Angels in the Bible
Angels are part of our beliefs and traditions. We have heard numerous stories about angels’ intervention in human lives. Around the world, we have heard countless stories where these supernatural beings somehow intervene in our realm.
For some of these stories, we don’t know the sources. For instance, in the Christian and Jewish circles, we speak about many names of Angels. We talk about angels’ categories and ranking. From where does this information come from? How can we be sure we are not into mere myths and apocryphal stories?
As a Christian, our source of divine revelation is the Bible. The authoritative scripture is the Bible. For the Jews, it’s not only the Torah but also rely heavily on the Midrash, Talmud, and other traditional books. To understand what we know about angels, I researched from what sources we learned about these beings. Are these sources trustworthy? Are they divine or inspired? How much information are we taking from non-canonical and non-divine sources, using them as authoritative and even sharing in our teaching and sermons?
It will take a lot of writing to address this, but I want to share some exciting facts and information that can help you understand. Then, you will need to do additional work to find out more. Let’s start by understanding what an Angel means. In the original biblical texts, angels generally mean “messenger”.
ANGEL (מַלְאָךְ, mal’akh; מַלְאַךְ, mal’akh; ἄγγελος, angelos). Heavenly messengers in the Bible. The Hebrew and Greek words usually translated as “angel” are probably better translated as “messenger.”
The Hebrew and Greek terms usually translated as “angel” are used for both human and heavenly messengers—context determines whether the messenger was sent from God or an earthly authority. Unlike the Greek Old Testament, the Latin Vulgate distinguishes between earthly (nuntius) and heavenly (angelus) messengers.
Biblical Senses
- Angel — noun. A supernatural being created by God to serve Him often functions as a messenger.
- Holy one angel — noun. A supernatural or angelic being, conceived of, according to the attribute of holiness.
- Angel-like — adjective. Similar to the supernatural beings called angels.
- Angelic being – mighty one — noun. A term referring to celestial beings with an emphasis on their strength.
“Angel(s)” in the Old Testament
The Hebrew word מַלְאָךְ (mal’akh) appears 213 times in the Old Testament, and its Aramaic equivalent appears twice. “Angel” is found in English versions (e.g., KJV and NIV) over 100 times. Old Testament usages are:
• “Human messenger”;
• “Messenger of God”;
• “Heavenly messenger” or “angel”; and
• “The messenger of the Lord or God”
The Old Testament describes obedient human and heavenly (angelic) messengers. Most notable is the “messenger of Yahweh,” who may be God incarnate. Others are human or spiritual beings with a human appearance. They were sent on missions of divine revelation and rescue.
Angelic events in the Old Testament.
- Angel appearing to Nebuchadnezzar — An angel declaring that a tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision should be cut down.
- Angel plaguing David — Angel who cast a plague on Israel after David took a census of the people.
- Prince of Persia — An angel appointed to protect Persia. He fought with the angel, informing Daniel.
- Messengers visiting Abraham — The men who appeared to Abraham and told him Sarah would have a child within a year.
- Angel explaining Daniel’s vision — An angel appears in Daniel’s vision of the four beasts. Daniel asked the angel what it meant.
- Angel informing Daniel — An angel appeared to Daniel and told him what would come regarding the North and South kings.
- Angel informing Zechariah — An angel that appeared to the prophet Zechariah and pleaded to God on behalf of Jerusalem.
- Michael (archangel) — An archangel who leads God’s forces.
- Gabriel — An angel who brought messages to Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary.
- Angel of the Lord — A heavenly messenger from God.
- An Angel — Any angel or group of angels.
“Angel(s)” Between the Testaments
Misconceptions about angels increased in the centuries between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. Today’s conceptions reflect Deuterocanonical, Pseudepigraphal, and Greek literature of the Hellenistic Period (323–30 BC). Jewish views on angels developed during pre-New Testament and New Testament times, as reflected in the writings of sectarian communities around the Dead Sea (Qumran) and in rabbinic literature.
The various names of Angels hugely common today do not come from the Bible. As mentioned above, most come from extra-biblical sources, predominantly Jewish literature. The most common of them is the book of Enoch. You will find below extracts of the book that talk about angels. Many of these sources have been used to explain specific difficult passages of the Bible, like the famous “Sons of God who took daughters of men as wives” (Genesis 6:1-3)
In Græco-Roman society and Classical Greek literature, the ἄγγελος (angelos) was a message bearer who was protected by the gods. It became a technical term for emissary. Over time, birds began to play a role in bringing messages to people from the gods. Divine (e.g., Hermes) and human messengers and those from the Underworld existed.
Philo (20 bc—ad 50) linked Hermes and λόγος (logos, “word”) theology by allegorizing מַלְאָךְ (mal’akh). He equated an angel and the logos (the “word” or “message”) and merged Jewish angelology with Greek demonology. Angels and demons were thought to be powers behind the universe. Joseph (ad 37–100) of Palestine distinguished between “messenger” and “angel.” He had angels present at the giving of the Law.
