There are numerous texts about the Yetzer HaRa (the Evil Inclination, aka “Satan”) in the Jewish Talmud. The Jewish sages were in no way monolithic in their understanding of the source of our human capacity to do evil. They all agreed that humans are born with it. Here are a number of selections which present proof texts for this.
The following curt statement by Reish Lakish is the most controversial understanding of the Evil Inclination:
R. [Rabbi] Simeon ben Lakish said: Satan, impulse to evil, and angel of death: all three are the same thing.
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Author: Talmud
Keywords: Evil Inclination, Yetzer, Yetser, Yetser hara, Yetzer hara, Yetzer ha ra, Satan, The adversary, Devil, The devil, Evil One, Angel of Death, Death angel, Fallen angels, Dualism, Jesus's temptation, Jesus' temptation, Temptation in the wilderness, Temptation, Jesus tempted, Jesus tempted in the wilderness, Tempted in the wilderness, Tempter, Yetser ha ra, Evil impulse, Evil urge
Bible reference(s): Genesis 6:1-4, Job 1:6-9, Job 1:12, Job 2:1-4, Job 2:6-7, Psalm 109:6, Zechariah 3:1-2, Matthew 4:10, Matthew 16:23, Matthew 4:1, Matthew 4:3, Matthew 4:5, Matthew 4:8, Matthew 4:11, Matthew 5:37, Matthew 6:13, Matthew 13:19, Matthew 13:38, Matthew 25:41, Mark 1:13, Mark 4:15, Luke 4:2-3, Luke 4:5-6, Luke 4:8, Luke 4:13, Luke 8:12, Luke 13:16, Luke 22:3, Luke 22:31, John 6:70, John 8:44, John 13:2, John 13:27, John 17:15, Acts 5:3, Acts 13:10, Acts 26:18, Romans 16:20, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 6:15, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 2 Corinthians 11:14, Ephesians 4:27, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:16, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 1 Thessalonians 2:18, 1 Timothy 1:20, 1 Timothy 3:6-7, 1 Timothy 5:14-15, 2 Timothy 2:26, Hebrews 2:14, James 4:7, 1 John 2:13-14, 1 John 3:8, 1 John 3:10, 1 John 3:12, 1 John 5:18-19, Revelation 2:9-10, Revelation 2:13, Revelation 2:24, Revelation 3:9, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 12:12, Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:7, Revelation 20:10
Source: Compiled by Philip Kapusta
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