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| + | #REDIRECT [[Gabriel (Archangel)]] |
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| − | [[Image:Goldenlocks.jpg|thumb|250px|Twelfth century [[icon]] of Archangel '''Gabriel''' from [[Novgorod]]]]
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| − | '''Gabriel''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: ''גַּבְרִיאֵל'', or '''Jibril'''; [[Arabic language|Arabic]]: جبريل; "Hero of God") is a prominent angel in the [[Abrahamic religions]], who serves [[God]] in various capacities, and is especially mentioned in scripture as God's messenger. Esteemed as one of the [[archangel]]s in [[Judaism]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] and [[Roman Catholicism]], Gabriel was also called the chief angel in [[Islam]], who revealed the [[Qur'an]] to [[Prophet]] [[Muhammad]], thereby called the "angel of truth." Gabriel is one of the few religious figures who are commonly revered in more than one religious tradition.
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| − | The angel Gabriel is first mentioned in the [[Book of Daniel]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]] (Dan. 8:16; 9:21). In the [[New Testament]] he appears to the [[Virgin Mary]] in the [[Annunciation]] and to Zechariah (Luke 1:19, 26, 27). In [[Islam]] he is described as one of God's chief messengers, who brings the Holy [[Qur'an]] to Muhammad. He is discussed in Muslim [[Hadith]] and in the Jewish [[Talmud]].
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| − | Gabriel is more than a simple angel who watches over human beings; he is one of the chief archangels who announce God's will to the central figures of faith: to Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. He is thus a symbol of God's providential guidance to each of the Abrahamic faiths—[[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]]—and his appearances to their founders demonstrate that each religion has been rightly guided by God. Gabriel thus offers great potential as a symbol of religious harmony and unity.
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| − | ==Gabriel in Judaism==
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| − | Scriptural references to Gabriel occur in both the Book of Daniel and in the [[apocryphal]] Book of Enoch. In the Book of Daniel, Gabriel appears to [[Daniel]] after the destruction of first [[Temple of Jerusalem]], and after the subsequent Babylonian captivity of the [[Kingdom of Judah]] that followed. The specific references are as follows:
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| − | <blockquote>And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, who called, and said: "'''Gabriel,''' make this man to understand the vision." So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was terrified, and fell upon my face; but he said to me: "Understand, son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end" (Dan. 8:15, 8:17).<ref> A Hebrew-English Bible, [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3408.htm Daniel Chapter 8.] Retrieved July 16, 2007. </ref></blockquote>
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| − | <blockquote>And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; and while I was speaking in prayer, the man '''Gabriel,''' whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, approached close to me about the time of the evening offering. And he made me understand, and talked with me, and said: "Daniel, I have now come to make you skillful of understanding. Seventy weeks are decreed upon your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to forgive iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint the most holy place" (Dan. 9:20, 9:24).<ref> A Hebrew-English Bible, [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3409.htm Daniel Chapter 9.] Retrieved July 16, 2007. </ref></blockquote>
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| − | Gabriel tells Daniel about the mysterious "Seventy weeks" ''(shavu-im shivim)'' that seem to indicate the end of the [[Babylonian captivity]] which lasted 70 years, whereupon [[Cyrus the Great]] allowed the return to [[Zion]] and the rebuilding of the Temple by the Jews in his empire.
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| − | In the [[Talmud]], Gabriel appears as the destroyer of the hosts of [[Sennacherib]] "with a sharpened scythe which had been ready since Creation" (Sanhedrin 95b). The Archangel is also attributed as the one who showed [[Joseph (dreamer)|Joseph]] the way, the one who prevented [[Queen Vashti]] from appearing naked before [[King Ahasverus]] and his guests, and as one of the angels who buried [[Moses]]. In Talmud Yoma 79a, however, it is stated that Gabriel once fell into disgrace "for not obeying a command exactly as given, and remained for a while outside the heavenly Curtain." During this 21 day period, the [[guardian angel]] of [[Persian Empire|Persia]], [[Dobiel]], acted as Gabriel's proxy.
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| − | Gabriel is also, according to Jewish mythology, the voice that told Noah to gather the animals before the great flood, the invisible force that prevented Abraham from slaying Isaac, the invisible force that wrestled with Jacob, and the voice of the burning bush.
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| − | ==Gabriel in Christianity==
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| − | [[Image:Annunciation.jpg|right|250px|thumbnail|Gabriel delivering the [[Annunciation]]. Painting by [[El Greco]] (1575).]]
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| − | In the New Testament, Gabriel is the angel who comes with the [[Holy Spirit]] to [[Zechariah]] and reveals that [[John the Baptist]] will be born to Elizabeth, and who visits [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Mary]] to reveal that she will give birth to [[Jesus]]. According to later legend, he is the unidentified angel in the [[Book of Revelation]] who blows the horn announcing the [[Last Judgment|Judgment Day]]. To [[Catholicism|Catholic]]s, he is ''St. Gabriel the Archangel,'' the [[patron saint]] of communications workers, and his feast day is September 29.
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| − | Gabriel's visit to Mary in the [[Gospel of Luke]] is often called "The [[Annunciation]]," (Luke 1:26), an event that is celebrated on March 25. It is also commemorated as the "First Joyful Mystery" each time the [[rosary]] is prayed.
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| − | In Latter-day Saint theology, Gabriel lived a mortal life as the patriarch [[Noah]]. Gabriel and Noah are regarded as the same person, but Gabriel alone is regarded as the immortal resurrected being, or angel. As such, all of Noah's children are considered to be Gabriel's earthly children.
