גַּבְרִיאֵל (gav.ri.el)
gav.ri.el
Gabriel
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Gabriel, rendered in Hebrew as gavri’el, literally means “man of God” or “warrior of God.” It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both within the book of Daniel, where the figure serves as a divine interpreter of visions. In these passages, he is identified as an archangel who brings clarity to complex prophetic timelines, acting as a bridge between heavenly mystery and human understanding.
Although the Hebrew text limits his appearances to Daniel, later Jewish tradition and the New Testament expand his role significantly. He is recognized in Christian scripture as the messenger who announces the births of John the Baptist to Zechariah and Jesus to Mary. This continuity highlights how the name came to symbolize important divine announcements across both testaments.
The etymology reflects strength and closeness to the divine, combining a root for “man” or “warrior” with the name of God. Translators consistently retain the proper name rather than translating it, preserving its identity as a specific heavenly being. The brief biblical record establishes him as a key figure in revealing God’s future plans.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Gabriel means "man of God" or "warrior of God." In the Old Testament, he appears only twice in Daniel to help the prophet understand difficult visions. He acts as a bridge between heaven and earth, bringing clarity to complex timelines that seemed confusing at first glance.
This role reminds us that God does not leave His people in the dark. When life feels uncertain or prophetic words seem hard to grasp, divine messengers bring understanding. The name itself suggests strength rooted in closeness to God, showing that true insight comes from His presence.
Later tradition connects this same angel to the New Testament announcements of John the Baptist and Jesus. This continuity shows how God uses specific messengers to reveal His plans across generations, ensuring we know He is actively involved in history.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- O Gabriel1×
- Gabriel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גַּבְרִיאֵ֡ל1×
- גַּבְרִיאֵ֕ל1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 8:16
I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”
This verse establishes Gabriel's primary role as an interpreter who makes divine visions understandable to human recipients.
-
Daniel 9:21
yes, while I was speaking in prayer—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 offering.
Here Gabriel responds to prayer, demonstrating his readiness to provide clarity during times of spiritual seeking and repentance.