Gabriel
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2008-07-16T20:26:48Z
Huperphuff
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/* Pseudepigraphy */
{{dablink|Gabriel. For other uses, see [[Gabriel (disambiguation)]].}}
[[Image:Goldenlocks.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Icon]] of [[Archangel]] Gabriel, "Of the Golden Locks" or resides within the light of the moon. ("Златые власы") from [[Novgorod]], 12th-century ([[State Russian Museum]], [[St Petersburg]]).]]
In [[Abrahamic religion]]s, '''Gabriel''' (''גַּבְרִיאֵל'', [[Standard Hebrew]] ''{{transl|sem|Gavriʼel}}'', [[Latin]] ''Gabrielus'', [[Greek language|Greek]] ''{{polytonic|Γαβριήλ}}'', ''Gabriēl'', [[Tiberian Hebrew]] ''{{transl|sem|Gaḇrîʼēl}}'', [[Arabic language|Arabic]] جبريل ''Jibrīl'' or ''Jibrail'', literally "Master, of God", i.e., a Master, who is "of God") is generally considered to be an [[archangel]] who is thought to serve as a messenger from [[God]] ("angel" literally translates to "messenger" from the [[Koine]] Greek; an "arch" angel is a "primary" or "chief" messenger). He first appears in the [[Book of Daniel]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]]. [[Christianity|Christians]] and [[Muslims]] believe him to have foretold the births of [[John the Baptist]] and [[Jesus]] to the [[Virgin Mary]], and [[Islam|Muslims]] further believe he was the medium through which God revealed the [[Qur'an]] to [[Muhammad]]. Muslims also believe he sent a message to most [[prophets]], if not all, revealing their obligation.
In Biblical tradition, he is sometimes regarded as the [[angel of death]] or one of God's messengers. In Islam, Gabriel is one of God's chief messengers but other above-mentioned titles are not given to him (for example, the angel of death is [[Azrael]]).In Modern Times Gabriel is regarded as the patron saint of emergency dispatchers. {{Fact|date=April 2008}}{{Or|date=April 2008}}
In the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Sacred Tradition|Tradition]], he is known as one of the four ([[Catholicism]] only recognizes three, while there are seven in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]) [[archangel]]s. In [[Islam]], he is called the chief of the four favoured angels and the spirit of truth, and in some views Gabriel is the same as the [[Holy Spirit]].<ref>[[Qur'an]]</ref> Gabriel also finds mention in the writings of the [[Bahá'í Faith]], most notably in [[Bahá'u'lláh]]'s mystical work ''[[Seven Valleys|The Seven Valleys]]''.
==Judaic references==
===History and the Hebrew Bible===
The name Gabriel first appears in the [[Book of Daniel]]. The setting of the story is the [[Babylonian captivity]]: the Jewish leader [[Daniel]] ponders the meanings of several visions he has experienced in exile, when Gabriel appears to him with a message about the "[[Jewish eschatology|End of Days]]":
*"...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..." ({{bibleref|Daniel|8:15-17}})
===Talmud===
In the [[Talmud]], Gabriel appears as the destroyer of the hosts of [[Sennacherib]] in ''Sanhedrin'' 95b, armed "with a sharpened [[scythe]] which has been ready since [[Creation according to Genesis|Creation]]." The archangel is also attributed as the one who showed [[Joseph (dreamer)|Joseph]] the way, the one who prevented [[Book of Esther|Queen Vashti]] from appearing naked before [[Book of Esther|King Ahasuerus]] and his guests, and as one of the angels who buried [[Moses]]. In Talmud ''Yoma'' 77a, however, it is stated that Gabriel once fell into disgrace "for not obeying a command exactly as given, I 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.
The Talmud described him as the only angel who can speak [[Syriac language|Syriac]] and [[Aramaic language|Chaldee]].
Gabriel is also, according to Judaism, 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]].
==Christian references==
[[Image:Annunciation.jpg|thumb|Gabriel making the [[Annunciation]] to the [[Virgin Mary]]. Painting by [[El Greco]], 1575 ([[Museo del Prado]], [[Madrid]]).]]
