LUCIFER

(Greek Phosphoros, “light bearer”), the morning star: i.e., the planet Venus at dawn. Personified as a male figure bearing a torch, Lucifer has almost no legend, but in poetry is often herald of the dawn. St. Jerome translated as “Lucifer” the metaphorical reference (Hebrew, “shining one”) to the fall of the king of Babylon in Isa. xiv, 12. The Church Fathers interpreted the words of Jesus in Luke x, 18, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven,” as a reference to this passage in Isaiah, so that “Lucifer” came to be regarded as the name of Satan before his fall. It is so used by Milton in Paradise Lost, and the idea underlies the proverbial phrase “as proud as Lucifer.”

The Latin Vulgate and the King James version use the term “Lucifer, Son of the Morning.” The Jerusalem Bible uses the term: “Daystar, son of Dawn.”

I believe that the Bible is very vague about any relationship between Satan and Lucifer. The name Lucifer is not even used in the original language of the Bible. It seems that there is only a loose connection at best. But sometimes I still think of Lucifer as Satan. If there is an angel by the name of Lucifer, I apologize.

Footnote:
1. Encyclopædia Britannica
2. Isaiah 14:12

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