Gabriel is one of only two of God's holy angels named in the Protestant Bible (the other is Michael). He is God's messenger who explains visions and announces births. He appears by name four times: twice to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 8:16; 9:21), once to the priest Zacharias to announce the birth of John the Baptist, and once to Mary in Nazareth to announce the birth of Jesus. He introduced himself with the words "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God" (Luke 1:19). His name means God is my strength, or mighty one of God.
At Christmas, Gabriel is everywhere: on church banners, in children's nativity plays and on the cards that fill the mailbox. Yet the Bible says surprisingly little about him, and almost all of it is about his words, not his appearance. Gabriel is a messenger. The word angel itself means messenger, in Hebrew and in Greek, and Gabriel is the angel God sends when He has news that changes history. Six centuries before Jesus was born, Gabriel explained to Daniel the visions of coming empires and of seventy weeks until the Messiah. Then, after four hundred years in which no prophet spoke, he appeared again in the temple to an elderly priest, and six months later in a small town in Galilee to a young woman named Mary. This page gathers every passage that names Gabriel, with twelve King James verses and short notes. For angels more widely, see Bible verses about angels. For the full story of Jesus' birth, see the Christmas story in the Bible.
Gabriel and Daniel: understanding the vision
1. Daniel 8:16
"And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision."
Gabriel's name first appears in the Bible in Babylon, during the reign of Belshazzar. Daniel had seen a frightening vision of a ram and a goat, pictures of the empires of Persia and Greece, and he could not understand it. Then he heard a voice: Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. Daniel fell on his face in fear, and Gabriel touched him and set him upright (Daniel 8:17-18). From his first appearance, Gabriel's role is clear. He does not fight or rule. He explains what God is doing.
2. Daniel 9:21
"Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation."
Years later, Daniel was praying, confessing his people's sins and asking God to restore Jerusalem. Before he had finished, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, came to him about the time of the evening oblation, the hour of the evening sacrifice. Gabriel is called a man because he appeared in human form; the Bible never describes him with wings, though the phrase fly swiftly suggests speed. He came while Daniel was praying, at the hour when the temple, now in ruins, would have offered its evening sacrifice.
3. Daniel 9:22
"And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding."
Gabriel explained why he had come: O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. What followed was the prophecy of the seventy weeks (Daniel 9:24-27), which speaks of a time to make reconciliation for iniquity and of Messiah the Prince. Many Christian teachers read this as a prophecy pointing to the coming of Jesus. It is fitting that the same angel who gave Daniel this word would later announce the Messiah's birth. See prophecies about Jesus.
4. Daniel 9:23
"At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."
Gabriel told Daniel something every praying person would love to hear: At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth. God answered the moment Daniel began to pray. Then Gabriel added, thou art greatly beloved. Daniel was an old man, an exile far from home, praying for a city he might never see again. God sent His messenger to tell him he was loved. Gabriel's visits in the Bible are not only about information. They carry God's care for the people who receive them.
Gabriel and Zacharias: the birth of John the Baptist
5. Luke 1:11
"And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense."
Gabriel's next recorded visit came more than five hundred years later, in the temple at Jerusalem. An elderly priest named Zacharias had been chosen by lot to burn incense in the holy place, an honor that might come once in a lifetime. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Outside, the people were praying. Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth were righteous, but they were old and had no children (Luke 1:6-7). Zacharias was terrified.
6. Luke 1:13
"But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."
The angel's first words were the words angels often say: Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard. Perhaps Zacharias had long ago stopped praying for a child. God had not forgotten. Thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. This son would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17). He would be John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. Gabriel's news to Zacharias is the first announcement in the Christmas story.
7. Luke 1:19
"And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings."
When Zacharias asked how he could know this was true, the angel gave his name for the only time in the New Testament: I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. To stand in the presence of God means to serve before His throne, ready to be sent. The phrase glad tidings is the Greek word from which we get evangelize, to announce good news. Gabriel was the first in the New Testament to bring the gospel.
8. Luke 1:20
"And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."
Zacharias doubted, and Gabriel gave him a sign: thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed. For nine months the priest could not speak. It was a discipline, but also a mercy, because when John was born and Zacharias wrote his name is John, his mouth was opened and he praised God in the song called the Benedictus (Luke 1:63-79). Gabriel's words, which shall be fulfilled in their season, came true exactly as promised.
Gabriel and Mary: the annunciation
9. Luke 1:26-27
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary."
Six months later, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. Nazareth was a small, ordinary village. The woman he visited was a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. Espoused means betrothed, legally promised in marriage. This visit is called the annunciation, from the Latin for announcement, and many churches remember it on March 25, nine months before Christmas.
10. Luke 1:28
"And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."
Gabriel greeted Mary: Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Highly favoured means graced, shown special kindness by God. Mary was troubled by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this was (Luke 1:29). Like Zacharias, she was told not to fear. Christians of different traditions honor Mary in different ways, but all can agree with Gabriel: God chose her for a role no one else would ever have, and she is blessed.
11. Luke 1:31
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS."
Then Gabriel gave the news: thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. The name Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the LORD saves. Gabriel went on to say that her son would be great, called the Son of the Highest, and that God would give Him the throne of His father David, with a kingdom without end (Luke 1:32-33). The promise God made to David a thousand years before (2 Samuel 7:16) would be kept in Mary's child.
12. Luke 1:35
"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
Mary asked how this could happen, since she was a virgin. Gabriel answered: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. He also told her that her elderly cousin Elisabeth was six months pregnant, and ended with a promise: For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37). Mary's answer is one of the great responses of faith: be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38).
A short prayer
Lord God, thank You for the messages You have sent, by Gabriel and by Your Word. Thank You that You hear our prayers from the beginning, as You heard Daniel and Zacharias, and that nothing is impossible with You. Give me a heart like Mary's to answer, be it unto me according to Your word. Most of all, thank You for the glad tidings of Jesus, the Son of the Highest, whose kingdom will have no end. Amen.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the angel Gabriel in the Bible?
Gabriel is an angel who serves as God's messenger. He is named four times in the Bible: he explained visions to Daniel (Daniel 8:16; 9:21), announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias (Luke 1:19) and announced the birth of Jesus to Mary (Luke 1:26). He describes himself as one who stands in the presence of God and is sent to speak good news.
Is Gabriel an archangel?
The Bible never calls Gabriel an archangel. The only angel Scripture calls an archangel is Michael (Jude 1:9). Many Christian traditions, and much Christian art, call Gabriel an archangel because of his high role, standing in the presence of God and carrying the most important messages. The book of Tobit, read in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, names a third angel, Raphael.
What is the difference between Gabriel and Michael?
In the Bible, Gabriel is a messenger who explains and announces, while Michael is a protector and warrior. Michael is called one of the chief princes who stands for Daniel's people (Daniel 10:13; 12:1), disputes with the devil (Jude 1:9) and leads the angels in battle against the dragon (Revelation 12:7). Gabriel brings understanding and good news. They are the only two of God's holy angels named in the 66 books of the Protestant Bible.
What does the name Gabriel mean?
Gabriel is a Hebrew name usually translated God is my strength, or mighty one of God. It combines gever or gibbor, a strong man or mighty one, with El, God. The meaning fits his role well: he strengthened Daniel when Daniel was overwhelmed (Daniel 8:18), and he brought Mary the news that the power of the Highest would overshadow her.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
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