===Canonical New Testament===
In the [[Gospel of Luke]], Gabriel reveals to the Jewish Pharisee and Priest [[Zechariah (priest)|Zechariah]] that [[John the Baptist]] will be born to Zechariah's wife [[Elizabeth]] ({{bibleref|Luke|1:5-20|KJV}}) and visits Elizabeth's cousin [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Mary]] to reveal that she will give birth to [[Jesus]]. Gabriel's visit to Mary is often called "The [[Annunciation]]" ({{bibleref|Luke|1:26-38|KJV}}), an event that is celebrated on [[March 25]] in the [[Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] churches. It is also commemorated as the "First Joyful Mystery" of the [[rosary]].
According to later legend, he is also the unidentified angel in the [[Book of Revelation]] (the [[Apocalypse]] of [[John of Patmos|John]]) who blows the final [[trumpet]] announcing [[Last Judgment|Judgment Day]] {{bibleverse||Revelation|11:15|KJV}}.
==Pseudepigraphy==
According to Enoch 9:1-2 Gabriel, along with Michael, Raphael, Uriel and Suriel hear the cries of humanity under the strain of the Nephilim. It was their beseeching of 'the Ancient of Days' [Yahweh], that prompted God to call Enoch to prophethood.
After Enoch informed the Watchers of their fall from Grace, Yahweh sent the archangels to earth to complete various tasks. Gabriel was to 'Go to the biters, to the reprobates, to the children of fornication, the offspring of the Watchers, from among men; bring them fourth and excite them against one another. Let them perish under mutual slaughter; for length of days shall not be theirs.' Enoch 10:13. And so, Gabriel instigated wars among the Giants (the children of the Watchers).
Enoch 20:7 says that Gabriel presides over 'Ikisat'. Which appears to be a proper noun of some type. While Enoch 40:9 states that Gabriel presides over 'all that is powerful'.
Enoch 53:6 shows us that Gabriel, among his brethren, shall be strengthened during the Battle of Armageddon.
Enoch 71:13 seems to imply that Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Phanuel always travel with Yahweh when he moves from His Throne. Though Michael is the only confirmed archangel, Gabriel is generally considered to be an archangel due to his prominent roles in the bible. Raphael and Phanuel are implied to be archangels throughout the book of Enoch, which is not a book within the traditional cannonized Bible.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}{{Or|date=April 2008}}
<blockquote>
And that Head of Days came with Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel, thousands and ten thousands of angels without number.
</blockquote>
==Feast Days==
[[Image:Gabriel byzantine.jpg|thumb|left|[[Icon]] of Gabriel, [[Byzantium]], ca. 1387–1395 ([[Tretyakov Gallery]]).]]
[[Western Christianity]] ([[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] and [[Anglicans]]) celebrate '''St. Gabriel the Archangel''', along with [[Michael (archangel)|St. Michael]] and [[Raphael (archangel)|St. Raphael]], on [[29 September]]. His feast was for the first time introduced into the [[Roman Catholic calendar of saints]] in 1921 for celebration on [[24 March]] and transferred to [[29 September]] in 1969.<ref>''Calendarium Romanum'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 119)</ref> [[Traditionalist Catholic]]s still [[Commemoration (prayer)|commemorate]] him on [[24 March]], following this tradition of 48 years' duration.
