Understanding the Role of Angels in Biblical Narrative

The term "angel" derives from both Hebrew and Greek words meaning "messenger" ^[1]. In biblical narratives, angels primarily function as agents God sends forth to execute his purposes ^[1]. While the word can refer to human messengers, prophets, priests, or even impersonal agents like pestilence or wind, its distinctive application is to heavenly intelligences who serve God in governing the world ^[1].

Angels are understood to be spiritual beings, exalted above humanity but infinitely below God ^[2]. They are created by God and Christ ^[3]. Their primary roles include ministering to God, worshiping Him, and communicating His will ^[3]. For instance, the angel Gabriel was sent to Daniel to explain visions and later to Zacharias and Mary to announce the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, respectively ^{[4, 9]}. Angels also obey God's will and execute His purposes and judgments, as seen in instances like the angel of the Lord striking down Sennacherib's army or the angel of the Lord bringing pestilence ^[3].

A significant figure in the Old Testament is the "Angel of the Lord," which some interpretations understand as a manifestation of God himself, or even a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ ^{[2, 5]}. For example, the Angel of the Lord appears to Moses in the burning bush, where the text identifies the Angel with God speaking from the bush ^[2]. Similarly, the Angel of the Lord in Genesis 16:7 is understood by some to be a special form in which God manifested himself ^[5]. Some commentators note that this angel is frequently called "Jehovah" and "Elohim" (God), indicating a divine identity ^[15]. However, other Jewish traditions interpret "angel" in passages like Exodus 23:20-21 as referring to the Torah or the ark of the covenant, suggesting that "My name is in him" could mean "My name is in it" ^[16].

The Bible names two specific angels: Gabriel and Michael ^[9]. Gabriel, whose name means "man of God," appeared to Daniel in human form ^[13]. Michael is identified as an archangel, the "prince of the angels," and is mentioned in Daniel, Jude, and Revelation ^{[7, 9, 12]}. Jewish tradition considers "archangel" to be the highest rank of angel ^[12].

Angels are depicted as ministering spirits who help and encourage human beings ^{[3, 14]}. Examples include an angel strengthening Jesus in Gethsemane and angels ministering to Elijah ^[14]. They are also associated with God's lordship over nature, sometimes appearing in connection with winds and fire ^[11]. Despite their significant roles, angels are consistently portrayed as servants of God, of a lesser rank than the Son ^[11]. The book of Hebrews explicitly states that God never called any angel His Son ^[6]. The word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and transgression received recompense, indicating their authority as messengers of God's law ^[8].

Biblical narratives also show that humans can be fearful when encountering angels, as seen in the reaction of Daniel and others ^[10]. The New Testament further clarifies that angels are not to be worshiped, but rather they worship God and Christ ^[3].

Sources

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”
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”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gabriel — (man of God), an angel sent by God to announce to Zacharias the birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary the birth of Christ. He was also sent to Daniel to explain his visions. (Daniel 8:16; 9:21)”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Angel Of The Lord — (Genesis 16:7) etc. (The special form in which God manifested himself to man, and hence Christ's visible form before the incarnation. Compare (Acts 7:30-38) with the corresponding Old-Testament history; and (Genesis 18:1,13,14,33) and Genesis 19:1)”
Hebrews “For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today have I become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?” -- Hebrews 1:5”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Archangel — (1Thess. 4:16; Jude 1:9), the prince of the angels.”
Hebrews “For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense; -- Hebrews 2:2”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 1:19: 1:19 I am Gabriel! Two angels are named in Scripture: Gabriel (Dan 8:16; 9:21) and Michael (Dan 10:13; 12:1; Jude 1:9; Rev 12:7).”
Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 10:19: peace be unto thee--God is favorable to thee and to thy people Israel. See Jdg 13:21-22, as to the fear of some evil resulting from a vision of angels.”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 1:7: 1:7 This verse quotes Ps 104:4 to show that the angels are messengers or servants and, therefore, of a lesser rank than the Son, whom they serve. • In the Old Testament, angels are sometimes associated with winds and fire (see Exod 3:2; Judg 6:21; 13:16, 20; 2 Sam 22:11; Pss 18:10; 35:5), which is why angels are mentioned in connection with God’s lordship over nature.”
Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 1:9: 1:9 Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels: In Jewish tradition, “archangel” was the highest rank of angel (see also 1 Thes 4:16). Michael is mentioned several other times in Scripture (Dan 10:13, 21; 12:1; Rev 12:7); the story about him fighting with the devil about Moses’ body is not in the Old Testament but is preserved in Jewish tradition (see Assumption of Moses).”
Daniel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Daniel 8:15: 8:15-16 The name Gabriel means “man of God”; he appeared like a man to Daniel (see also 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26).”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 22:43: 22:43 an angel from heaven: Angels often help and encourage human beings (see Heb 1:14; cp. 1 Kgs 19:5-8; Ps 91:11-12; Dan 3:28; 10:16-19).”
Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 23:21: my name is in him--This angel is frequently called Jehovah and Elohim, that is, God.”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Exodus 23:20: [AN ANGEL.] Many err concerning the angel. Some say that the angel refers to the Book of the Torah, for Scripture says, for My name is in him (v. 21). 130 This can be rendered, for My name is in it . For the word bo (him) can also mean it. Others say that the reference is to the ark of the covenant. 131 The ark led the Israelites as an angel does. See Num. 10:33. They interpret and hearken unto his voice (v. 21) as: and hearken to what is written in it. 132 The reference is to the Ten Commandments which were in the ark. They also say that for he will not pardo”

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