ACCUSER (ak-kii'zer,) (Heb. low-shan', to lick, to use the tongue; in the New Testament, KaTiryopos, prosecutor; 'ArrtEiros, an-tik'i-dos. The original word, which bears this leading signification, means one who has a cause or matter of contention ; the accuser, opponent, or plaintiff in any suit ( Judg. xii :2; Matt. v :25; Luke xii :58).
(1) Hebrew Courts. We have little informa tion respecting the manner in which causes were conducted in the Hebrew courts of jus tire, except from the Rabbinical authorities, who, in matters of this description, may be supposed well informed as to the later customs of the nation. Even from these we learn little more than that great care was taken that, the accused being deemed innocent until convicted, he and the accuser should appear under equal circumstances before the court, that no preju dicial impression might be created to the disad vantage of the defendant, whose interests, we are told. were so anxiously guarded that any one
was allowed to speak whatever he knew or had to say in his favor, which privilege was withheld from the accuser. (Lewis, Origines fiebrcrcr i :68.) The word is, however, to be understood in regard to the real plaintiff, not to the advo cates, who only became known in the later period of the Jewish history. (Sec AnvocKre..) (2) Biblical Use. The word is also applied in Scripture, in the general sense, to any adver sary or enemy (Luke xviii :3 ; r Pet. v :8) In the latter passage there is an allusion to the old Jewish notion that Satan was the accuser or calumniator of men before God ( Job i :6, sq.; Rev. xii :to, sq ; Comp. Zech. :t). In this cation the forensic sense was still retained, Satan being represented as laying to man's charge a breach of the law, as in a court of justice, and demanding his punishment. (See SAT.\N.)