ANGELS. in Modern Usage the Term “Angels” Refers to Heavenly Beings Whose Function It Is to Serve God and to Execute God’S Will
ANGELS. In modern usage the term “angels” refers to heavenly beings whose function it is to serve God and to execute God’s will. ——— OLD TESTAMENT A. General Matters 1. Terminology 2. Historical Development B. Preexilic Concepts 1. The Divine Council 2. The Heavenly Army 3. Agents and Messengers C. Exilic and Early Postexilic Developments 1. Ezekiel 2. Zechariah 3. The Saμt\aμn 4. Other D. Second Temple Period 1. Functions and Appearance of Angels 2. The Heavenly Court/Temple 3. The Angelic Hierarchy 4. War in Heaven 5. Angelic Dualism 6. Communion with the Angels ——— A. General Matters 1. Terminology. Although no single term corresponding precisely to the English word “angels” occurs in the Hebrew Bible, there is a rich vocabulary for such beings. Some of the expressions either denote their divine status (e.g., beáneÆ (haμ) eáloμhéÆm, lit., “sons of God” [such grammatical constructions identify generic categories (divine beings), not genealogical relationships], Gen 6:2, 4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; beáneÆ <eμléÆm, “sons of gods, divine beings,” Ps 29:1; 89:7—Eng 89:6; <eáloμhéÆm, “gods,” Ps 82:1) or denote their special sanctity (qeádoμsûéÆm, “holy ones,” Ps 89:6, 8—Eng 89:5, 7). Other terms refer to their functions (meásûaμreátéÆm, “ministers,” Ps 103:21; sŒaμr, “commander,” Josh 5:14; s\eábaμ<oÆt, “hosts, army,” Ps 89:9—Eng 89:8; 103:21). The most common of these functional terms if mal<aμk, “messenger, envoy.” It is from the translation of mal<aμk in the LXX (Gk aggelos) that the English word “angel” derives.
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