal (Pa'al)
Simple · active — the plain action; the subject does it
Participle (active) 3Imperfect (yiqtol) 2Infinitive construct 1
יִ֝שְׂטְנ֗וּנִי Ps 38:21 Imperfect (yiqtol), 3rd person masculine plural
Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me.
שֹׂטְנֵ֪י Ps 71:13 Participle (active), masculine plural
Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
יִשְׂטְנ֗וּנִי Ps 109:4 Imperfect (yiqtol), 3rd person masculine plural
For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
What the stems mean
A Hebrew verb is its root letters set into a pattern. The pattern — the binyan — is the grammar's way of saying three things at once: whether the action is simple, intensive or causative, and whether its subject is active, passive or reflexive. That is why one Hebrew word can need six English ones. All seven binyanim, explained ›