Was Lucifer originally an angel of worship?

by Matt Slick

It is quite possible that Lucifer, another name for Satan, was originally an angel whose purpose was to be involved in the worship of God.  We do not know for sure, but the case can be made from Ezekiel.

• Ezekiel 28:13, “You were in Eden, the garden of God.  Every precious stone was your covering:  The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings (timbrels) and sockets (flutes), was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared.

In the Hebrew, the word for “settings” is ‘toph’ which means timbrel, which is a musical instrument.1  Likewise, the Hebrew word for “sockets” is ‘neqeb’ and means “pipes, grove, hole.” 2

This is why some people suspect that Lucifer (name means ‘light bearer’) was involved with music, and therefore worship before God.  But because of Lucifer’s exceeding beauty and greatness, some suspect he became prideful and rebelled against God.

Isaiah 14:12-15, "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth.  You who have weakened the nations!   13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north.  14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’  15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit."

• 1. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
• 2. ibid.