Touched by an angelic messenger

The English word "angel" comes from the ancient Greek word "ἄγγελος" ≈ "messenger, one that announces".

In the Biblical context, the meaning is that of a messenger from God and comes from the Hebrew word "מלאך" (mal-ak) ≈ "angel" and is the root word for the prophet name "Malachi".

Despite the song "Hark the herald angels sing" the Bible records only one angel not singing at the birth of Jesus.

Other ancient cultures such as in Egypt, Babylon, Greece, etc., had supernatural beings that were messengers that brought news - good or bad. This idea appears to have been passed down from Adam, eventually to Noah, eventually to peoples and cultures dispersed from the Ark and the Tower of Babel, etc.

The city of "Los Angeles" comes from the Spanish word "losángeles" ≈ "angels" the city of "angels" where "angel" comes from the Latin word "angelus" ≈ "angel" which comes from the ancient Greek word "ἄγγελος" ≈ "messenger, one that announces" and which appears to go even further back.

A MLB (Major League Baseball) team is the Los Angeles Angels.

Zechariah 3:6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, [kjv]

… מלאך … [he]

και διεμαρτυρατο ο αγγελος κυριου προς ιησουν λεγων [lxx]

… angelus … [v]

The Hebrew word "מלאך" (mal-ak) ≈ "angel". This word is the root word for the prophet name "Malachi".

The English word "angel" comes from the Latin word "angelus" ≈ "angel" which comes from the ancient Greek word "ἄγγελος" ≈ "messenger, one that announces" and which appears to go even further back.

Zechariah 3:6

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KJV: And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,

Hebrew: ויעד מלאך יהוה ביהושע לאמר׃

Greek: και διεμαρτυρατο ο αγγελος κυριου προς ιησουν λεγων

Latin: et contestabatur angelus Domini Iesum dicens

Psalms 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. [kjv]

… ומלאך … [he]

γενηθητωσαν ωσει χνους κατα προσωπον ανεμου και αγγελος κυριου εκθλιβων αυτους [lxx]

Psalms 35:5

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KJV: Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

Hebrew: יהיו כמץ לפני רוח ומלאך יהוה דוחה׃

Greek: γενηθητωσαν ωσει χνους κατα προσωπον ανεμου και αγγελος κυριου εκθλιβων αυτους

Psalms 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. [kjv]

οτι τοις αγγελοις αυτου εντελειται περι σου του διαφυλαξαι σε εν πασαις ταις οδοις σου [lxx]

Psalms 91:11

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KJV: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Hebrew: כי מלאכיו יצוה לך לשמרך בכל דרכיך׃

Greek: οτι τοις αγγελοις αυτου εντελειται περι σου του διαφυλαξαι σε εν πασαις ταις οδοις σου

Other ancient cultures such as in Egypt, Babylon, Greece, etc., had supernatural beings that were messengers that brought news - good or bad. This idea appears to have been passed down from Adam, eventually to Noah, eventually to peoples and cultures dispersed from the Ark and the Tower of Babel, etc.

The Babylonian god "Nabu" on "Nebo", with Mesopotamian roots, was associated with literacy and wisdom.

The word is from the Akkadian and means to "announce" or "prophesy".

This god Nabu is not related to the idyllic Naboo colony in the Star Wars episodes.

The god "Nabu" is associated with the Latin god "Mercury", the Greek god "Hermes" and the Egyptian god "Thoth".

In terms of "prophecy", the god "Nabu" is sometimes associated with the Greek god "Apollo" as the "giver of prophecies".

More: The idol Bel

The Roman god Mercury is the Greek god Hermes from the ancient Greek word "Ἑρμῆς" ≈ "Hermes, Mercury" the messenger of the gods who is related to commerce, deception, etc. The modern Greek word "Ερμής" (EHr-MEES) ≈ "Hermes, Mercury".

Hermes is considered the inventor of language and speech - as both an interpreter and a deceiver. Such language could lead to truths or to non-truths.

A folk etymology is that it is related to the ancient Greek word "ἑρμηνεύς" ≈ "interpreter" as to the meaning of something and was used by Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834 )to coin the word "hermeneutics" as the study of the meaning of words and texts.

Aristotle wrote a work the ancient Greek work "Περὶ Ἑρμηνείας" ≈ "On Interpretation" which has the Latin name "De Interpretatione" ≈ "On Interpretation". This work defined the technical Greek word "ἑρμηνεία" ≈ "interpretation, meaning".

This and related words appears often in the GNT (Greek New Testament).

This word appears to be pre-Greek so there may be some unknown connection between this word and the word for "Hermes".

More: Folk etymology

The double snake and the caduceus is a symbol of travel (from the wings) and commerce and is associated with and carried by the Greek god Hermes.

Doctors have adopted this symbol of commerce as a symbol of their profession.

The name of the chemical mercury comes from the Roman god Mercury who was a speedy messenger for the gods, particularly the main god Jupiter.

The Greek name for the Roman god Mercury is Hermes. Hermes is known as the god of commerce, oratory, deception, marketing, etc.

The Roman god Mercury or the Greek god Hermes travels around and carries the caduceus consisting of two snakes around a pole.

More: Come quickly: sooner or later

The modern Greek word "άγγελος" (AGH-y-los) ≈ "messenger, angel".

One often hears the Bible message presented as the "Good News". This saying is a calque of the Greek.

The modern Greek word "ευαγγέλιον" (ev-agh-Y-lee-on) ≈ "good news" where the modern Greek prefix "ευ" (ev) ≈ "good" and the modern Greek word "άγγελμα" (AGH-yl-ma) ≈ "message, announcement" from which we get the English word "angel" as a "messenger". Los Angeles is named as the city of "angels".

The English word "evangelical" literally means "good news". The word "gospel" is a calque from Old English.

More: Calques

More: Calque: The good news

Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? [kjv]

τι εστιν ανθρωπος οτι μιμνησκη αυτου η υιος ανθρωπου οτι επισκεπτη αυτον [lxx]

… homo … [v]

8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. [kjv]

ηλαττωσας αυτον βραχυ τι παρ αγγελους δοξη και τιμη εστεφανωσας αυτον [lxx]

… minus … Deo … [v]

Who exactly was created "lower than the angels"?

More: Lower than the angels

There are many hymns that refer to angels.

More: Song: Angels from the realms of glory

More: Song: Angels we have heard on high

More: Song: Hark the herald angels sing

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [kjv]

και εξαιφνης εγενετο συν τω αγγελω πληθος στρατιας ουρανιου αινουντων τον θεον και λεγοντων [gnt]

2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. [kjv]

δοξα εν υψιστοις θεω και επι γης ειρηνη εν ανθρωποις ευδοκιας [gnt]

Charles Wesley (1707-1788) wrote: "Hark the herald welkins ring".
George Whitefield (1714-1770) changed it to: "Hark the herald angels sing".
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) wrote music, also "Wedding march".

Ever since, angels have been singing at Christmas in songs, devotionals, etc.

The German word "die Wolke" ≈ "the cloud" which is related to the Old English word "welcan" ≈ "cloud".

More: Song: Hark the herald angels sing

In tracking down the scent of apostles and messages one must determine what it means to be sent (scent).

The word "apostle" and "epistle" mean sending.

The word "apostle", with prefix "apo", refers to the sending of a person who has a message to tell.
The word "epistle", with prefix "epi", refers to the sending of a message such as a letter to be read.

The English word "angel" is another type of messenger.

More: Tracking down the scent of apostles and messages