Biblical Perspective on Satan's Hatred for Children
The biblical understanding of Satan portrays him as an adversary and accuser whose nature is inherently opposed to God and humanity [3, 4]. While the Bible does not explicitly state that Satan "hates children" in a unique or specific way distinct from his hatred for all humanity, it does describe his malicious intent and actions which impact all people, including children.
Satan is identified as "the prince of this world" and "the god of this world," working through "the children of disobedience" [4]. John Calvin notes that the wicked are considered "children of Satan" because they bear his image, just as believers are recognized as children of God by bearing His image [10]. This suggests that Satan's influence extends to those who align with his purposes, regardless of age. Matthew Henry further elaborates that hatred is characteristic of "the devil's kingdom," contrasting it with the love that defines the kingdom of Christ [8]. This spirit of hatred, which blinds the soul and works lawlessness, is something to be guarded against [7, 9].
The devil's ultimate goal is to "overthrow the kingdom of God, and drown men in eternal perdition with himself" [12]. This broad objective encompasses all individuals. The Apostle John states that Satan "sinneth from the beginning," indicating his role as the "author, leader, and contriver" of sin [12]. The New Testament also identifies Satan as having "the power of death," a power that Christ ultimately destroys through his own death [5].
Biblical texts refer to various categories of individuals as "children" in ways that highlight their spiritual state or allegiance, rather than their chronological age. These include "children of Belial," "children of the devil," "children of the wicked one," and "children of disobedience" [1]. Conversely, God expresses displeasure with "His sons and His daughters" who provoke Him [2]. The Bible also describes "wicked children" who do not know God, are void of understanding, and are proud, often bringing grief or reproach to their parents [6].
In a broader sense, Satan's enmity is directed against all who keep God's commandments and have the testimony of Jesus, described as "the remnant of her seed" (referring to the woman in Revelation 12) [13]. This indicates a general opposition to God's people, which would naturally include children within that community. The early church father Irenaeus describes Satan's malignity and folly, noting his eagerness to bring about the cross and his work "in the children of disobedience" [11].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Titles and Names of the Wicked — Adversaries of the Lord -- 1Sa 2:10. Children of Belial -- De 13:13; 2Ch 13:7. Children of the devil -- Ac 13:10; 1Jo 3:10. Children of the wicked one -- Mt 13:38. Children of hell -- Mt 23:15. Children of base men -- Job 30:8. Children of fools -- Job 30:8. Children of strangers -- Isa 2:6. Children of transgression -- Isa 57:4. Children of disobedience -- Eph 2:2; Col 3:6. Children in whom is no faith -- De 32:20. Children of the flesh -- Ro 9:8. Children of iniquity -- Ho 10:9. Children that will not hear the law of the Lord -- Isa”
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 32:19 (YLT) — And Jehovah seeth and despiseth--For the provocation of His sons and His daughters.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Satan — The word itself, the Hebrew satan, is simply an "adversary," and is so used in (1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 6:4; 11:14,23,25; Numbers 22:22,33; Psalms 109:6) This original sense is still found in our Lord's application of the name to St. Peter in (Matthew 16:23) It is used as a proper name or title only four times in the Old Testament, vis. (with the article) in (Job 1:6; 12; 2:1; Zechariah 2:1) and without the article in (1 Chronicles 21:1) It is with the scriptural revelation on the subject that we are here concerned; and it is clear, from this si”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Satan — Adversary; accuser. When used as a proper name, the Hebrew word so rendered has the article "the adversary" (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). In the New Testament it is used as interchangeable with Diabolos, or the devil, and is so used more than thirty times. He is also called "the dragon," "the old serpent" (Rev. 12:9; 20:2); "the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30); "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2); "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4); "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2). The distinct personality of Satan and h”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 2:14 (YLT) — Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy him having the power of death--that is, the devil--”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children, Wicked — Know not God -- 1Sa 2:12. Are void of understanding -- Pr 7:7. Are proud -- Isa 3:5. With regard to parents Hearken not to them. -- 1Sa 2:25. Despise them. -- Pr 15:5,20; Eze 22:7. Curse them. -- Pr 30:11. Bring reproach on them. -- Pr 19:26. Are a calamity to them. -- Pr 19:13. Are a grief to them. -- Pr 17:25. Despised their elders. -- Job 19:18. Punishment of, for Setting light by parents. -- De 27:16. Disobeying parents. -- De 21:21. Mocking parents. -- Pr 30:17. Cursing parents. -- Ex 21:15; Mr 7:10. Smiting parents. -- Ex 21:15. Mocking of a ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — IX.