Archangel Gabriel

[Daniel 8:15-16] “When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. And I heard a human voice by the Ulai canal, which called, ‘Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.'”

Gabriel is an archangel whose first appearance is in the Old Testament Book of Daniel. His name means “Man of God,” “Hero of God,” “God has shown His might,” or “The one who reveals God’s secrets.” He is also considered to be God’s (left) hand.

Gabriel is the archangel responsible for delivering messages from God and is sometimes regarded as an angel of death or a prince of fire and thunder. As an angel who “stands in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19), he holds a favored position with God. He is chosen to convey God’s will and to assist those chosen to be part of God’s plan. In the Bible, Gabriel appears to at least three individuals: first, to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 8:16); second, to the priest Zechariah, prophesying and proclaiming the miraculous birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:19); and finally, to the Virgin Mary, informing her that she would conceive and bear a son (Luke 1:26-38).