Angels appear throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. The Hebrew word for “angel” in the Old Testament is mal’akh, which means simply a messenger, both human and supernatural. In context, mal’akh describes angels when they are spiritual beings sent by God to deliver messages, protect, or generally execute the will of God. In the New Testament, we get the word “angel” from the Greek angelos, which also means messenger.
Angels serve several purposes throughout the Scripture, most importantly as beings sent by God to deliver his words, hence the name. Angels also protect and guide God’s people. In heaven, we see them worship god continually (Revelation 4). Other times, God sends angels to bring judgment.
In the Old Testament, often when an angel delivers a message from God, the text will alternate between “the angel said” and “God said.” Ultimately, when a being repeats God’s message in obedience, it works as if God himself said it. Therefore, we can look at the words of angels throughout the Bible and learn about God’s character and plan.
Here are seven angel quotes and what they mean for us today.
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1. The Angel's Words to Abraham about Isaac
God finally provided the miracle child to Abraham and Sarah, and then he instructs Abraham to sacrifice his son. In Genesis 22:11-12, while Abraham is about to follow through, an angel of the Lord calls out, “Do not lay a hand on the boy … now I know that you fear God.” This moment disturbs us but teaches a powerful truth. God tests our faith, but he never abandons us. The angelic message and intervention showed God’s heart for life and how he would provide for those who trust him.
Abraham faced an impossible test, but he obeyed, believing God would provide, even raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Just like God stopped Abraham, God steps into our lives at the exact and perfect time, guiding us through trials. God allows tests and temptations in our lives to strengthen our trust in him alone. In this world, our faith will be constantly challenged, and we need to remember our obedience and surrender will be rewarded for God’s glory and our good.
The angelic command also reveals God’s heart for life. In other verses, God condemns the evil of child sacrifice, and he stops Abraham from participating in this practice which was common in that day. God values every life, and he calls us to protect and honor it. We can be sure that God will fight for life in every circumstance, and so must we.
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2. The Angel's Words to Gideon
After the Israelites come into the Promised Land, they entered a time of the judges. Over the years, when Israel would reject God and follow idols, God would allow them to be oppressed as a result. The Israelites would then cry out to the Lord, and he’d send a deliverer.
In Judges 6:12, the angel of the Lord appears to a future judge of Israel, Gideon, and says, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” But at the moment, Gideon isn’t acting like a warrior. He hides in fear, threshing wheat in secret. However, God calls him to a higher, truer identity, not based on his immediate circumstances but on who God will make of him.
God often calls us to something greater before we can see it. In fact, God never calls us to do things we can do in our own strength. He only leads us in ways where we require his power and transformation. When inviting us into his plan, he speaks over us according to his purpose and our future. We often feel small, but God calls us chosen, loved, and empowered. In Romans 4:17, Scripture says the Lord “calls things that are not as though they were.” Just like he said, “let there be light,” and there was light, when God speaks over us, reality shifts and obeys. His word transforms us. Not because of who we are, but because of who he is. Upon repenting to his truth, we step into our identity in Christ.
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3. The Angel's Words to Daniel
After years of prophetic warnings, God finally allowed Babylon to conquer and exile the Jews. A young man, Daniel, becomes a voice for truth within the pagan empire, and his book details his life and visions. At one point, Daniel prays for days. An angel arrives and says, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have in response to them.” (Daniel 10:12)
God hears the moment we begin to pray. From our perspective, we don’t see immediate results. Daniel had been praying and fasting for three weeks, without hearing directly from God, but the Lord had already granted the request and sent the angel. The delay wasn’t because God ignored him. On the contrary, the Lord and his angels engaged in a spiritual battle (Daniel 10:13). We may pray and fast for a while without seeing any change, but God is still active. He has set his response in motion, often unseen to us. We must keep praying and trusting that God always works behind the scenes and his timing is perfect.
When we feel unheard or unseen, forgotten by everyone including God, we must remember our feelings don’t determine truth. God listens, cares, and acts. Whether the answer comes suddenly or over time, he is with us and moves on our behalf. Our prayers are never in vain.
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4. The Angel Gabriel's Words to Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Many people pray for God’s favor in their lives. But we often forget the biblical lesson that, more often than not, God’s favor moves us into hard times and trials, where his favor will be a blessing.
