Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5408 messenger

An individual whose task is to convey information from one person to another. The word “angel” derives from the Greek word for “messenger”. The word “apostle” comes from the Greek work meaning “sent”.

Messengers conveying information from one person to another

Proverbs 13:17; Proverbs 25:13 There are many references to messengers in this sense. See also Genesis 32:3; Numbers 20:14; Judges 6:35; 1 Samuel 23:27; 2 Samuel 11:22; Samuel 15:13; 1 Kings 19:2; Kings 22:13; 2 Kings 1:3 Elijah intercepts the messengers of Ahaziah; 2 Kings 5:10 Elisha sent a messenger with instructions for Naaman's healing; 2 Kings 6:32; Job 1:14; Isaiah 37:9 Sennacherib sends messengers to Hezekiah; Jeremiah 51:31; Daniel 3:4; Philippians 2:25

Messengers from God to humanity

The OT prophets

Numbers 16:28; Isaiah 6:8 See also Deuteronomy 18:18; Judges 6:8; 2 Samuel 12:25; 1 Kings 16:7; 2 Kings 17:13; Ecclesiastes 5:6; Isaiah 41:27; Isaiah 42:19; Isaiah 48:16; Jeremiah 1:5 the call of Jeremiah

Jeremiah faithfully repeated the LORD's message to no avail:

Jeremiah 7:25; Jeremiah 25:4; Jeremiah 26:4-6; Jeremiah 44:4 Ezekiel 38:17; Habakkuk 2:2; Haggai 1:13; Zechariah 4:9; Malachi 1:1 “Malachi” means “my messenger”.

The priests

Malachi 2:7

John the Baptist

See also Matthew 11:10 pp Luke 7:27 pp Mark 1:2; John 1:6; Malachi 3:1

Apostles and teachers

Galatians 1:1 See also Matthew 23:34; Mark 3:14; Luke 11:49; Romans 1:5; Romans 11:13; 1 Timothy 1:1; Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11

Angelic messengers

Daniel 4:13; Luke 1:19 See also Judges 6:11-12; 1 Kings 19:5; Zechariah 1:14; Zechariah 3:6

Angels appeared to Joseph in dreams:

Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:13,19 Luke 1:11,28; Luke 2:9-10 The shepherds at Bethlehem heard God's message through an angel; Acts 8:26; Acts 10:3 Cornelius receives instructions from an angel; Galatians 1:8; Hebrews 2:2-3; Revelation 1:1; Revelation 22:16

Jesus Christ as God's ultimate messenger

John 7:28-29 See also John 8:42; John 9:4; John 10:36; John 13:16; John 17:8; Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 3:1

A messenger of Satan

2 Corinthians 12:7

See also

2354  Christ, mission
4110  angels
5098  John the Baptist
5335  herald
7706  apostles
7754  preaching
7772  prophets