The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and those [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] which follow the [[Byzantine Rite]] celebrate his [[feast day]] on [[8 November]] (for those churches which follow the traditional [[Julian Calendar]], [[8 November]] currently falls on [[21 November]] of the modern [[Gregorian Calendar]]). Eastern Orthodox commemorate him, not only on his November feast, but also on two other days: [[26 March]] ([[8 April]]) is the "[[Synaxis]] of the Archangel Gabriel" and celebrates his role in the Annunciation. [[13 July]] ([[26 July]]) is also known as the "Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel", and celebrates all the appearances and miracles attributed to Gabriel throughout history. The feast was first established on [[Mount Athos]] when, in the ninth century, during the reign of [[Byzantine Emperor|Emperor]] [[Basil II]] and the Empress Constantina Porphyrogenitus, while [[Nicholas II Chrysoberges|Nicholas Chrysoverges]] was [[Patriarch of Constantinople]], the Archangel appeared in a cell near [[Karyes]], where he wrote with his finger on a stone tablet the hymn to the [[Theotokos]], "It is truly meet..." (see ''[[Axion Estin]]'').<ref>{{Citation | last =Velimirovic | first =Bishop Nikolai | contribution =July 13: The Holy Archangel Gabriel | year =1985 | title =Prologue from Ochrid | place=Birmingham, UK | publisher =Lazarica Press | id =ISBN 978-0948298059 | url =http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=July&day=13&Go.x=6&Go.y=12 | accessdate =2007-07-31}}</ref>
The [[Ethiopian Church]] celebrates his feast on [[28 December]], with a sizeable number of its believers making a pilgrimage to a church dedicated to "Saint Gabriel" in [[Kulubi]] on that day.<ref>Nega Mezlekia, ''Notes from the Hyena's Belly: An Ethiopian Childhood'' (New York: Picador, 2000), p. 266. ISBN 0312289146</ref>
== Latter-Day Saint view ==
In [[Latter-day Saint theology]], Gabriel lived in this mortal life as the patriarch [[Noah]]. Gabriel and Noah are regarded as the same individual; Noah being his mortal name and Gabriel being his heavenly name.<ref>''History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.'' Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1902. v. 3 p. 386.</ref> See also: [[Noah]], [[Michael (archangel)]] ~ [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]]
==Islam==<!-- [[Jibreel]]redirects here -->
The [[Arabic language|Arabic]] name for Gabriel is '''Jibril''', '''Jibrīl''', '''Jibreel''', '''Jabrilæ''' or '''Djibril''' (جبريل , جبرائيل, {{IPA2|dʒibræːʔiːl}}, {{IPA|[dʒibrɛ̈ʔiːl]}}, or {{IPA|[dʒibriːl]}}) [[Muslims]] believe Gabriel to have been the [[angel]] who revealed the [[Qur'an]] to the [[Prophet of Islam|prophet]] [[Muhammad]].
Gabriel's physical appearance is described in the [[Hadith]] ({{Bukhari-usc|4|54|455}}):
<blockquote>
Narrated By Abu Ishaq-Ash-Shaibani: I asked Zir bin Hubaish regarding the Statement of God: "And was at a distance Of but two bow-lengths Or (even) nearer; So did (God) convey The Inspiration to His slave (Gabriel) and then he (Gabriel) Conveyed (that to Muhammad). ({{Quran-usc-range|53|9|10}}) On that, Zir said, "Ibn Mas'ud informed us that the Prophet had seen Gabriel having 600 wings."
</blockquote>
Gabriel is regarded with the exact same respect by Muslims as all of the Prophets, and upon saying his name or referring to him a Muslim repeats: "upon him be peace".
Gabriel's primary tasks are to bring messages from God to His messengers. As in Christianity, Gabriel is said to be the angel that informed [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary]] (Arabic [[Maryam]]) of how she would conceive Jesus ([[Islamic view of Jesus|Isa]]):
<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 (God) from you, if you do fear God." (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 (God): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (God), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by God).' "<br> (Quran, {{Quran-usc-range|19|17|21}})
</blockquote>
Muslims believe Gabriel to have accompanied [[Muhammad]] in his [[Mi'raj|ascension to the heavens]], where Muhammad also is said to have met previous messengers of God, and was informed about the [[Islamic prayer]] (Bukhari {{Bukhari-usc|1|8|345}}). Muslims also believe that Gabriel descends to Earth on the night of [[Laylat al-Qadr]] ("The Night of Great Value"), a night in the last ten days of the holy month of [[Ramadan]] in the [[Islamic calendar]] which is believed to be the night in which the Quran was first revealed.
==Art==
In chronological order (to see each item, follow the link in the footnote):<ref>{{cite web
| title = Links to images of Gabriel
| publisher = ''The Text This Week''
| url = http://www.textweek.com/art/gabriel.htm
| accessdate = 2007-02-12 }} </ref>
* ''Archangel Gabriel'' ([[Triptych]]), early 10th century, [[Benaki Museum]]
* ''The Archangel Gabriel'', [[Pisan]], c. 1325/1350, [[National Gallery of Art]]
* ''The Archangel Gabriel'', [[Masolino da Panicale]], c. 1420/30, [[National Gallery of Art]]
* ''Justice between the Archangels Michael and Gabriel'', [[Jacobello del Fiore]], 1421
* ''Merode Altarpiece'' (Triptych), [[Robert Campin]], c. 1425, [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]]
* ''The Angel Gabriel'', [[Agostino di Duccio]], c. 1450
* ''[[Annunciation]]'', [[Leonardo Da Vinci]], c. 1475
* ''The Angel Gabriel'', [[Neroccio d'Landi]], c. 1490
* ''The Angel Gabriel'', late 15th-early 16th century, Flemish, [[National Gallery of Art]]
* ''The Angel Gabriel'', [[Ferrari Gaudenzio]], 1511, [[National Gallery, London]]
* ''Gabriel delivering the Annunciation''[[El Greco]], 1575 (pictured above)
* ''Go Down Death'', [[Aaron Douglas]], 1934
==Popular culture==
{{trivia|date=June 2007}}
* The eccentric English hagiographer and antiquarian, [[Sabine Baring-Gould]] (1834-1924), wrote a [[Basque music|Basque]] [[Christmas]] carol, ''Gabriel's Message'', which was probably based on the 13th or 14th century Latin [[chant]] ''Angelus Ad Virginem'' which itself is based on the Biblical account of the [[Annunciation]] in the [[New Testament]] [[Gospel of Luke]].