In Luke 1:30-31, the angel Gabriel tells Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” On the one hand, the angel invites Mary to be the vessel through which God would send his Son for the salvation of the world. This was a phenomenal calling, as many cried out to God for his Messiah to come. Yet her favor would also bring struggle. As an engaged and unmarried woman, her culture would judge and reject her. Even further, she would experience deep sorrow and lament to watch her son crucified. However, she also saw him resurrected and the revolution of the church.
Too often, we think if God calls us, everything will go smoothly. But we will face struggles along with our calling. Following God brings great joy and peace, but it also demands sacrifice, as we follow the Son who gave his life for others. Mary witnessed miracles, but she also watched her son suffer, which must have been especially difficult as his mother. Favor doesn’t mean we avoid pain. It means God will see us through it for our good and his glory. It’s not easy, but it will be worth it.
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5. The Angel's Words to the Women at Jesus' Empty Tomb
Jesus willingly suffered the crucifixion, yet three days he rose again. On the first day of the week, women followers of Jesus went to the tomb to further care for his body. But he wasn’t there. An angel appears to the women in Matthew 28:5-6: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” The angelic words announced the greatest victory in history—over sin and death. Because Jesus lives, we can now have a direct relationship with the Father, free from sin and eternal death to worship him forever.
Before Christ’s resurrection, people approached God through ritual, sacrifice, and the temple system. God had instituted these in the Old Testament, yet all these spoke of a distance between people and God, and not a full reconciliation. Jesus’ victory on the cross opened the way to worship God as he desires, in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Upon the crucifixion, God tore the temple veil, the separation between people and God’s manifest presence. This symbolized a new and free access to God’s presence through Christ.
We can’t find Christ in the tomb of an empty religion. Because Christ lives, we live in him. We walk freely, knowing our faith isn’t based on ritual but on the Savior. The angelic message calls to us today to seek the living Christ and not the dead things of this world.
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The Angels' Words to Jesus' Disciples at His Ascension
The disciples ultimately realize Jesus had risen from the dead, and after being with them for forty days, Jesus ascends back to heaven with the promise of the Holy Spirit. The disciples are looking up at the sky, where Jesus flew up to heaven, and two angels appear and tell the disciples. “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11). The angels give the disciples something to look forward to and work toward—Jesus will return one day in the same way. Until that day, we must obey his instruction to make Kingdom disciples, looking forward to his return.
The angel urges them forward to their calling. Jesus had just called them to be his witnesses to all nations, “to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The same mission applies to us. God doesn’t want us to sit idly by but get involved, actively declaring the Good News of the Kingdom and making disciples of Jesus. The Bible doesn’t give an exact date for Jesus’ return—and the angels didn’t say—so we must live ready every moment of the day (Matthew 24:44). Jesus will return, as he promised. Until then, we share the Gospel, serve others’ needs, and stay faithful to the truth. No matter what happens in this life, one day Christ will return in power and fully remake the world for his Kingdom.
7. The Angel's Words to the Apostle John in Revelation
In Revelation 22, John encounters an angel. The Bible reveals how terrifying angels can be. Contrary to the cherub-like kid versions like Cupid, biblical angels are fearsome beings, able to wipe out whole armies alone. So when John sees the angel, he falls to the ground in the presence of such an awesome being. However, the angel quickly corrects him (Revelation 22:9): “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” Something similar happens in other places, where the angel must first say, “Don’t be afraid!” when a person encounters the supernatural being, at least eight times in the Bible.
God alone deserves worship and glory. Angels are powerful, heavenly beings, but they don’t deserve praise. They serve God but aren’t divine. Any attempt to worship them, or any created being, takes away the glory due to God alone. The only angels who seek worship come from Satan, whose downfall came because he tried to elevate himself above God (Isaiah 14:12-14). With the Devil as an example, no wonder an angel would quickly reject any worship.
For us, when we look for others to worship us or find any spiritual reality apart from the one God, we align with Satan’s heart and rebellion, his lies and murder. Anything drawing praise away from the Creator to his creation becomes deception.
We must take great care to only give God praise and never give his glory to another. True worship belongs to God and God alone.
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Further Reading:
The Hierarchy and Types of Angels in the Bible
Do We Have Guardian Angels? Are They Biblical?
Do Angels Actually Have Wings?
Do Angels Have Souls?
Originally published Thursday, 13 March 2025.