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Zechariah 6:4 — Word Study

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WLCוָאַ֙עַן֙ וָֽאֹמַ֔ר אֶל־ הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֑י מָה־ אֵ֖לֶּה אֲדֹנִֽי׃

BSASo I inquiredʼâmar [answered and] ofʼêl the angelmălʼâk [messenger, representative of God] who was speakingdâbar [talking, communicating] Whatmâh [are these things, what do they mean] are theseʼêl-leh [specific things, these objects] my lordʼâdôwn [master, ruler, sovereign]

Word
Listen & take awayZechariah 6
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('a.do.Ni) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Zechariah 6:4quick helps
In a sentenceZechariah asks the angel about the meaning of the visions he has seen.
Who is speakingZechariah, in conversation with an angel.
Where we areThis verse is part of a series of visions in Zechariah.
The hard wordעָנָה
Take awayZechariah is seeking understanding of divine messages.
4 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Whedon & more — read them › clause subjectאֵלֶּה verbעָנָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Zechariah 6:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Zechariah's Visionsgenerated

3the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong.
4So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.
6The one with the black horses is going toward the land of the north, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

Zechariah 6:4 shows Zechariah inquiring about the visions he has received from God through an angel. This inquiry reflects his desire for clarity regarding the symbols and messages presented to him, which is a common theme in prophetic literature. The context includes other visions that emphasize God's sovereignty and the future of His people, as seen in Zechariah 1:9-19 and Zechariah 5:5-6.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Zechariah 1:9–19“What are these, my lord?” I asked. And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.”
2Zechariah 5:5–6Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and told me, “Now lift up your eyes and see what is approaching.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word עָנָה, va.'A.'angenerated

The verb עָנָה (*anah*) is a Qal imperfect form meaning 'to answer' or 'to respond.' It is derived from a root meaning to heed or pay attention, covering a range of meanings including to testify and to sing. In this context, it indicates Zechariah's active engagement in seeking understanding from the angel.

This verb emphasizes the act of responding, suggesting that Zechariah is not only asking a question but is also engaged in a dialogue, highlighting the importance of communication in understanding divine revelations.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main finite verb in the verse is עָנָה, to answer, which governs the inquiry made by Zechariah. The structure consists of two main clauses connected by conjunctions, indicating a sequential action: first he answers, then he asks.

The prepositional phrase אֶל־ introduces the angel, indicating the direction of Zechariah's inquiry. The noun phrases that follow clarify who is speaking and what is being asked, organizing the sentence in a way that highlights Zechariah's engagement with the angel.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עָנָה as ἀπεκρίθην, which means 'I answered.' This choice reflects a direct response to a question, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning.

The use of λαλοῦντα for הַדֹּבֵ֣ר emphasizes the act of speaking, suggesting that the angel is actively communicating, which is consistent with the Hebrew context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Zechariah 6:4 shows Zechariah asking the angel about the meaning of the visions he has seen. He wants to understand what these specific things are, addressing the angel as 'my lord.' This reflects his desire for clarity regarding the messages from God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Zechariah want to know?

Zechariah is seeking to understand the meaning of the visions he has seen, asking the angel for clarification.

Why does Zechariah address the angel as 'my lord'?

This title indicates respect and acknowledges the angel's authority as a messenger of God.

What is the significance of Zechariah's inquiry?

His inquiry reflects a common practice in prophetic literature where the prophet seeks understanding of divine messages.

How does this verse relate to other visions in Zechariah?

This verse is part of a series of visions that emphasize God's sovereignty and the future of His people, as seen in other passages in Zechariah.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I seek understanding of God's messages in my life?
  2. How can I approach God with my questions and inquiries, like Zechariah did?
  3. In what areas of my life do I need clarity and guidance from God?
  4. How can I show respect and reverence when seeking answers from God or His representatives?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Zechariah 6:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me,.... After he had seen the chariots come out, and had observed the different colours of the horses in them: what [are] these, my lord? that is, what do they signify?

Read John Gill on Zechariah 6 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? What are these, my lord? The prophet humbly and teachably seeks instruction from God, and therefore seeks not in vain.

