מַלְאָךְ
messenger
‘messenger’ is one of 4 main senses fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
See every Absolute-state word in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Noun
- A naming word — a person, place, thing, or idea.
Noun type
- Common
- A common noun — a general class of person, place, or thing (“king,” “city,” “water”), not a specific name.
State
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
94 distinct verses where H4397 appears in the Construct state, across 19 books. Filtered view — show all forms. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Genesis 12 verses
- Genesis 16:7 מַלְאַ֧ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
- Genesis 16:9 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands."
- Genesis 16:10 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh said to her, "I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude."
- Genesis 16:11 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh said to her, "Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction.
- Genesis 21:17 מַלְאַ֨ךְ n c ms cs God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Don't be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
- Genesis 22:11 מַלְאַ֤ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh called to him out of the sky, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" He said, "Here I am."
- Genesis 22:15 מַלְאַ֥ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time out of the sky,
- Genesis 24:7 מַלְאָכ/וֹ֙ n c ms cs + sfx pers 3ms Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, 'I will give this land to your seed.' He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
- Genesis 24:40 מַלְאָכ֤/וֹ n c ms cs + sfx pers 3ms He said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son of my relatives, and of my father's house.
- Genesis 28:12 מַלְאֲכֵ֣י n c mp cs He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
- Genesis 31:11 מַלְאַ֧ךְ n c ms cs The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I am.'
- Genesis 32:1 מַלְאֲכֵ֥י n c mp cs Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
Exodus 4 verses
- Exodus 3:2 מַלְאַ֨ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
- Exodus 14:19 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them.
- Exodus 23:23 מַלְאָכִ/י֮ n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs For my angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I will cut them off.
- Exodus 32:34 מַלְאָכִ֖/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs Now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin."
Numbers 11 verses
- Numbers 22:22 מַלְאַ֧ךְ n c ms cs God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
- Numbers 22:23 מַלְאַ֨ךְ n c ms cs The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.
- Numbers 22:24 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
- Numbers 22:25 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he struck her again.
- Numbers 22:26 מַלְאַךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
- Numbers 22:27 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
- Numbers 22:31 מַלְאַ֤ךְ n c ms cs Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
- Numbers 22:32 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because your way is perverse before me:
- Numbers 22:34 מַלְאַ֤ךְ n c ms cs Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again.
- Numbers 22:35 מַלְאַ֨ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
- Numbers 24:12 מַלְאָכֶ֛י/ךָ n c mp cs + sfx pers 2ms Balaam said to Balak, Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,
Judges 19 verses
- Judges 2:1 מַלְאַךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you:
- Judges 2:4 מַלְאַ֤ךְ n c ms cs It happened, when the angel of Yahweh spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
- Judges 5:23 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs Curse you Meroz, said the angel of Yahweh. Curse you bitterly the inhabitants of it, Because they didn't come to the help of Yahweh, To the help of Yahweh against the mighty.
- Judges 6:11 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh came, and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained to Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
- Judges 6:12 מַלְּאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh appeared to him, and said to him, Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor.
- Judges 6:20 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of God said to him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth. He did so.
- Judges 6:21 מַלְאַ֣ךְ וּ/מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs conj + n c ms cs Then the angel of Yahweh put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there went up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of Yahweh departed out of his sight.
- Judges 6:22 מַלְאַ֥ךְ מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs n c ms cs Gideon saw that he was the angel of Yahweh; and Gideon said, Alas, Lord Yahweh! because I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face.
- Judges 11:13 מַלְאֲכֵ֣י n c mp cs The king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan: now therefore restore those [lands] again peaceably.
- Judges 13:3 מַלְאַךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh appeared to the woman, and said to her, See now, you are barren, and don't bear; but you shall conceive, and bear a son.
- Judges 13:6 מַלְאַ֥ךְ n c ms cs Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome; and I didn't ask him whence he was, neither did he tell me his name:
- Judges 13:9 מַלְאַךְ֩ n c ms cs God listened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah, her husband, wasn't with her.