It is to be noted that biblically, there is only one word for these being, “angelos”; however, the Jewish/Greek ideology started making differences between good angels “, angelos”, and harmful “angelos” and started translating these instances as “daimonion” from which we get our English words “demons.”
Jewish views regarding Old Testament heavenly messengers developed into an angelology with hierarchies of principalities. The Jewish view of the Sadducees, influenced by Greek rationalism, dismissed angels as a reality.
Deuterocanonical Books/Pseudepigrapha angelic events
- Sariel (archangel) — One of the seven archangels. He is responsible for reproving those who blaspheme God.
- Ruler of Watchers — A ruler over the rebellious angels
- Jeremiel — An archangel mentioned in 2 Esd 4:33.
- Semeiazas — The leader of the angels who is culpable in the unrighteous actions of the angels (the Watchers).
- Raguel (archangel) — One of the seven archangels. He is responsible for the stars.
- Azael — One of the Watchers who corrupted mankind.
- Uriel (archangel) — An archangel mentioned in 2 Esdras.
- Archangels — The group of seven angels, including Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Raguel, Sariel, Uriel, and Jeremiel.
- Michael (archangel) — An archangel who leads God’s forces.
- Raphael — An angel sent to care for Tobit and Sarah.
- Gabriel — An angel who brought messages to Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary.
- Angel of the Lord — A heavenly messenger from God.
- An Angel — Any angel or group of angels.
Enoch 20:1–7 (LES): The Names of the Archangels
20 These are the angels of powers: 2 Uriel, one of the holy angels, who is over the world and the netherworld; 3 Raphael, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits of men; 4 Raguel, one of the holy angels, who avenges the world of luminaries; 5 Michael, one of the holy angels, who was appointed over the good ones of the people and over the chaos; 6 Sariel, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits who sin in the spirit; 7 Gabriel, one of the holy angels, who is over paradise and the dragons and Cherubim. These are the seven names of the archangels.
Enoch 6:7 The Sons of Heaven and the Evil Deeds of Their Children
7 These are the names of their rulers: Semiaza (this was their ruler of all the angels), Arathak, Kimbra, Sammane, Daniel, Arearos, Semiel, Iomiel, Chochariel, Ezekiel, Batriel, Sathiel, Atriel, Tamiel, Barakiel, Ananthna, Thoniel, Rhamiel, Aseal, Rhakiel, Touriel. 8 These are the chiefs of tens among them.
“Angel(s)” in the New Testament
The English translation “Angel” in the New Testament is always a rendering of ἄγγελος (angelos); this is not a proper translation—it merely anglicizes the Greek letters into English. This same Greek word is used to translate “messenger” (מַלְאָךְ, mal’akh) in the Old Testament. A human or heavenly messenger in the Greek Bible is ἄγγελος (angelos), whereas we (in English) distinguish “angel” and “messenger.” New Testament uses of ἄγγελος (Angelos) are:
• “[Human] messenger, envoy, one who is sent.”
• “Heavenly spirits” of whom some are “guardian [messengers]”
The good angels are sometimes further described as “mighty,” “in heaven,” “from heaven,” or “from the temple in Heaven.” New Testament messengers may be sinful or obedient. Three times, “his angels” is used in conjunction with the Adversary (or Satan; called the ancient Serpent Rev 12:7–9 or the Devil). They are described as:
- An angel of light (Satan)
- Angels that sinned.
- Angels that left positions of authority
- Angel of the Abyss
New Testament angelic events
- Two Angels at the Ascension — Angels who spoke to the disciples after Jesus ascended into heaven.
- Apollyon — A Greek name for the angel of the bottomless pit.
- Angel stopping the Four Angels — An angel who stopped the Four Angels from harming the earth and sea until the servants had been sealed.
- Angel proclaiming the Fall of Babylon — An angel who came down from heaven announcing the fall of Babylon.
- Four Angels — Angels who stood at the four corners of the earth and held back the four winds.
- Two Angels at the Tomb — Angels at the empty tomb. They informed Mary Magdalene of Jesus’ resurrection in the Gospel of John.
- Angel offering Incense — An angel who offered incense with the prayers of the saints.
- Angel at the Tomb — An angel at the empty tomb. He informed the women of Jesus’ resurrection in the Gospel of Mark.
- Spirit of Sardinian Church — The angel of the church in Sardis.
- Spirit of Smyrnan Church — The angel of the church in Smyrna.
- Spirit of Pergamene Church — The angel of the church in Pergamum.
- Spirit of Philadelphian Church — The angel of the church in Philadelphia.
- Spirit of Ephesian Church — The angel of the church in Ephesus.
- Spirit of Thyatiran Church — The angel of the church in Thyatira.
- Spirit of Church at Laodicea — The angel of the church in Laodicea.
