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ἄγγελος

ángelos

G32 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who is sent to convey a message, a messenger; in extended usage, a supernatural or heavenly being acting as an agent or envoy, especially in divine contexts; less commonly, an agent or representative in human affairs. The word primarily denotes someone bearing or delivering a message, but in some contexts (especially Jewish and early Christian writings) refers specifically to celestial beings perceived as acting on behalf of the divine.

Semantic Range

messenger (human or divine), envoy, emissary, herald, supernatural agent, celestial being (especially in Jewish and Christian usage)

Root / Etymology

From the root ἀγγελ- derived from ἀγγέλλω ('to announce, to report'), which itself traces to ἄγω ('to lead, bring'). The form ἄγγελος thus signifies 'one who announces or bears tidings.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἄγγελος most often refers to a human messenger, envoy, or emissary conveying a message between parties, with no necessary supernatural connotation. In the Septuagint, ἄγγελος is frequently used to translate Hebrew מַלְאָךְ (malʼakh), which can denote both a human messenger and a supernatural angelic agent. This carries over into Jewish and early Christian Greek texts, where ἄγγελος commonly describes a supernatural being (often rendered 'angel' in English translations), especially one acting under divine authority. However, the term retains its broader sense—'messenger'—and can refer to human agents, e.g., John the Baptizer called the 'messenger' (ἄγγελος) in the Gospels. The rendering of ἄγγελος as 'angel' in English tradition limits the semantic range to divine messengers, but in Greek sources the context determines whether a human or supernatural agent is intended. The use of 'angel' in modern translation can obscure the human reference present in the original term.

Translation Consistency

primary "messenger" 170 occurrences

‘Messenger’ is the most neutral and most typical rendering of ἄγγελος across contexts — it fits both human envoys and divine/celestial agents, matches the SILEX range, and is the most frequent form in the P2 data. It avoids theological bias that ‘angel’ would introduce while remaining natural English.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"angel" (5x) "angels" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from (probably derived from ἄγω; compare ἀγέλη) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor:--angel, messenger.

Root Family

ἄγγελος (angelos) — messenger, envoy, announcer, bearer of tidings

Root ἀγγελ- to announce, to send as a messenger, to bear a message

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G32-04 ἄγγελόν aggelon N ACC M SG angels messenger messenger 53
G32-05 ἄγγελος aggelos N NOM M SG angel messenger messenger 48
G32-02 ἄγγελοι aggeloi N NOM M PL angels messengers messengers 23
G32-07 ἀγγέλους aggelous N ACC M PL angels messengers messengers 20
G32-06 ἀγγέλου aggelou N GEN M SG angel of a messenger of a messenger 14
G32-01 ἀγγέλῳ aggelo N DAT M SG angel to a messenger to a messenger 9
G32-03 ἀγγέλοις aggelois N DAT M PL angels to messengers to messengers 9

Occurrences in Scripture

176 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G32-05 Matthew 1:20 ἄγγελος aggelos N NOM M SG angel messenger messenger
G32-05 Matthew 1:24 ἄγγελος aggelos N NOM M SG angel messenger messenger
G32-05 Matthew 2:13 ἄγγελος aggelos N NOM M SG an angel messenger messenger
G32-05 Matthew 2:19 ἄγγελος aggelos N NOM M SG an angel messenger messenger
G32-03 Matthew 4:6 ἀγγέλοις aggelois N DAT M PL angels to messengers to messengers
G32-02 Matthew 4:11 ἄγγελοι aggeloi N NOM M PL angels messengers messengers
G32-04 Matthew 11:10 ἄγγελόν aggelon N ACC M SG messenger messenger messenger
G32-02 Matthew 13:39 ἄγγελοί aggeloi N NOM M PL angels messengers messengers
G32-07 Matthew 13:41 ἀγγέλους aggelous N ACC M PL angels messengers messengers
G32-02 Matthew 13:49 ἄγγελοι aggeloi N NOM M PL angels messengers messengers
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