- Judges 13:13 מַלְאַ֥ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, Of all that I said to the woman let her beware.
- Judges 13:15 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, I pray you, let us detain you, that we may make ready a kid for you.
- Judges 13:16 מַלְאַ֨ךְ מַלְאַ֥ךְ n c ms cs n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, Though you detain me, I won't eat of your bread; and if you will make ready a burnt offering, you must offer it to Yahweh. For Manoah didn't know that he was the angel of Yahweh.
- Judges 13:17 מַלְאַ֥ךְ n c ms cs Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honor you?
- Judges 13:18 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh said to him, Why do you ask after my name, seeing it is wonderful?
- Judges 13:20 מַלְאַךְ n c ms cs For it happened, when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, that the angel of Yahweh ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground.
- Judges 13:21 מַלְאַ֣ךְ מַלְאַ֥ךְ n c ms cs n c ms cs But the angel of Yahweh did no more appear to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh.
1 Samuel 3 verses
- 1 Samuel 19:20 מַלְאָכִים֮ מַלְאֲכֵ֤י n c mp n c mp cs Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
- 1 Samuel 25:42 מַלְאֲכֵ֣י n c mp cs Abigail hurried, and arose, and rode on a donkey, with five ladies of hers who followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
- 1 Samuel 29:9 כְּ/מַלְאַ֣ךְ prep + n c ms cs Achish answered David, I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
2 Samuel 4 verses
- 2 Samuel 14:17 כְּ/מַלְאַ֣ךְ prep + n c ms cs Then your handmaid said, Please let the word of my lord the king be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and Yahweh your God be with you.
- 2 Samuel 14:20 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs to change the face of the matter has your servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
- 2 Samuel 19:27 כְּ/מַלְאַ֣ךְ prep + n c ms cs He has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in your eyes.
- 2 Samuel 24:16 הַ/מַּלְאָ֥ךְ לַ/מַּלְאָ֞ךְ וּ/מַלְאַ֤ךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms prep det + n c ms conj + n c ms cs When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh repented him of the evil, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
1 Kings 2 verses
- 1 Kings 19:7 מַלְאַ֨ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.
- 1 Kings 20:9 לְ/מַלְאֲכֵ֣י הַ/מַּלְאָכִ֔ים prep + n c mp cs ptcl def.art + n c mp Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that you did send for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I may not do. The messengers departed, and brought him word again.
2 Kings 4 verses
- 2 Kings 1:3 וּ/מַלְאַ֣ךְ מַלְאֲכֵ֣י conj + n c ms cs n c mp cs But the angel of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron?
- 2 Kings 1:15 מַלְאַ֤ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, Go down with him: don't be afraid of him. He arose, and went down with him to the king.
- 2 Kings 19:23 מַלְאָכֶי/ךָ֮ n c mp cs + sfx pers 2ms By your messengers you have defied the Lord, and have said, With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars of it, and the choice fir trees of it; and I will enter into his farthest lodging-place, the forest of his fruitful field.
- 2 Kings 19:35 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs It happened that night, that the angel of Yahweh went forth, and struck in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred eighty-five thousand: and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 21:12 וּ/מַלְאַ֣ךְ conj + n c ms cs either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days the sword of Yahweh, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.
- 1 Chronicles 21:15 מַלְאָ֥ךְ לַ/מַּלְאָ֤ךְ וּ/מַלְאַ֤ךְ n c ms prep det + n c ms conj + n c ms cs God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Yahweh saw, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
- 1 Chronicles 21:16 מַלְאַ֤ךְ n c ms cs David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and the sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.
- 1 Chronicles 21:18 וּ/מַלְאַ֧ךְ conj + n c ms cs Then the angel of Yahweh commanded Gad to tell David, that David should go up, and raise an altar to Yahweh in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
- 1 Chronicles 21:30 מַלְאַ֥ךְ n c ms cs But David couldn't go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.