Read Robert Jamieson on Zechariah 6 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Zechariah 6:4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What [are] these, my lord?Ver. 4. What are these, my lord?] Difficulty doth but whet desire in heroic spirits; the harder the vision the more earnest was the prophet’ s inquisition: he was restless till better resolved; and therefore applieth himself again to his angel tutor, rather than Tutelar, whom, for honour’ s sake, he called My lord; and take notice of the truth of St Peter’ s assertion concerning the prophetic scrutiny, with greatest sagacity and sedulity.

Read John Trapp on Zechariah 6 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

4-7. The prophet, failing to understand the vision, appeals to his companion, who supplies the desired information. The four spirits of the heavens — R.V., “the four winds” (compare Jeremiah 49:36). If the R.V.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Zechariah 6 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Then I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

NETBNew English Translation2006

Then I asked the angelic messenger who was speaking with me, “What are these, sir?”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

RVARevised Version, American1894

Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Then I answered and said to the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then I answered, and saide vnto the Angell that talked with mee, What are these, my Lord?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I spoke and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And I answer and say unto the messenger who is speaking with me, 'What [are] these, my lord?'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And I answer and say to the messenger who is speaking with me, “What [are] these, my lord?”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And I began and said unto the angel that spoke with me, What are these, my lord?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my master?”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I answered, and said to the angel that spoke in me: What are these, my lord?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

“My lord, what are these?” I asked the angel I was talking to.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And I made answer and said to the angel who was talking to me, What are these, my lord?

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וָandclauseverbאַ֨עַן֙I.answeredוָֽandclauseverbאֹמַ֔רI.saidprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseהַthenoun phraseמַּלְאָ֖ךְangeladjective phraseהַ[whoadjective phraseclauseverbדֹּבֵ֣רwas].speakingprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּ֑withיmeclauseclausepredicateמָהwhat?subjectאֵ֖לֶּה[are].theseclausenoun phraseאֲדֹנִֽmy.lordיmy

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with 9 of the 9 words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q80) show some restoration, with 9 words supplied by an editor, indicating no significant variation in the core message.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וָאַ֙עַן֙ וָֽאֹמַ֔ר אֶל־ הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֑י מָה־ אֵ֖לֶּה אֲדֹנִֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וָאַ֙עַן֙ἀπεκρίθηνוָֽאֹמַ֔רεἶπαאֶל־πρὸςהַמַּלְאָ֖ךְἄγγελονהַדֹּבֵ֣רλαλοῦνταבִּ֑יἐμοίמָה־τίאֵ֖לֶּהταῦταאֲדֹנִֽי׃κύριε

9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q80a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ואען] [ואמר] [אל] [המלאך] [הדבר] [ב׳י] [מה] [אלה] [אדנ׳י]

nothing on the leather here — 9 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Zechariah 6:4עוּןand I answeand I answeredעוּןאָמַרand I saidand I saidאָמַראֶלtotoאֶלמַלְאָךְthe angelthe angelמַלְאָךְדָבַרwho was spewho was speakinדָבַרנִיwith mewith meנִימָהwhat?what?מָהאֵ֫לֶּה[are] these[are] theseאֵ֫לֶּהאָדוֹןO lord myO lord myאָדוֹןעָנָהbe occupiebe occupiedעָנָהאֵלthesetheseאֵלאִיּוֹבJobJobאִיּוֹבשָׁוַעto cryto cryשָׁוַעכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫המָנוֹחַManoahManoahמָנוֹחַשָׁלַחto send: dto send: departשָׁלַחמֹשֶׁהMosesMosesמֹשֶׁהלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןכָּ֫כָהthusthusכָּ֫כָהפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלתּוֹלֵדוֹתgenerationgenerationתּוֹלֵדוֹתאַלּוּףtametameאַלּוּףבִּיpleasepleaseבִּיחֵןfavorfavorחֵן
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Zechariah 6:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and I answered and I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these O lord my
וָאַ֙עַן֙va.'A.'an and I answered H6030 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
332× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sing or make music, but also to respond or give an answer. In the Bible, it is used to describe praising God in song or responding to a question. The KJV translates it as 'sing' or 'answer'.
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָנָה (*anah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to heed or pay attention, covering a range of meanings including to answer, respond, testify, and sing. It appears in contexts where one responds to speech or circumstances, and can also refer to singing. The lexicons indicate that it can imply both verbal responses and musical expression.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עוּן] vb. dwell

base

עָנָה 316 vb. answer, respond

Qal

answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied

respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances

money meets all demands

specif. respond as a witness, testify

less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)

