Angels Present at the Giving of the Law to Moses
The belief that angels were present at the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai is supported by several biblical texts and has been affirmed across various theological traditions. While the Old Testament accounts of the giving of the Law do not explicitly mention angels, later biblical and extra-biblical writings attest to their involvement [9].
Stephen's speech in Acts 7:53 states that the Israelites "received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it" [1]. This verse is a key New Testament reference for the concept [9]. Similarly, Galatians 3:19 mentions that the Law "was ordained by angels through an intermediary" [7]. The author of Hebrews also refers to the Law as "the word spoken through angels" (Hebrews 2:2) [9].
The presence of angels is understood in different ways. Some interpretations suggest that angels acted as intermediaries or agents through whom God communicated the Law [4, 6]. Thomas Aquinas, for instance, argued that the Law was given by God through angels, citing the general principle that "the gifts of God should be brought to men by means of the angels" [12]. He also noted a specific reason for angelic involvement: the Old Law's imperfection and its role in preparing humanity for salvation [12].
John Gill, a Baptist commentator, interpreted Acts 7:53 to mean that angels "attended the angel that spake to Moses on Mount Sinai," suggesting a multitude of angels present during the event [7]. He also referenced Deuteronomy 33:2, which, in some interpretations, alludes to the presence of angels at Sinai [7, 9]. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, also acknowledged the role of angels, noting that Paul "everywhere saith it was given by angels" [8]. He considered the possibility that angels were present, "God disposing them in order" [8].
Jewish tradition also emphasizes the role of angels. The Babylonian Talmud recounts a narrative where ministering angels questioned Moses's presence on high to receive the Torah, highlighting their perceived ownership or guardianship of the divine law before its bestowal upon humanity [10, 11]. This tradition illustrates the belief that angels were intimately involved in the transmission of the Law.
While the exact nature of their involvement is subject to interpretation, the consistent testimony from the New Testament and subsequent theological traditions affirms the presence and mediatorial role of angels in the giving of the Law to Moses [2, 3, 5].
Sources
- Acts ““This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. -- Acts 7:35”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Law of Moses, The — Is the law of God -- Le 26:46. Given In the desert. -- Eze 20:10,11. At Horeb. -- De 4:10,15; 5:2. From the Mount Sinai. -- Ex 19:11,20. By disposition of angels. -- Ac 7:53. Through Moses as mediator. -- De 5:5,27,28; Joh 1:17; Ga 3:19. To the Jews. -- Le 26:46; Ps 78:5. After the exodus. -- De 4:45; Ps 81:4,5. To no other nation. -- De 4:8; Ps 147:20. None to approach the Mount while God gave -- Ex 19:13,21-24; Heb 12:20. Remarkable phenomena connected with, at giving of -- Ex 19:16-19. Terror of Israel at receiving -- Ex 19:16; 20:18-20; De 5:5”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Angels — Created by God and Christ -- Ne 9:6; Col 1:16. Worship God and Christ -- Ne 9:6; Php 2:9-11; Heb 1:6. Are ministering Spirits -- 1Ki 19:5; Ps 68:17; 104:4; Lu 16:22; Ac 12:7-11; 27:23; Heb 1:7,14. Communicate the will of God and Christ -- Da 8:16,17; 9:21-23; 10:11; 12:6,7; Mt 2:13,20; Lu 1:19,28; Ac 5:20; 8:26; 10:5; 27:23; Re 1:1. Obey the will of God -- Ps 103:20; Mt 6:10. Execute the purposes of God -- Nu 22:22; Ps 103:21; Mt 13:39-42; 28:2; Joh 5:4; Re 5:2. Execute the judgments of God -- 2Sa 24:16; 2Ki 19:35; Ps 35:5,6; Ac 12:23; Re 16:1. Celebrate the”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Angel — A word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa. 42:19; Hag. 1:13), of priests (Mal. 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Rev. 1:20). It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence (2 Sam. 24:16, 17; 2 Kings 19:35), the wind (Ps. 104:4). But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Angels — By the word "angels" (i.e. "messengers" of God) we ordinarily understand a race of spiritual beings of a nature exalted far above that of man, although infinitely removed from that of God--whose office is "to do him service in heaven, and by his appointment to succor and defend men on earth. I. Scriptural use of the word .