2 Chronicles 2 verses
- 2 Chronicles 36:15 מַלְאָכָ֖י/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place:
- 2 Chronicles 36:16 בְּ/מַלְאֲכֵ֣י prep + n c mp cs but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against his people, until there was no remedy.
Job 1 verse
Psalms 8 verses
- Psalms 34:7 מַלְאַךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh encamps round about those who fear him, And delivers them.
- Psalms 35:5 וּ/מַלְאַ֖ךְ conj + n c ms cs Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh's angel driving them on.
- Psalms 35:6 וּ/מַלְאַ֥ךְ conj + n c ms cs Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh's angel pursuing them.
- Psalms 78:49 מַלְאֲכֵ֥י n c mp cs He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, And a band of angels of evil.
- Psalms 91:11 מַ֭לְאָכָי/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms For he will give his angels charge over you, To guard you in all your ways.
- Psalms 103:20 מַלְאָ֫כָ֥י/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, Who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, Obeying the voice of his word.
- Psalms 104:4 מַלְאָכָ֣י/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms He makes his messengers winds; His servants flames of fire.
- Psalms 148:2 מַלְאָכָ֑י/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his host!
Proverbs 1 verse
Isaiah 7 verses
- Isaiah 14:32 מַלְאֲכֵי n c mp cs What then shall one answer the messengers of the nation? That Yahweh has founded Zion, and in her shall the afflicted of his people take refuge.
- Isaiah 30:4 וּ/מַלְאָכָ֖י/ו conj + n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors are come to Hanes.
- Isaiah 33:7 מַלְאֲכֵ֣י n c mp cs Behold, their valiant ones cry outside; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.
- Isaiah 37:36 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh went forth, and struck in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
- Isaiah 42:19 כְּ/מַלְאָכִ֣/י prep + n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is at peace, and blind as Yahweh's servant?
- Isaiah 44:26 מַלְאָכָ֖י/ו n c mp cs + sfx pers 3ms who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited; and of the cities of Judah, They shall be built, and I will raise up the waste places of it;
- Isaiah 63:9 וּ/מַלְאַ֤ךְ conj + n c ms cs In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old.
Ezekiel 1 verse
Nahum 1 verse
Haggai 1 verse
Zechariah 6 verses
- Zechariah 1:11 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs They reported to the angel of Yahweh who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked back and forth through the earth, and, behold, all the earth is at rest and in peace."
- Zechariah 1:12 מַלְאַךְ n c ms cs Then the angel of Yahweh replied, "O Yahweh of Hosts, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have had indignation these seventy years?"
- Zechariah 3:1 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.
- Zechariah 3:5 וּ/מַלְאַ֥ךְ conj + n c ms cs I said, "Let them set a clean turban on his head." So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the angel of Yahweh was standing by.
- Zechariah 3:6 מַלְאַ֣ךְ n c ms cs The angel of Yahweh protested to Joshua, saying,
- Zechariah 12:8 כְּ/מַלְאַ֥ךְ prep + n c ms cs In that day Yahweh will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He who is feeble among them at that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of Yahweh before them.
Malachi 2 verses
- Malachi 2:7 מַלְאַ֥ךְ n c ms cs For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Hosts.
- Malachi 3:1 מַלְאָכִ֔/י וּ/מַלְאַ֨ךְ n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs conj + n c ms cs "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of hosts.
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
At its core, מלאך (mălʼâk) means “messenger.” Not a single-sense word: explore its full sense range. With 196 verses in 25 books, it is a common word in the Hebrew Bible. Scripture first uses it in Genesis 16:7. Sharing its root, it stands alongside מלאך, מלאכה and מלאכות. Dig into 196-verse concordance and the renderings breakdown below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H4397 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 196
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 196 distinct verses.
