Quick Definition
a ruler of angels, a superior angel, an archangel
Strong's Definition
a chief angel
Derivation: from G757 (ἄρχω) and G32 (ἄγγελος);
KJV Usage: archangel
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀρχάγγελος, ἀρχαγγέλου, ὁ (from ἀρχι, which see, and ἄγγελος), a Biblical and ecclesiastical word, archangel, i. e. chief of the angels (Hebrew ωΗ�ψ chief, prince, Dan_10:20; Dan_12:1), or one of the princes and leaders of the angels (δΘψΔΰωΙΡπΔιν δΗωΘΜ�ψΔιν, Dan_10:13): 1Th_4:16; Jud_1:9. For the Jews after the exile distinguished several orders of angels, and some (as the author of the Book of Enoch, 9:1ff; cf. Dillmann at the passage, p. 97f) reckoned four angels (answering to the four sides of the throne of God) of the highest rank; but others, and apparently the majority (Tob_12:15, where cf. Fritzsche; Rev_8:2), reckoned seven (after the pattern of the seven Amshaspands, the high est spirits in the religion of Zoroaster). See under the words, Γαβριήλ and Μιχαήλ.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀρχάγγελος archangelos 2x
an archangel, chief angel, 1Th_4:16 ; Jud_1:9
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
*† ἀρχ -άγγελος , -ου , ὁ
( < ἄρχι -, ἄγγελος ),
archangel , a chief angel: 1Th_4:16 , Jud_1:9 ( Cremer , 24; MM , s.v. ).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀρχάγγελος [page 80]
This title, which is found in the Greek Bible only in 1Th_4:16 , Jud_1:9 , passed into the magical papyri, e.g. P Lond I. 121 .257 (iii/A.D.) (= I. p. 92) τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ ἀρχαγγέλῳ Μιχαήλ , and the Paris papyrus 574 .1200 (iii/A.D.) ὁ κτίσας θεοὺς καὶ ἀρχαγγέλους . In addition to other references to the syncretic literature of the Imperial period Nδgeli (p. 48 n .1 ) cites a gnostic inscription from Miletus CIG 2895 ἀρχάγγελον φυλάσσεται ἡ πόλις Μιλησίων . That the word was coined in Judaism to express a Jewish idea is of course obvious : it need only be mentioned that the prefix ἀρχ (ι )- ( q. v. ) could be attached to any word at will. On Grimm s note upon the archangelic Heptad reference might be made to the Hibbert Lectures (1912) on Early Zoroastrianism , p. 241.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ἀρχάγγελος "an archangel", NTest.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἀρχ-άγγελος, -ου, ὁ
(ἄρχι-, ἄγγελος),
archangel, a chief angel: 1Th.4:16, Ju 9 (Cremer, 24; MM, see word).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Archangel (743) archaggelos
Archangel (743) (archaggelos from árchon = chief + ággelos = angel, envoy, messenger, one who is sent) refers to the first or highest angel, the archangel, leader of the angels. In the celestial hierarchy, an archangel would describe a spiritual being in rank above an angel.
In the celestial hierarchy, an archangel would describe a spiritual being in rank above an angel. Several New Testament passages imply a distinct hierarchy in the spirit world (Ep 1:21-note; Ep 6:12-note; Col 2:10-note; 1Pe 3:22-note)
The only other use of archaggelos is in Jude (not in the LXX) who records that...
But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you. (Jude 1:9)
In the book of Daniel, Michael is mentioned 3 times...
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. (Da 10:13)
However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince. (Da 10:21)
Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress (corresponds to time of Jacob's trouble in Jer 30:7 and the Great Tribulation in Mt 24:21) the such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. (Da 12:1)
The term archangel denotes a definite rank by virtue of which one is qualified for special work and service.
Vincent comments that
archangels appear in the apocryphal (Ed note: the Hebrew Old Testament canon recognized by Palestinian Jews [Tanak] did not include the fourteen books of the Apocrypha. Since the Hebrew Bible was preferred by the Reformers during the Protestant Reformation in their struggle against the Catholic Church, whose Bible contained the Apocrypha, translators of Protestant Bibles excluded the Apocrypha.) literature. In the Book of Enoch (see on Jude 1:14) four are named, Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel. Michael is set over the tree which, at the time of the great judgment, will be given over to the righteous and humble, and from the fruit of which life will be given to the elect. In Tob. 12:15, Raphael appears as one of the seven holy angels. Comp. Apoc. 8:2. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament. Volume 4:42)
AND THE TRUMPET OF GOD: kai en salpiggi theou: (Ex 19:16; 20:18; Isaiah 27:13; Zechariah 9:14; 1Corinthians 15:52; Revelation 1:10; 8:13 )