- Michael (archangel) — An archangel who leads God’s forces.
- Angel bringing Scroll — An angel who came down from heaven with a scroll. He set one foot in the sea and one on land.
- Gabriel — An angel who brought messages to Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary.
- Seventh Angel — An angel who sounded the trumpet to indicate the mystery of God being revealed.
- Angel of the Lord — A heavenly messenger from God.
- First Angel Sounding Trumpet — The first of seven angels who sounded a trumpet to indicate the mystery of God being revealed.
- Seventh Angel Pouring Out Wrath — The last of seven angels sent to pour God’s wrath upon the earth from a golden bowl.
- Third Angel Sounding Trumpet — The third of seven angels who sounded a trumpet to indicate the mystery of God being revealed.
- First Angel Pouring Out Wrath — The first of seven angels sent to pour God’s wrath upon the earth from a golden bowl.
- Fifth Angel Pouring Out Wrath — The fifth of seven angels sent to pour God’s wrath upon the earth from a golden bowl.
- Fifth Angel Sounding Trumpet — The fifth of seven angels who sounded a trumpet to indicate the mystery of God being revealed.
- Second Angel Pouring Out Wrath — The second of seven angels sent to pour God’s wrath upon the earth from a golden bowl.
- Third Angel Proclaiming Judgment — The last of three angels proclaiming that the hour of God’s judgment had come.
- Second Angel Sounding Trumpet — The second of seven angels who sounded a trumpet to indicate the mystery of God being revealed.
- Fourth Angel Pouring Out Wrath — The fourth of seven angels sent to pour God’s wrath upon the earth from a golden bowl.
- Second Angel Proclaiming Judgment — The second of three angels proclaiming that the hour of God’s judgment had come.
- Sixth Angel Sounding Trumpet — The sixth of seven angels who sounded a trumpet to indicate the mystery of God being revealed.
- Third Angel Pouring Out Wrath — The third of seven angels sent to pour God’s wrath upon the earth from a golden bowl.
- First Angel Proclaiming Judgment — The first of three angels proclaiming that the hour of God’s judgment had come.
- Sixth Angel Pouring Out Wrath — The sixth of seven angels sent to pour God’s wrath upon the earth from a golden bowl.
- Fourth Angel Sounding Trumpet — The fourth of seven angels who sounded a trumpet to indicate the mystery of God being revealed.
- Seventh Angel Sounding Trumpet — The last of seven angels who sounded a trumpet to indicate the mystery of God being revealed.
Roles of “Angels”
- An angel could provide or produce:
- Guidance for successful decision-making (Gen 24:7, 40);
- Deliverance from harm (Gen 48:16);
- Protection and physical direction (Exod 23:20, 23; 32:34; 33:2; Num 20:16);
- Death and destruction (2 Sam 24:16);
- Verbal revelation from Yahweh (1 Kgs 13:18);
- God’s presence (Hos 12:4; Gen 32:24–30);
- Communication between someone having a vision and God or the Angel of the Lord (Zech 1:8–2:3).
The “angel of the Lord.”
The “angel of the Lord” is mentioned several times in scripture and has several roles. This “Angel” is also present in the New Testament as below:
- Appears in dreams or visions (Matt 1:20; 2:13, 19; Luke 1:11);
- Commands believers, communicates with them, and gives them good news (Matt 1:24; Acts 12:7–8);
- Comes down from the heavens (Matt 28:2a);
- Moves tomb stones (Matt 28:2b);
- Opens prison doors and chains (Acts 5:19; 12:7–11);
- Killed Herod when he did not give due credit to God (Acts 12:23);
- Makes predictions (Luke 1:11–13);
- Can disappear suddenly (Acts 12:10);
Conclusion:
We cannot and should not deny the existence of these angels. To be biblically correct, Elohim describes all spiritual beings- spiritual in nature – just like all heavenly hosts are.
However, there has been rebellious Elohim throughout the cosmic history. Faithful to the scripture is the existence of evil ‘elohim’, or ‘angelos’. These evil angels have been translated into “demons” so readers can see the difference between the good and the bad. The original texts do not contain such translated names.
Secondly, it is equally important to note that most of the details we know about angels, like their names, ranks, and many other stories, do not come from the canonical scriptures but from extra-biblical texts. They were popular and widespread in the Jewish and Greek eras. The apocryphal texts and Rabbinic literature draw much from oral tradition and have made their way through Christian tradition.
Though accepted, these are not canonical and are not from confirmed and approved divine inspiration but more so from religious tradition. The acceptance of some materials from the book of Enoch can be explained because both Jude and Peter quote from this book. Hence, though non-inspired, much Jewish literature has strong reverence in the Jewish community and in Christian communities, which, after all, is an expansion of Jewish traditions through Christ.
Most of the details we know about angels (apart from what they do) come from external sources in the Bible. Most of them are non-inspired texts and are apocryphal or Pseudepigraphal in nature.