* In his [[epic poetry|epic poem]] ''[[Paradise Lost]]'', [[John Milton]] made Gabriel chief of the angelic guards placed over [[Garden of Eden|Paradise]].
* In an episode of [[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)]], entitled [[A Passage for Trumpet]], Trumpet player Joey Crown (played by [[Jack Klugman]]) makes a decision to live or die with the help of a [[trumpet]] player who later turns out to be the angel Gabriel.
* In [[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]], Dr. McCoy quipped that just once he would like to transport down to a primitive planet and say, "Behold, I am the Archangel Gabriel!"
*In ''[[Constantine (film)|Constantine]]'', [[Tilda Swinton]] portrays Gabriel as an [[androgyne]]. Gabriel betrays God and joins forces with the Devil.
*In the ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' series of [[video games]], Gabriel is portrayed as the only female [[Seraph]] and, in the second installment, stands apart from the other Seraphim when their goals diverge from God's.
*In ''[[The Prophecy]]'' trilogy, the angel Gabriel, played by [[Christopher Walken]], is jealous of humans for being God's favorites and wishes to kill them all. In the second one he is banished to be a human and it causes him to change his opinion of them. After helping Danyael out through the third movie he is granted a second chance as an angel and ascends to Heaven once again.
*In Piers Anthony's "Incarnations of Immortality" series, books three and eight (For Love of Evil and And Eternity) Gabriel is the mightiest of Angels, Heaven's "number two". He creates the deal with Parry (Satan, the Incarnation of Evil) concerning Niobe, Luna, Orlene and the status of the Incarnation of Good.
* In 2007, the Australian film ''[[Gabriel (film)|Gabriel]]'' tells the story of an 'Arc' Angel who fights to bring light back to purgatory - a place where darkness rules - and save the souls of the city's inhabitants. Actor Andy Whitfield portrays the title role.
* The film ''[[Van Helsing (film)|Van Helsing]]'' refers to the lead character, Van Helsing, as 'the left hand of God'. The antagonist, Count Vladimis Draguelia, i.e. Count Dracula, refers to Van Helsing as 'Gabriel', to which Van Helsing responds 'how do you know me?'.
* In the [[adult]] [[anime]] series of [[Jiburiru - The Devil Angel]], Jiburiru's romanized name, Jibril, is the same as the Arabic name of the archangel Gabriel. This series tells the story about three girls whom lose virginity to the lover whom she cares from and transform into an [[heroic]] [[angels]] as a help of Luvriel to defeat the [[demons]] from hell. As Meimi is jealous of Rika, she becomes an dark maid-like devil from Asmo. Later in the second series, Meimi's devil form was later a clone. Although, there are two forms in the series, one is the heaven form and the other one is a hell form. Rika and Hikari also have hell forms later in the series, but were being master-minded by [[demons]].
* In the RPG In Nomine, Gabriel is primarliar portrayed as female (has not used her male form in centuries). She is the archangel of Fire and hold up the ideals of punishing the wicked. Her main enemy is Belial, Demon prince of Fire.
* In the second All Dogs Go To Heaven film, Carface, the main villain of the first film, steals what is known as Gabriel's Horn. Then the horn is blown, only angels can hear its tune, but regardless, it will open any gate. Its main use in the film is that of opening the gates to heaven, and without it, nobody can get in.