--THE TESTAMENT OF GAD CONCERNING HATRED. (part 2): my children, hearken to the words of truth to work righteousness, and all the law of the Most High, and not go astray through the spirit of hatred, for it is evil in all the doings of men. Whatsoever a man doeth, that doth the hater abhor: though he worketh the law of the Lord, he praiseth him not; though he feareth the Lord, and taketh pleasure in that which is righteous, he loveth him not: he dispraiseth the truth, he envieth him that ordereth his way aright, he del”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 15:18: Here Christ discourses concerning hatred, which is the character and genius of the devil's kingdom, as love is of the kingdom of Christ. Observe here, I. Who they are in whom this hatred is found - the world, the children of this world, as distinguished from the children of God; those who are in the interests of the god of this world, whose image they bear, and whose power they are subject to; all those, whether Jews or Gentiles, who would not come into the church of Christ, which he audibly called, and visibly separates from this evil world. The calling of these t”
- Introduction “Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, Introduction, section 49: the law of the Lord, he praiseth him not; though a man feareth the Lord, and taketh pleasure in that which is 3 righteous, he loveth him not. He dispraiseth the truth, he envieth him that prospereth, he welcometh evil-speaking, he loveth arrogance, for hatred blindeth his soul; as I also then looked on Joseph. 4 I Beware, therefore, my children of hatred; for it worketh lawlessness even against the Lord Himself. 2 For it will not hear the words of His commandments concerning the loving of one's neighbour, 3 and it sinneth against Go”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 30: the devil. 117 117 2 Cor. 4:4 ; Eph. 2:2 ; Rom. 9:22 ; John 8:44 ; 1 John 3:8 . For as believers are recognised to be the sons of God by bearing his image, so the wicked are properly regarded as the children of Satan, from having degenerated into his image. 19. Having above refuted that nugatory philosophy concerning the holy angels, which teaches that they are nothing but good motions or inspirations which God excites in the minds of men, we must here likewise refute those who foolishly allege that devils are nothing but bad affec”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. IV.--THE MALIGNITY AND FOLLY OF SATAN.: And indeed, before the cross was erected, he (Satan) was eager that it should be so; and he "wrought" [for this end] "in the children of disobedience."(1) He wrought in Judas, in the Pharisees, in the Sadducees, in the old, in the young, and in the priests. But when it was just about to be erected, he was troubled, and infused repentance into the traitor, and pointed him to a rope to hang himself with, and taught him [to die by] strangulation. He terrified also the ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 30: minds of men he involves in error; he stirs up hatred, inflames strife and war, and all in order that he may overthrow the kingdom of God, and drown men in eternal perdition with himself. Hence it is evident that his whole nature is depraved, mischievous, and malignant. There must be extreme depravity in a mind bent on assailing the glory of God and the salvation of man. This is intimated by John in his Epistle, when he says that he “sinneth from the beginning,” ( 1 John 3:8 ), implying that he is the author, leader, and contriver ”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 12:17: wroth with--Greek, "at." went--Greek, "went away." the remnant of her seed--distinct in some sense from the woman herself. Satan's first effort was to root out the Christian Church, so that there should be no visible profession of Christianity. Foiled in this, he wars (Rev 11:7; Rev 13:7) against the invisible Church, namely, "those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus" (A, B, and C omit "Christ"). These are "the remnant," or rest of her seed, as distinguished from her seed, "the man-child" (Rev 12:5), on one hand,”