- 25 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 25 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #225
- by frequency
- Top 250 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 225 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 196 occurrences in the concordance →
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 196 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 126 verses · 64%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 39 verses · 20%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 31 verses · 16%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
- King James Version: Angel 87×, Messengers 70×, Messenger 20×
- American Standard Version: Angel 88×, Messengers 67×, Messenger 18×
- Berean Standard Bible: Angel 92×, Messengers 65×, Messenger 21×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text: Messengers 69×, Angel of 58×, Angel 32×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H4397 across 213 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 21 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 1 further occurrence.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H4397 across 212 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 21 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H4397 across 212 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 12 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 2 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H4397 across 221 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 10 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
8 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 8 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
- 1. messenger,
- a. one sent with a message Gn 32:4 + 8 times JE; Dt 2:26, (not in P); Ju 6:35 + 8 times; 1 S 6:21 + 51 times S K, 1 Ch 14:1; 19:2, 16 2 Ch 18:12; 35:21; Ne 6:3; Jb 1:14; Pr 13:17; 17:11; Is 14:32; 18:2; 30:4; 37:9, 14; Je 27:3; Ez 17:15; 23:16, 40; 30:9; Na 2:14; מלאכי שׁלום, messengers of peace Is 33:7. e.g. Genesis 32:4
- b. a prophet Is 42:19; 44:26; 2 Ch 36:15, 16; Hg 1:13; the herald of the advent מלאכי Mal 3:1. e.g. Isaiah 42:19
- c. priest Mal 2:7, prob. Ec. 5:5 (RV angel). e.g. Malachi 2:7
- d. ‖ מֵלִיץ Jb 33:23, a messenger from God acting as an interpreter and declaring what is right (angel of RV too specific). e.g. Job 33:23
- e. fig. מ׳ רָעִים messengers of evil ψ 78:49; מ׳ מות messengers of death Pr 16:14; ‖ רוחות winds his messengers ψ 104:4. e.g. Psalms 78:49
- 2. angel, as messenger of God, מלאכים with God in theophanies Gn 19:1, 15; 28:12; 32:2 (JE), praising him; ψ 103:20; 148:2; in his sight not without error Jb 4:18 charged with the care of the pious ψ 91:11; elsewhere sg. sent to a prophet 1 K 13:18; 19:5, 7; 2 K 1:3, 15; Zc 1:9 + 18 times in Zc 1–6; excellent, wise, powerful 1 S 29:9 2 S 14:17, 20; 19:28 Zc 12:8; encamping about the faithful ψ 34:8; chasing his enemies ψ 35:5, 6; destroying by judgment of Yahweh 2 S 24:16, 17 = 1 Ch 21:12–30; 2 K 19:35 = Is 37:36 = 2 Ch 32:21. e.g. Genesis 19:1
- 3. the theophanic angel (ה)אלהים מ׳ in the story of E: Gn 21:17; 31:11 Ex 14:19, also in Ju 6:20; 13:6, 9; מ׳ יהוה in the story of J: Gn 16:7, 9, 10, 11; 22:11, 15; Ex 3:2 Nu 22:22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 34, 35 and in Ju 2:1, 4; 5:23; 6:11, 12, 21(×2), 22(×2); 13:3, 13, 15, 16(×2), 17, 18, 20(×2), 21; הַמַּלְאָךְ Gn 48:16 (E); מַלְאָךְ Ex 23:20 (E), 33:2; Nu 20:16 (JE), Ho 12:5; מַלְאָכִי Ex 23:23 (E), 32:34 (J); מַלְאָכוֹ Gn 24:7, 40 (J), מ׳ פניו Is 63:9 (referring to the ancient מלאך); מ׳ הברית Mal 3:1 (referring to the advent of י׳ for judgment, see Br MP 473). The theophanic angel is not mentioned in D and P. e.g. Genesis 21:17