Niph.

make answer

be answered

Hiph. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart

base

עָנָה vb. sing

Qal sing, utter tunefully

Pi. sing sweetly of it

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6030a עוּן dwell H6030b עָנָה answer, respond .. answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied

. . respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances

. money meets all demands

. . specif. respond as a witness, testify

. less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)

. . make answer

. be answered

. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart

H6030c עָנָה sing

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6030 `anah aw-naw'

a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed,

i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extens. to

begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify,

announce:--give account, afflict (by mistake for 6031),

(cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for 6031), cry,

hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, X scholar, (give a) shout, sing

(together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness.

See also 1042, 1043.

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 01042

see HEBREW for 01043

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוּן (un) — to dwell.

(Qal) to dwell

עָנָה (a.nah) — to answer.

1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to answer, respond to

1a2) to testify, respond as a witness

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to make answer

1b2) to be answered, receive answer

Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032)

עָנָה (a.nah) — to sing.

(Qal) to sing, utter tunefully

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqw1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqw1cs
and I answered and I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these O lord my
וָֽאֹמַ֔רva.'o.Mar and I said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Amplified meaning
answered and
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqw1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I answered and I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these O lord my
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and I answered and I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these O lord my
הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְha.mal.'Akh the angel H4397 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
214× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A messenger or representative, often of God, like an angel, prophet, or priest, as seen in Isaiah 42:19 and Haggai 1:13, carrying out God's will.
Amplified meaning
messenger, representative of God
Tyndale gloss
messenger
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַלְאָךְ (mal'ak) means 'messenger' and can refer to an angel, particularly as a messenger of God. It is derived from a root meaning to dispatch as a deputy and encompasses roles such as ambassador, prophet, and teacher. The term is used in contexts that include divine communication.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַלְאָךְ 214 n.m. messenger

messenger

angel, as messenger of God

the theophanic angel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4397 מַלְאָךְ messenger . messenger

. angel, as messenger of God

. the theophanic angel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4397 mal'ak mal-awk'

from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a

messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a

prophet, priest or teacher):--ambassador, angel, king,

messenger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger.

: messenger

1) messenger, representative

1a) messenger

1b) angel

1c) the theophanic angel

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger: angel.

: angel

1) messenger, representative

1a) messenger

1b) angel

1c) the theophanic angel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

an'-jel (mal'akh; Septuagint and New Testament, aggelos):

I. DEFINITION AND SCRIPTURE TERMS

II. ANGELS IN OLD TESTAMENT

1. Nature, Appearances and Functions

2. The Angelic Host

3. The Angel of the Theophany

III. ANGELS IN NEW TESTAMENT

1. Appearances

2. The Teaching of Jesus about Angels

3. Other New Testament References

IV. DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOCTRINE

V. THE REALITY OF ANGELS

LITERATURE

I. Definition and Scripture Terms.

The word angel is applied in Scripture to an order of supernatural or heavenly beings whose business it is to act as God's messengers to men, and as agents who carry out His will. Both in Hebrew and Greek the word is applied to human messengers (1Ki 19:2; Lu 7:24); in Hebrew it is used in the singular to denote a Divine messenger, and in the plural for human messengers…

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;

and I answered and I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these O lord my
הַדֹּבֵ֣רha.do.Ver who was speaking H1696 Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
1,142× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To speak or communicate, like God speaking to Moses in Exodus or a king commanding his people. It can also mean to promise or warn someone.
Amplified meaning
talking, communicating
Tyndale gloss
to speak: speak
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)

Qal speak

Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk

Pi. speak

Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for

Hithp. speaking this word

Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1696 dabar daw-bar'

a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used

figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive

sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,

declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,

say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,

use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.

: speak/tell/command

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.

: subdue

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.

