Bible Dictionary
Messenger
A messenger is one sent to carry news, commands, or a message. In Scripture the term may describe a human envoy, a prophet, an apostle, or an angel, depending on the context.
Definition
A messenger is one sent to carry news, commands, or a report. In biblical usage the term may designate a human envoy, a prophet, an apostle, or an angelic messenger, depending on the context.
Biblical Usage
The Hebrew and Greek words translated “messenger” can refer either to human bearers of messages or to God’s messengers, the angels. A prophet may be called God’s messenger, and “apostle” can also be rendered messenger in certain passages.
Historical Background
The biblical words emphasize one sent with a message or commission. Human messengers could travel on foot and carry royal or military dispatches.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Heb. mal’ak, Gr. angelos), an angel, a messenger who runs on foot, the bearer of despatches (Job 1:14; 1 Sam. 11:7; 2 Chr. 36:22); swift of foot (2 Kings 9:18).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>mes'-en-jer: The regular Hebrew word for "messenger" is mal'akh, the Greek aggelos. This may be a human messenger or a messenger of God, an angel. The context must decide the right translation. In Hag 1:13 the prophet is called God's messenger; Job 33:23 changes the King James Version to "angel" (margin "messenger"); and Mal 3:1 margin, suggests "angel" instead of "messenger." Mal 2:7 and Mal 3:1 (twice) have caused a great deal of comment. See MALACHI. The Greek apostolos, "apostle," is rendered "messenger" in 2Co 8:23; Php 2:25; 1Sa 4:17 translations literally, from Hebrew basar, "to tell good news," "he that brought the tidings." Ge 50:16 reads "message" instead of "messenger."</p><p>A. L. Breslich</p>