Gabriel
God's messenger angel
Gabriel is one of the chief angels in the Bible, known as God's messenger. He appears in both the Old and New Testaments with important messages from God, including the announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary and the message regarding Daniel's prophetic visions. His name means 'God's strength' or 'Man of God'.
Événements clés
Gabriel's explanation of Daniel's vision
Gabriel was sent to the prophet Daniel to explain the vision of the ram and the goat, which concerned future kingdoms and the end times.
16And I heard a human voice from the Ulai calling out, "Gabriel, explain the vision to this man."
וָאֶשְׁמַ֥ע קוֹל־אָדָ֖ם בֵּ֣ין אוּלָ֑י וַיִּקְרָא֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר גַּבְרִיאֵ֕ל הָבֵ֥ן לְהַלָּ֖ז אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶֽה׃
17He came to where I was standing, and when he came I was terrified and fell facedown. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."
וַיָּבֹא֙ אֵ֣צֶל עָמְדִ֔י וּבְבֹא֣וֹ נִבְעַ֔תִּי וָאֶפְּלָ֖ה עַל־פָּנָ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ הָבֵ֣ן בֶּן־אָדָ֔ם כִּ֖י לְעֶת־קֵ֥ץ הֶחָזֽוֹן׃
18While he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
וּבְדַבְּר֣וֹ עִמִּ֔י נִרְדַּ֥מְתִּי עַל־פָּנַ֖י אָ֑רְצָה וַיִּ֨גַּע־בִּ֔י וַיַּֽעֲמִידֵ֖נִי עַל־עָמְדִֽי׃
19He said, "I am going to tell you what will happen at the end of the time of wrath, for the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הִנְנִ֣י מוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֔ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶ֖ה בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית הַזָּ֑עַם כִּ֖י לְמוֹעֵ֥ד קֵֽץ׃
The prophecy of the seventy weeks
Gabriel came to Daniel during prayer and revealed the prophecy of the seventy weeks, pointing forward to the coming of the Messiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
21while I was still speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.
וְע֛וֹד אֲנִ֥י מְדַבֵּ֖ר בַּתְּפִלָּ֑ה וְהָאִ֣ישׁ גַּבְרִיאֵ֡ל אֲשֶׁר֩ רָאִ֨יתִי בֶחָז֤וֹן בַּתְּחִלָּה֙ מֻעָ֣ף בִּיעָ֔ף נֹגֵ֣עַ אֵלַ֔י כְּעֵ֖ת מִנְחַת־עָֽרֶב׃
22He instructed me and said, "Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding.
וַיָּ֖בֶן וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר עִמִּ֑י וַיֹּאמַ֕ר דָּנִיֵּ֕אל עַתָּ֥ה יָצָ֖אתִי לְהַשְׂכִּילְךָ֥ בִינָֽה׃
23As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly loved. So consider the word and understand the vision.
בִּתְחִלַּ֨ת תַּחֲנוּנֶ֜יךָ יָצָ֣א דָבָ֗ר וַאֲנִי֙ בָּ֣אתִי לְהַגִּ֔יד כִּ֥י חֲמוּד֖וֹת אָ֑תָּה וּבִין֙ בַּדָּבָ֔ר וְהָבֵ֖ן בַּמַּרְאֶֽה׃
24Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city: to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint a most holy place.
שָׁבֻעִ֨ים שִׁבְעִ֜ים נֶחְתַּ֥ךְ עַֽל־עַמְּךָ֣ ׀ וְעַל־עִ֣יר קָדְשֶׁ֗ךָ לְכַלֵּ֨א הַפֶּ֜שַׁע *ולחתם **וּלְהָתֵ֤ם *חטאות **חַטָּאת֙ וּלְכַפֵּ֣ר עָוֺ֔ן וּלְהָבִ֖יא צֶ֣דֶק עֹֽלָמִ֑ים וְלַחְתֹּם֙ חָז֣וֹן וְנָבִ֔יא וְלִמְשֹׁ֖חַ קֹ֥דֶשׁ קָֽדָשִֽׁים׃
25Know this and understand: from the going out of the word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an anointed one, a prince, there will be seven weeks; then for sixty-two weeks it will be rebuilt with streets and moat, but in times of distress.
וְתֵדַ֨ע וְתַשְׂכֵּ֜ל מִן־מֹצָ֣א דָבָ֗ר לְהָשִׁיב֙ וְלִבְנ֤וֹת יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ עַד־מָשִׁ֣יחַ נָגִ֔יד שָׁבֻעִ֖ים שִׁבְעָ֑ה וְשָׁבֻעִ֞ים שִׁשִּׁ֣ים וּשְׁנַ֗יִם תָּשׁוּב֙ וְנִבְנְתָה֙ רְח֣וֹב וְחָר֔וּץ וּבְצ֖וֹק הָעִתִּֽים׃
26After the sixty-two weeks an anointed one will be cut off and have nothing. The people of a prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations are decreed.
