What Are Angels in the Bible?
Biblical angels are spiritual beings who are not constrained by the physical laws that govern our earthly existence. These heavenly entities exist beyond our understanding, unbound by the limitations of time, space, and matter that we experience in our world. They are beings of light and spirit, capable of fulfilling their divine missions.
Angels are seen as ethereal emissaries who play an essential role in the unfolding of God’s plan for humanity and the universe. Their presence shows us the interconnectedness of all things and reminds us that the spiritual and the physical worlds are not isolated from each other but are intricately woven together.
Angels from the Bible and Judaism
Jews sing “Shalom Aleichem” to these angels when they accompany them home from synagogue on the Sabbath eve. They are called on to guard us as we go to sleep and to protect us when we go on a long journey. The most common Hebrew word for angels is malachim, which can also mean “messengers.” Angels are God’s messengers, His army of helpers, charged with guiding, protecting, challenging, and helping human beings. As it says in the Book of Psalms, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (91:11).
Why Angels are Here
God created these celestial beings with the sole purpose of carrying out His will. While worthy of awe and respect, they should not be worshiped like God, and they do not have the ability to change reality. They do not have free will or autonomy, like human beings, but rather were created to fill specific roles on behalf of God, such as delivering messages to human beings, protecting people, fighting evil forces, or praising and worshiping God. While the creation of angels is not detailed in the Bible, the Jewish sages explain that they were created prior to human beings.
Angel Names, Meanings, and Duties
- Malachim- The most common type of angels in Jewish tradition are malachim, messengers who communicate with human beings on earth. This term appears many times throughout the Bible, sometimes referring to human messengers and sometimes to divine beings, such as in Exodus: “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared” (23:20).
- Cherubim-Cherubim are often depicted as winged creatures responsible for guarding sacred spaces, such as the two golden figures that rested on top of the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple. Cherubim are mentioned in various Bible passages, including Exodus 25: “There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites” (v. 22).
- Seraphim- Described as fiery, radiant beings with many wings, seraphim are generally associated with divine worship and praise, as mentioned in Isaiah 6:2-3: “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
- B’nai Elohim-Directly translated as “the sons of God,” this term is used to refer to divine beings that appear in council before God, such as those mentioned in Job: “One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them” (1:6). Although not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, Jewish mysticism and folklore mention other types of angels, such as guardian angels charged with protecting others and recording the deeds of everyone for future judgement.
How are Biblical Angels Described?
As mentioned above, angels take on many different forms in the Bible. In Isaiah 6:2, seraphim are depicted with six wings. In Ezekiel 1:10, angels are described as having multiple faces: “Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.” The most largely accepted appearance of a “biblically accurate” angel is the seraphim which also depicts multiple eyes in conjunction to their multiple wings.
However, in many Bible stories, angels look like regular people, such as the three men who visit Abraham in Genesis 18, the two men who appear to Lot in Genesis 19, and the man who wrestles with Jacob in Genesis 32. Despite being called “men” in the text, Jewish tradition understands these characters to be angels. In many instances, they are also depicted as being able to wield blazing swords of holy fire.
How are Angels in the Bible Organized?
In the divine architecture of the heavens, the structure of angelic beings is precisely delineated. At the forefront are the archangels, like Michael, who is specifically named in Jude 1:9 in the Christian Bible as “the archangel,” indicating his superior rank and role as a defender of righteousness and leader in the cosmic battle against evil.
Beneath the archangels, the seraphim and cherubim occupy roles of worship and guardianship, each group distinct in their service to God. The seraphim, described in Isaiah 6:2 as having six wings and standing in the presence of God, are dedicated to perpetual adoration, their voices ceaselessly proclaiming God’s holiness. The cherubim, on the other hand, are depicted in Exodus 25:20 as guardians of the sacred, their images crafted atop the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing their role in protecting the divine presence.
This hierarchy ensures God’s plan is executed in both the spiritual and physical worlds, with entities like archangels, seraphim, cherubim, and messenger angels all having significant roles in our existence.
Bible Verses About Angels
Among the references to angels in the Bible and later Jewish texts, some are explicit and others are vague. Below are just a few of the notable encounters with angels in the Bible – instances where angels served as messengers of God, delivering important guidance and reassurance to biblical figures.
Abraham and the Three Visitors (Genesis 18)
Three days after his circumcision, Abraham sat at the opening of his tent, waiting for visitors. Three “men,” understood by Jewish tradition to be angels, appeared, delivering the surprising news that Sarah would become pregnant, despite her age.
Hagar in the Wilderness (Genesis 16)
After being mistreated by Sarah, her pregnant maidservant Hagar fled from home. An “angel of the Lord” appeared to Hagar in the desert (v. 7). He told her to return to Sarah and promised that she would birth a large nation through her son, Ishmael.
Lot and the City of Sodom (Genesis 19)
God sent two angels to the evil city of Sodom to rescue Lot and his family before He destroyed the city.
Jacob Wrestling with an Angel (Genesis 32)
On the eve of his tense reunion with his brother Esau, “a man wrestled with him till daybreak” (v. 24). Jacob understood that this “man” was really an angel, and he demanded that the angel bless him. The angel gave him a new name, Israel, “because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome” (v. 28).
The Burning Bush (Exodus 3)
In Moses’ first encounter with the supernatural, an “angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush,” instructing him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (v. 2).
Gideon and the Angel (Judges 6)
After years of oppression at the hands of the Midianites, the Israelites called out to God. An “angel of the LORD” appeared to the judge, Gideon, assuring him that “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior” (v. 12).
Elisha Opens his Servant’s Eyes (2 Kings 6)
The king of Aram sent a mighty army, including hundreds of horses and chariots to surround the city and capture the prophet Elisha. Elisha’s servant began to panic, but Elisha told him, “Don’t be afraid… Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (v. 16). Elisha prayed to God to open the eyes of his servant, and suddenly, the servant saw that the surrounding hills were full of horses and chariots of fire. This was God’s army of angels, ready to protect and defend Elisha.
Balaam’s Donkey (Numbers 22)
The Moabite king Balak hired the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam was on his donkey to meet Balak when “the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand” (v. 23). Unable to see the angel, Balaam beat his donkey until God opened his eyes, revealing the angel. The angel told Balaam that the donkey had saved him from a path that would lead to his destruction. Balaam acknowledged his sin and ultimately blessed the Israelites instead of cursing them.
Why Angels are so Important
While Jewish tradition does not detail exactly how many angels exist, they are portrayed as numerous, sometimes described as “a multitude.” For example, Daniel 7:10 mentions “thousands upon thousands” and “ten thousand times ten thousand” angels in the heavenly court.
That being said, several individual angels are mentioned by name in the Bible.
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