--There are many passages in which the expression "angel of God" is certainly used for a manifestation of God himself (Genesis 22:11) with Genesis 22:12 and Exod 3:2 with Exod 3:6 and Exod 3:14 It is to be observed, also, that side by side w”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. II.--THE ESSENCE OF GOD NEVER APPEARED IN ITSELF. DIVINE APPEARANCES TO THE FATHERS WROUGHT BY THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS. AN OBJECTION DRAWN FROM THE MODE OF SPEECH REMOVED. THAT THE APPEARING OF (part 6): weighty proof, where not an angel in the singular nor men in the plural are spoken of, but simply angels; by whom not any particular word was wrought, but the Law itself is most distinctly declared to be given; which certainly none of the faithful doubts that God gave to Moses for the control of the children of Israel, or yet, that it was g”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 7:51: Who have received the law, by the disposition of angels,.... Who attended the angel that spake to Moses on Mount Sinai, Act 7:38 who is the head of all principality and power, and whom he might make use of in giving the law to Moses: hence the law is said to be ordained by angels, in the hand of a Mediator, and is called the word spoken by angels, Gal 3:19 and certain it is, that there were great numbers of angels on Mount Sinai, when the law was given, Deu 33:2 And so the Jews say (m), that "when the holy blessed God descended on Mount Sinai, there came down with him”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: of a Mediator.” ( Gal. iii. 19 .) And again, “Ye received a law by the disposition of Angels, and have not kept it.” ( Acts vii. 53 .) And everywhere he saith it was given by angels. Some indeed say that Moses is signified; but without reason. For here he says Angels in the plural: and the Angels too which he here speaks of, are those in Heaven. What then is it? Either he means the Decalogue only (for there Moses spake, and God answered him— Ex. xix. 19 ),—or that angels were present, God disposing them in order,—or that he speaks thus in regard of ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: (Moses). No mention is made of angels as revealers of the law in Exodus xix . the first mention of angels in connection with the giving of the law being in a highly poetic passage in Moses’ benediction, Deut. xxxiii. 2 . (Even here the Heb. text is uncertain. Cf. the lxx. in loco ). The function of angels in the giving of the law has a prominent place in later Jewish theology as opposed to the action of mere human ministers. The New Testament notices on the subject reflect this later phase of thought (Cf. Acts vii. 53 ; Heb. ii. 2 ). See Lightfoot on”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 88b.7: And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ascended on High to receive the Torah, the ministering angels said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, what is one born of a woman doing here among us? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: He came to receive the Torah. The angels said before Him: The Torah is a hidden treasure that was concealed by You 974 generations before the creation of the world, and You seek to give it to flesh and blood? As it is stated: “The word which He commanded to a thousand generations” (Psalms 105:8). Sinc”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 89a.1: idols that you require this special warning? Again Moses asked: What else is written in it? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to him: “Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it” (Exodus 20:8). Moses asked the angels: Do you perform labor that you require rest from it? Again Moses asked: What else is written in it? “Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7), meaning that it is prohibited to swear falsely. Moses asked the angels: Do you conduct business with one another that may lead you to swear falsely? Again Moses asked: What else is writ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part of the Second Part (Prima Secundae), Of the Old Law, Art. 3: Article: Whether the Old Law was given through the angels? I answer that, The Law was given by God through the angels. And besides the general reason given by Dionysius (Coel. Hier. iv), viz. that "the gifts of God should be brought to men by means of the angels," there is a special reason why the Old Law should have been given through them. For it has been stated (Articles [1],2) that the Old Law was imperfect, and yet disposed man to that perfect salvation of the human race, which was to come t”