וְאַחֲרֵ֤י הַשָּׁבֻעִים֙ שִׁשִּׁ֣ים וּשְׁנַ֔יִם יִכָּרֵ֥ת מָשִׁ֖יחַ וְאֵ֣ין ל֑וֹ וְהָעִ֨יר וְהַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ יַ֠שְׁחִית עַ֣ם נָגִ֤יד הַבָּא֙ וְקִצּ֣וֹ בַשֶּׁ֔טֶף וְעַד֙ קֵ֣ץ מִלְחָמָ֔ה נֶחֱרֶ֖צֶת שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת׃
27He will confirm a covenant with many for one week; and in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. On the wing of the temple will be abominations that bring desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator."
וְהִגְבִּ֥יר בְּרִ֛ית לָרַבִּ֖ים שָׁב֣וּעַ אֶחָ֑ד וַחֲצִ֨י הַשָּׁב֜וּעַ יַשְׁבִּ֣ית ׀ זֶ֣בַח וּמִנְחָ֗ה וְעַ֨ל כְּנַ֤ף שִׁקּוּצִים֙ מְשֹׁמֵ֔ם וְעַד־כָּלָה֙ וְנֶ֣חֱרָצָ֔ה תִּתַּ֖ךְ עַל־שֹׁמֵֽם׃ פ
The Message to Zechariah about the Birth of John
Gabriel appeared to the priest Zechariah in the temple and announced that his wife Elizabeth would give birth to a son, John, who would prepare the way for the Lord.
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
ὤφθη δὲ αὐτῷ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἑστὼς ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ θυμιάματος.
12When Zechariah saw him, he was shaken, and fear fell upon him.
καὶ ἐταράχθη Ζαχαρίας ἰδών, καὶ φόβος ἐπέπεσεν ἐπʼ αὐτόν.
13But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος· Μὴ φοβοῦ, Ζαχαρία, διότι εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς σου, καὶ ἡ γυνή σου Ἐλισάβετ γεννήσει υἱόν σοι, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννην·
14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
καὶ ἔσται χαρά σοι καὶ ἀγαλλίασις, καὶ πολλοὶ ἐπὶ τῇ ⸀γενέσει αὐτοῦ χαρήσονται·
15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb.
ἔσται γὰρ μέγας ἐνώπιον ⸀τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ οἶνον καὶ σίκερα οὐ μὴ πίῃ, καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου πλησθήσεται ἔτι ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ,
16He will turn many of the children of Israel back to the Lord their God.
καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ἐπιστρέψει ἐπὶ κύριον τὸν θεὸν αὐτῶν·
17And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
καὶ αὐτὸς προελεύσεται ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ δυνάμει Ἠλίου, ἐπιστρέψαι καρδίας πατέρων ἐπὶ τέκνα καὶ ἀπειθεῖς ἐν φρονήσει δικαίων, ἑτοιμάσαι κυρίῳ λαὸν κατεσκευασμένον.
18Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."
καὶ εἶπεν Ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον· Κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο; ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτης καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς.
19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἐγώ εἰμι Γαβριὴλ ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἀπεστάλην λαλῆσαι πρὸς σὲ καὶ εὐαγγελίσασθαί σοι ταῦτα·
20Now listen: you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔσῃ σιωπῶν καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος λαλῆσαι ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας γένηται ταῦτα, ἀνθʼ ὧν οὐκ ἐπίστευσας τοῖς λόγοις μου, οἵτινες πληρωθήσονται εἰς τὸν καιρὸν αὐτῶν.
Gabriel Introduces Himself by Name
When Zechariah doubted the message, Gabriel identified himself as one who stands before God and struck Zechariah with muteness as a sign.
19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἐγώ εἰμι Γαβριὴλ ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἀπεστάλην λαλῆσαι πρὸς σὲ καὶ εὐαγγελίσασθαί σοι ταῦτα·
20Now listen: you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔσῃ σιωπῶν καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος λαλῆσαι ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας γένηται ταῦτα, ἀνθʼ ὧν οὐκ ἐπίστευσας τοῖς λόγοις μου, οἵτινες πληρωθήσονται εἰς τὸν καιρὸν αὐτῶν.
The Annunciation to Mary
Gabriel was sent by God to the virgin Mary in Nazareth to announce that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to God's Son, Jesus.
