Tag: malakim

As Messengers

Posted on by jovial_cynic
In Genesis 19, we read that two “angels” (malakim, or messengers) arrive in Sodom.

But after that, there’s nothing to indicate that they’re angels again until verse 15, when the text says the angels urged Lot to leave the city with his wife and two daughters. Every other time, they’re simply called “the men.”

The men of Sodom call them “the men.”
Lot calls them “the men.”

But the weird part is that even the NARRATOR calls them “the men.”

And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”
Genesis 19:5 (NKJV)

See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”
Genesis 19:8 (NKJV)

But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.
Genesis 19:10 (NKJV)

h’anashim. הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים. The men.

Perhaps we’re supposed to understand that for the men of Sodom, for Lot, and even for the reader, we’re meant to see these angels as completely indistinguishable from humans. We’re being told that even if we were there in the story, we would have also thought they were just men.

And with that, perhaps we’re meant to learn that God often speaks to us… through people. Words of encouragement, blessing, and even warnings can be from God, but through people who are acting as messengers. As malakim.

Spiritual Beings

Posted on by jovial_cynic
So far, in my journey through Genesis 1-18, the spiritual beings I’ve found in the text include the following:

Elohim/YHWH (throughout the text).

Ruah Elohim (possibly) in Genesis 1.

Cherubim in Genesis 3.

Malak in Genesis 16 and 18.

Elohim is the plural-singular or royal-singular word that we translated as “God.” In Genesis, it never means “angels,” but later biblical books appear to use this word to sometimes describe angelic beings.

God’s name is YHWH (I AM), and he’s never physically described.

In Genesis 1:2, the “Ruah Elohim” is translated as the “Spirit of God,” and it appears to behave as a living thing (“hovering over the surface of the deep”) and is described as somewhat distinct from God.

This is hard to understand because God is… spirit. It is not entirely clear from the text. But also, when we get to Genesis 6 where God says “My Spirit will not content with humans forever…” it is very difficult to visualize!

The Cherubim (plural for cherub) are not physically described in Genesis, except that they (plural, so more than one) have been set in front of the Garden of Eden, and they block the entrance while wielding flaming swords. They probably don’t look like winged babies.

The Malak/Malakim is written as “angels” of YHWH, but this word in Hebrew means “messenger.”

In the text, they look human, first appearing to Hagar in Genesis 16, and later to Abraham in Genesis 18. Apparently, they can eat and drink and talk to people.

Later, we’ll read that they can grab hold of people, blind people, and they can apparently ldestroy entire cities!

But here’s the very interesting bit: as messengers of God, they appear to be able to speak as though they ARE God, despite NOT being God. When the malak talks to Hagar, he says “I will increase your descendants,” but this is something only God can do. But then in verse 13, the text clearly says it was God who spoke to her.

Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
Genesis 16:9-10 (NIV)

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
Genesis 16:13 (NIV)

Likewise, when the malakim speak to Abraham (at this point in Genesis 18, they’re only identified as “men” and not yet idenfied as malakim until the next chapter), one says “I’ll return to you,” but when the time comes, it’s not the malak who shows up. It’s God.

Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
Genesis 18:10a (NIV)

This idea of the malakim being able to speak as God and doing things on behalf of God makes me wonder about how God interacts with humanity.

Are the malakim “spiritual beings” that materialize in this world, or is God working through actual humans to show himself?

It seems like “spiritual beings” is the correct answer, because… well, fire from heaven and all that. They’re super-naturally powerful.

But doesn’t Elijah call down fire from heaven later on? As a prophet, was he not also a “messenger of God?”

I wonder.