==See also==
{{commonscat|Gabriel}}
*[[Angel]]
*[[Archangel]]
*[[Michael (archangel)]]
*[[Raphael (angel)]]
*[[Uriel (angel)]]
*[[Angels in Islam]]
*[[Holy spirit]]
*[[Fleur de lys]]
*[[Annunciation]]
*[[List of names referring to El]]
==Notes==
<references/>
==Bibliography==
* Bamberger, Bernard Jacob, ([[March 15]], [[2006]]). ''[[Fallen Angels: Soldiers of Satan's Realm]].'' Jewish Publication Society of America. ISBN 0-8276-0797-0
* Briggs, Constance Victoria, 1997. ''The Encyclopedia of Angels: An A-to-Z Guide with Nearly 4,000 Entries.'' Plume. ISBN 0-452-27921-6.
* Bunson, Matthew, (1996). ''Angels A to Z: A Who's Who of the Heavenly Host.'' Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-88537-9.
* Cruz, Joan C. 1999. ''Angels and Devils.'' Tan Books & Publishers. ISBN 0-89555-638-3.
* Davidson, Gustav. ''A Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels''. Free Press. ISBN 0-02-907052-X
* Graham, Billy, 1994. ''Angels: God's Secret Agents.'' W Pub Group; Minibook edition. ISBN 0-8499-5074-0
* Guiley, Rosemary, 1996. ''Encyclopedia of Angels.'' ISBN 0-8160-2988-1
* Kreeft, Peter J. 1995. ''Angels and Demons: What Do We Really Know About Them?'' Ignatius Press. ISBN 0-89870-550-9
* Lewis, James R. (1995). ''Angels A to Z.'' Visible Ink Press. ISBN 0-7876-0652-9
* Melville, Francis, 2001. ''The Book of Angels: Turn to Your Angels for Guidance, Comfort, and Inspiration.'' Barron's Educational Series; 1st edition. ISBN 0-7641-5403-6
* Ronner, John, 1993. ''Know Your Angels: The Angel Almanac With Biographies of 100 Prominent Angels in Legend & Folklore-And Much More!'' Mamre Press. ISBN 0-932945-40-6.
==External links==
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06330a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]
*[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=7&letter=G Jewish Encyclopedia]
*[http://www.sarahsarchangels.com/gabriel.html Sarah's Archangels]
*[http://www.icon-art.info/topic.php?lng=en&top_id=92 Icons of Archangel Gabriel]
*[http://www.entheomedia.org/datura_gallery.htm Entheomedia.org]
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{{New Testament people}}
[[Category:Individual angels]]
[[Category:Archangels]]
[[Category:Hebrew Bible]]
[[am:ገብርኤል]]
[[ar:جبريل]]
[[az:Cəbrayıl (mələk)]]
[[bs:Džibril]]
[[bg:Гаврил (архангел)]]
[[ca:Gabriel]]
[[cs:Archanděl Gabriel]]
[[cy:Gabriel]]
[[da:Gabriel]]
[[de:Gabriel (Erzengel)]]
[[et:Gabriel]]
[[el:Αρχάγγελος Γαβριήλ]]
[[es:Arcángel Gabriel]]
[[eo:Sankta Gabrielo]]
[[fa:جبرئیل]]
[[fr:Gabriel (archange)]]
[[ko:대천사 가브리엘]]
[[hr:Gabriel]]
[[id:Jibril]]
[[it:Arcangelo Gabriele]]
[[he:גבריאל]]
[[ka:გაბრიელ მთავარანგელოზი]]
[[lt:Arkangelas Gabrielius]]
[[hu:Gábor arkangyal]]
[[mk:Архангел Гаврил]]
[[ml:ജിബ്രീല്]]
[[ms:Malaikat Jibril]]
[[nl:Gabriël (aartsengel)]]
[[ja:ガブリエル]]
[[no:Gabriel]]
[[nn:Engelen Gabriel]]
[[pl:Archanioł Gabriel]]
[[pt:Gabriel (arcanjo)]]
[[ro:Arhanghelul Gabriel]]
[[ru:Архангел Гавриил]]
[[simple:Gabriel]]
[[sk:Gabriel (anjel)]]
[[sr:Арханђел Гаврило]]
[[fi:Gabriel]]
[[sv:Gabriel]]
[[th:ญิบรีล]]
[[tr:Cebrâîl]]
[[uk:Гавриїл]]
[[ur:جبرائیل]]
[[zh:加百利]]