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
n.m. messenger;—מ׳ Ex 23:20 + 48 times; cstr. מַלְאַךְ Gn 16:7 + 69 times; sfs. מַלְאָכִי Ex 23:23 + 3 times; מַלְאָכוֹ Gn 24:7, 40; pl. מַלְאָכִים Gn 32:4 + 63 times + מלאכים 2 S 11:1 Kt (מלכים); cstr. מַלְאֲכֵי Gn 28:12 + 11 times; מַלְאָכֶיךָ Nu 24:12, 2 K 19:23; מַלְאָכֵכֵה Na 2:14 error for מַלְאָכֵכִי = מַלְאָכַיְכִי Ges§ 91, (2), Anm. 2 or מַלְאָכֵךְ by dittogr. from foll. הוֹי Kö ii. 1.S 571). מַלְאָכָיו 2 Ch 36:15 + 8 times;—
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Origin: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
מַלְאָךְ
- לאך to work, messenger, esp. angel. Gen. R. s. 50 אין מ׳ אחד עושה וכ׳ one angel never performs two missions. Snh. 96ᵃ אותו מ׳ שנזדמן וכ׳ the name of the angel that came to Abraham was Night. Gen. R. s. 9 מַלְאַךְ חיים angel of life. Ib., a. fr. מ׳ המות (abbrev. מה"מ) angel of death; a. v. fr.—Pl. מַלְאָכִים. Gen. R. s. 50 ולא שני מ׳ וכ׳ nor do two angels go on one mission. Ib. נדמו לו בדמות מ׳ they appeared to him as angels. Ib. משעשו שליחותן קראן מ׳ after they have done their mission, the text calls them messengers. Y. R. Hash. I, 56ᵈ bot. אף שמות המ׳ עלו וכ׳ the names of the angels, too, came (to Palestine) with them (the exiles) from Babylonia; Gen. R. s. 48.—מַלְאֲכֵי (ה)שרת (abbrev. מה"ש, מ"ה) the ministering angels. Sabb. 55ᵇ תנא דמ"ה the teacher who said (ib. top) that the angels asked the Lord &c. Ned. 20ᵃ ד׳ דברים סחו לי מ"ה four things did the ministering angels tell me; ib. 20ᵇ מאן מ"ה רבנן ‘the ministering angels’ means teachers; מ"ה ממש ministering angels in the true sense.—Tosef. Sabb. XVII (XVIII), 3 מַלְאֲכֵי שטן messengers of hindrance, opp. to מה"ש.—Y. Shebu. VI, 37ᵃ bot., a. fr. מלאכי חבלה, v. חַבָּלָה.—Ḥag. 5ᵇ, a. fr. מלאכי (ה)שלום the angels of peace; a. v. fr.
מַלְאָךְ ²
- Targ. Y. I Ex. IV, 25; a. fr.—Pl. מַלְאָכַיָּא, מַלְאָכִין, מַלְאָכֵי. Targ. Gen. XIX, 1; a. fr.—B. Bath. 75ᵃ פליגי תרי מ׳ ברקיע וכ׳ two angels in heaven, Michael and Gabriel, differ. Ib. חזא מ׳ שרת וכ׳ he saw ministering angels sitting &c. Koh. R. to IX, 11 (ref. to Ps. LXVIII, 13) אפי׳ מלכיהון דמ׳ וכ׳ even the chiefs of the angels, Michael and Gabriel, were afraid of Moses. Taan. 24ᵇ, v. מַלָּחָא; a. fr. e.g. Psalms 68:13
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 86 distinct written forms H4397 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that state’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 26 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H4397, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derived from this word
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 5 — not the complete family. 1 of the same-root words is a proper name (a person or place). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 193 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 196 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 16:7
- Exodus 3:2
- Numbers 20:14
- Deuteronomy 2:26
- Joshua 6:17
- Judges 2:1
- 1 Samuel 6:21
- 2 Samuel 2:5
- 1 Kings 13:18
- 2 Kings 1:2
- 1 Chronicles 14:1
- 2 Chronicles 18:12
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