26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
Ἐν δὲ τῷ μηνὶ τῷ ἕκτῳ ἀπεστάλη ὁ ἄγγελος Γαβριὴλ ⸀ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς πόλιν τῆς Γαλιλαίας ᾗ ὄνομα Ναζαρὲθ
27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
πρὸς παρθένον ⸀ἐμνηστευμένην ἀνδρὶ ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰωσὴφ ἐξ οἴκου Δαυίδ, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς παρθένου Μαριάμ.
28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are favored! The Lord is with you."
καὶ ⸀εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν· Χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ κύριος μετὰ ⸀σοῦ.
29She was deeply troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
ἡ δὲ ⸂ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ διεταράχθη⸃ καὶ διελογίζετο ποταπὸς εἴη ὁ ἀσπασμὸς οὗτος.
30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτῇ· Μὴ φοβοῦ, Μαριάμ, εὗρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῷ θεῷ·
31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus.
καὶ ἰδοὺ συλλήμψῃ ἐν γαστρὶ καὶ τέξῃ υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν.
32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
οὗτος ἔσται μέγας καὶ υἱὸς Ὑψίστου κληθήσεται, καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὸν θρόνον Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ,
33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
καὶ βασιλεύσει ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰακὼβ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, καὶ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔσται τέλος.
34Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not been with a man?"
εἶπεν δὲ Μαριὰμ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον· Πῶς ἔσται τοῦτο, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω;
35The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σέ, καὶ δύναμις Ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι· διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώμενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται, υἱὸς θεοῦ·
36And consider your relative Elizabeth: she too has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
καὶ ἰδοὺ Ἐλισάβετ ἡ ⸀συγγενίς σου καὶ αὐτὴ ⸀συνείληφεν υἱὸν ἐν γήρει αὐτῆς, καὶ οὗτος μὴν ἕκτος ἐστὶν αὐτῇ τῇ καλουμένῃ στείρᾳ·
37For nothing will be impossible with God."
ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ ⸂τοῦ θεοῦ⸃ πᾶν ῥῆμα.
38Then Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me according to your word." And the angel left her.
εἶπεν δὲ Μαριάμ· Ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου· γένοιτό μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου. καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀπʼ αὐτῆς ὁ ἄγγελος.
Daniel Strengthened and Comforted
Gabriel came to Daniel when he was exhausted and afraid, touched him to strengthen him, and gave him understanding of the prophetic visions about the future.
10Then a hand touched me and set me trembling on my knees and the palms of my hands.
וְהִנֵּה־יָ֖ד נָ֣גְעָה בִּ֑י וַתְּנִיעֵ֥נִי עַל־בִּרְכַּ֖י וְכַפּ֥וֹת יָדָֽי׃
11He said to me, "Daniel, you who are treasured, understand the words I am speaking to you, and stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you." And when he spoke this word to me, I stood up trembling.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֡י דָּנִיֵּ֣אל אִישׁ־חֲ֠מֻדוֹת הָבֵ֨ן בַּדְּבָרִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר֩ אָנֹכִ֨י דֹבֵ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ וַעֲמֹ֣ד עַל־עָמְדֶ֔ךָ כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה שֻׁלַּ֣חְתִּי אֵלֶ֑יךָ וּבְדַבְּר֥וֹ עִמִּ֛י אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה עָמַ֥דְתִּי מַרְעִֽיד׃
12Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. From the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַי֮ אַל־תִּירָ֣א דָנִיֵּאל֒ כִּ֣י ׀ מִן־הַיּ֣וֹם הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧תָּ אֶֽת־לִבְּךָ֛ לְהָבִ֧ין וּלְהִתְעַנּ֛וֹת לִפְנֵ֥י אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נִשְׁמְע֣וּ דְבָרֶ֑יךָ וַאֲנִי־בָ֖אתִי בִּדְבָרֶֽיךָ׃
13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
וְשַׂ֣ר ׀ מַלְכ֣וּת פָּרַ֗ס עֹמֵ֤ד לְנֶגְדִּי֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים וְאֶחָ֣ד י֔וֹם וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִֽיכָאֵ֗ל אַחַ֛ד הַשָּׂרִ֥ים הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים בָּ֣א לְעָזְרֵ֑נִי וַאֲנִי֙ נוֹתַ֣רְתִּי שָׁ֔ם אֵ֖צֶל מַלְכֵ֥י פָרָֽס׃
14Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns days still to come."
וּבָ֙אתִי֙ לַהֲבִ֣ינְךָ֔ אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָ֥ה לְעַמְּךָ֖ בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית הַיָּמִ֑ים כִּי־ע֥וֹד חָז֖וֹן לַיָּמִֽים׃