And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Going to and fro - rather, hurrying rapidly to and fro. The original idea in Arabic is the heat of haste (1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 12:43). Satan seems to have had some special connection with this earth. Perhaps he was formerly its ruler under God. Man succeeded to the vice-royalty (Genesis 1:26; Psalms 8:6). Man lost it, and Satan became Prince of this world. The Son of Man (Psalms 8:4) - the representative man, regains the forfeited inheritance (Revelation 11:15).
Satan's replies are characteristically curt and short. Perpetual hurry and restlessness characterize himself and his followers. The Hebrew х shuwT (H7751)] means to run to and fro (cf. Hebrew, Jeremiah 5:1; Amos 8:12). Umbreit translates, 'from a flight over the earth.' When the angels appear before God Satan is among them, even as there was a Judas among the apostles.