What does it mean to be "
touched by an angel"?
The TV series of the same name ran from 1994 to 2003, but is not really relevant here.
Edward the Confessor, or, in old English, "
Ēadƿeard Andettere", lived from about 1006 to 1066 and was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England, as the Normans arrived in 1066 with their consequent French influence on the developing English language. He ruled England from 1042 to 1066.
Edward developed a fame for his healing touch, especially for scrofula - a disease that often cured itself so that the King gave the impression that it was his touch that was the impetus for the cure.
In later centuries, a coin, as in the touch of a coin, sometimes on a necklace, was often substituted for the King's touch. A favorite coin had an image of the King on one side and an angel on the other side.
Edward the Confessor is mentioned several times in Shakespeare's play of Macbeth, including the King's ability "to cure someone of evil bears".
The mere despair of surgery, he cures,
Hanging a golden stamp about their necks,
Put on with holy prayers: and ’tis spoken,
To the succeeding royalty he leaves
The healing benediction. With this strange virtue,
He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy,
And sundry blessings hang about his throne,
That speak him full of grace.
This then is the source of the phrase "
touched by an angel".
One favorite verse for the occasion of creating this idea (or tradition) was Mark 16:18.
KJV: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Greek: και ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες εις τον κοσμον απαντα κηρυξατε το ευαγγελιον παση τη κτισει
This is known as the "
great commission".
Note that "
creature" here is «
κτισει» which appears to refer to "
human" creatures and not animals in general.
KJV: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Greek: σημεια δε τοις πιστευσασιν ακολουθησει ταυτα ταυτα παρακολουθησει εν τω ονοματι μου δαιμονια εκβαλουσιν γλωσσαις λαλησουσιν καιναις
What does it mean to speak in "
new tongues"?
Here is the verse that was often used with coins used to help cure individuals and from which the phrase "
touched by an angel" developed.
KJV: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Greek: και εν ταις χερσιν οφεις αρουσιν καν θανασιμον τι πιωσιν ου μη αυτους βλαψει βλαψη επι αρρωστους χειρας επιθησουσιν και καλως εξουσιν
Latin: serpentes tollent et si mortiferum quid biberint non eos nocebit super aegrotos manus inponent et bene habebunt
Wycliffe: thei schulen do awei serpentis; and if thei drynke ony venym, it schal not noye hem. Thei schulen sette her hondis on sijk men, and thei schulen wexe hoole.
Tyndale: and shall kyll serpentes. And yf they drinke eny dedly thinge yt shall not hurte the. They shall laye their hondes on ye sicke and they shall recover.
Geneva: And shall take away serpents, and if they shall drinke any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their handes on the sicke, and they shall recouer.
Luther: Schlangen vertreiben, und so sie etwas Tödliches trinken, wird's ihnen nicht schaden; auf die Kranken werden sie die Hände legen, so wird's besser mit ihnen werden.
The reference to "
serpents" fit in with the side of the coin that had the angel Michael slaying a dragon. A dragon was also known as a serpent.
While the
KJV (King James Version) says "
shall take up serpents" the Middle English of Wycliffe says "
shulen do awei seprentis" while the Tyndalle says "
shall kyll seprentes". Might this interpretation have been influenced by the idea of "
touched by an angel"?