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| − | ==Gabriel in Islam==
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| − | In Islam, Gabriel is known by the Arabic name جبرئيل,جبرئيل,or جبريل (pronounced ''Jibreel''). For [[Muslims]], Gabriel is the [[angel]] who revealed the [[Qur'an]] to [[Prophet]] [[Muhammad]], verse by verse, and thus is considered the most prominent angel, as well as the spirit of truth. He is described by the ''[[hadith]]'' as having six hundred wings.<ref> Sahih Bukhari: Beginning Of Creation. Vol. 4, Book 54. Hadith 455 (53.9-10)</ref>
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| − | According to Muslim beliefs, the angel's primary task was to bring messages from God to the messengers, and the other tasks included accompanying the angel [[Azrael]], the Angel of Death, to take the soul of a person who dies with [[ablution]]. In the [[Qur'an]], Gabriel is the angel who informed Mariam (Mary) of how she would conceive Isa (Jesus):
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| − | <blockquote>She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh [angel Jibrael (Gabriel)], and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: “Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah.” (The angel) said: “I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.” She said: “How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?” He said: “So (it will be), your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me (Allah): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allah)’" (Qur’an 19:17-21).</blockquote>
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| − | In Islam, Gabriel accompanied [[Muhammad]] in his ascension to the heavens, [[Mi'raj]]. Muslims also believe that the angel Jibreel descends to Earth on the night of ''[[Lailat-ul-Qadr]]'' ("The Night of Power"), a night in the last ten days of the holy month of [[Ramadan]] in the [[Islamic calendar]].<ref> USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts, [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/008.sbt.html#001.008.345 Translation of Sahih Bukhari , Book 8: Prayers (Salat).] Retrieved July 16, 2007.</ref>
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| − | ==Gabriel in the Bahá'í Faith==
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| − | Gabriel finds mention in the writings of the [[Bahá'í Faith]], most notably in [[Bahá'u'lláh]]'s metaphysical work ''The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys.''
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| − | ==Fiction==
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| − | The angel Gabriel also plays an active role in many fictional works:
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| − | *In his epic poem ''[[Paradise Lost]],'' [[John Milton]] made Gabriel chief of the angelic guards placed over [[Garden of Eden|Paradise]].
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| − | *In the epic poem ''The Song of Roland,'' Gabriel instructs Frankish King [[Charles Martel]], to deliver the sword Durendal to Roland. Gabriel also bears Roland's soul to heaven.
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| − | ==Notes==
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| − | <references/>
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| − | ==References==
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| − | * Bamberger, Bernard Jacob. ''Fallen Angels: Soldiers of Satan's Realm.'' Jewish Publication Society of America. 2006. ISBN 0827607970
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| − | * Briggs, Constance Victoria. ''The Encyclopedia of Angels: An A-to-Z Guide with Nearly 4,000 Entries.'' Plume. 1997. ISBN 0452279216
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| − | * Bunson, Matthew. ''Angels A to Z: A Who's Who of the Heavenly Host.'' Three Rivers. 1996. ISBN 0517885379
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| − | * Cruz, Joan C. ''Angels and Devils.'' Tan Books & Publishers. 1999. ISBN 0895556383
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| − | * Davidson, Gustav. ''A Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels.'' Free. ISBN 002907052X
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| − | * Graham, Billy. ''Angels: God's Secret Agents.'' W Pub Group; Minibook Edition. 1994. ISBN 0849950740
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| − | * Guiley, Rosemary. ''Encyclopedia of Angels.'' 1996. ISBN 0816029881
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| − | * Kreeft, Peter J. ''Angels and Demons: What Do We Really Know About Them?'' Ignatius. 1995. ISBN 0898705509
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| − | * Lewis, James R. ''Angels A to Z.'' Visible Ink. 1995. ISBN 0787606529
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| − | * Melville, Francis. ''The Book of Angels: Turn to Your Angels for Guidance, Comfort, and Inspiration.'' Barron's Educational Series. 1st edition. 2001. ISBN 0764154036
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| − | * Ronner, John. ''Know Your Angels: The Angel Almanac With Biographies of 100 Prominent Angels in Legend & Folklore-And Much More!'' Mamre. 1993. ISBN 0932945406
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| − | ==External Links==
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| − | * Angel Focus. [http://www.angelfocus.com/archangels.htm#Gabriel Gabriel.] Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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| − | * Angelic Dictionary. [http://www.steliart.com/angelology_angel_names_G.html Angelology.] Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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| − | * Catholic Encyclopedia. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06330a.htm St. Gabriel the Archangel.] Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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| − | * Celdrán, José Alfredo González, and Ruck, Carl A. P. [http://www.entheomedia.org/datura_gallery.htm Daturas for the Virgin] Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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| − | * Christian Art. [http://www.icon-art.info/topic.php?lng=en&top_id=92 Icons of the Archangel Gabriel.] Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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| − | * Finney, Dee. [http://www.greatdreams.com/archangels.htm Archangels and Guardian Angels.] Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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| − | * Jewish Encyclopedia.com. [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=7&letter=G Gabriel.] Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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| − | * Sarah's Archangels. [http://www.sarahsarchangels.com/archangels/gabriel.html Archangel Gabriel.] Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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| − | * Trinity Angels. [http://www.trinityangels.com/arch_angels.htm Arch Angels.] Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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| − | ==See Also==
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| − | *[[Angels]]
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| − | *[[Archangel]]
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| − | *[[Annunciation]]
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| − | [[Category:Philosophy and religion]][[category:religion]]
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| − | {{Credit2|Gabriel|49199162|Jibril|48364519}}
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