: promise/declare

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
HTd/Vqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ EVIL Ex 22:28; Job 19:18; Ps 10:7,8; 12:3,4; 34:13; 35:21; 41:5-9; 52:2-4; 59:12; 64:2-5; 69:12,26; 70:3; 102:8; 106:33; 119:23; 120:1-7; 140:3,11; Pr 4:24; 6:16-19; 8:13; 10:11,19,31,32; 11:11; 12:5,6,13,17-19; 13:3; 14:25; 15:1,4,28; 16:27,28; 17:4,9,20; 18:8,21,23; 19:1,22,28; 24:2; 25:23; 26:20-23,28; Ec 7:22; 10:11,20; Isa 6:5; 32:6,7; Jer 20:10; Mt 5:22,37; 12:34-37; Ac 23:5;

and I answered and I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these O lord my
בִּ֑יBi with me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
and I answered and I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these O lord my
מָה־mah- what? H4100 Pronoun
753× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Amplified meaning
are these things, what do they mean
Tyndale gloss
what?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught

interrog. what?

Used adverbially

Indef. pron.

With preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?

. Used adverbially

. Indef. pron.

. With preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4100 mah maw

or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a

primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including

how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including

how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even

relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various

adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-

soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),

whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָה (mah) — what?.

interr pron

1) what, how, of what kind

1a) (interrogative)

1a1) what?

1a2) of what kind

1a3) what? (rhetorical)

1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what

1b) (adverb)

1b1) how, how now

1b2) why

1b3) how! (exclamation)

1c) (with prep)

1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?

1c2) because of what?

1c3) the like of what?

1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?

1c3b) for how long?

1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?

1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?

indef pron

2) anything, aught, what may

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Pronoun
HPi
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I answered and I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these O lord my
אֵ֖לֶּה'E.leh [are] these H428 Particle
746× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to point out specific people or things, like saying 'these' or 'those'. It appears in the book of Genesis, where God says 'let there be light' and separates the light from the darkness.
Amplified meaning
specific things, these objects
Tyndale gloss
these
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵ֫לֶּה (el-leh) means 'these' and is used in various grammatical contexts, often in apposition to a noun with a pronoun suffix. It can appear with or without the definite article and is sometimes paired with other terms like וְאֵלֶּה (and these). The word conveys a sense of proximity or specification, referring to particular items or people.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these

in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)

repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those

with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H428 אֵ֫לֶּה these . in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)

. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those

. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

428 'el-leh ale'-leh

prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one

sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those,

thus, which, who(-m).

see HEBREW for 0411

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.

1) these

1a) used before antecedent

1b) used following antecedent

Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Particle
HTm
and I answered and I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these O lord my
אֲדֹנִֽי׃'a.do.Ni O lord my H113 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
333× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word ʼâdôwn refers to a lord or master, and can be used to describe human leaders or God. It emphasizes the person's power and control over others or things, and is often translated as lord or master.
Amplified meaning
master, ruler, sovereign
Tyndale gloss
lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָדוֹן (*'adown*) means 'lord' and is derived from a root meaning to rule. It covers a range of meanings, referring to both human and divine authority, including terms like master, king, and superintendent. Variations exist for divine references, such as אֲדֹנָי (*Adonai*), distinguishing God from human lords.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָדוֹן n.m. lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H113 אָדוֹן lord

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

113 'adown aw-done'

or (shortened) adon {aw-done'}; from an unused root (meaning

to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine):--

lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with

"Adoni-".

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָדוֹן (a.don) — lord.

1) firm, strong, lord, master

1a) lord, master

1a1) reference to men

1a1a) superintendent of household, of affairs

1a1b) master

1a1c) king

1a2) reference to God

1a2a) the Lord God

1a2b) Lord of the whole earth

1b) lords, kings

1b1) reference to men

1b1a) proprietor of hill of Samaria

1b1b) master

1b1c) husband

1b1d) prophet

1b1e) governor

1b1f) prince

1b1g) king

1b2) reference to God

1b2a) Lord of lords (probably = "thy husband, Yahweh")

1c) my lord, my master

1c1) reference to men

1c1a) master

1c1b) husband

1c1c) prophet

1c1d) prince

1c1e) king

1c1f) father

1c1g) Moses

1c1h) priest

1c1i) theophanic angel

1c1j) captain

1c1k) general recognition of superiority

1c2) reference to God

1c2a) my Lord, my Lord and my God

1c2b) Adonai (parallel with Yahweh)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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