malakh

Malakh, Hebrew מלאך, literally means “messenger.” The term refers to a spiritual being who acts as a messenger of God, though it can also denote a human envoy in ordinary language. The singular form is malakh and the plural is malakhim; in English translations, the word is usually rendered as “angel” or “messenger.”

In the Hebrew Bible, malakhim are agents who convey God’s commands, warnings, or explanations to people. They are described as created beings who serve the divine will, and in some passages their appearances are treated as manifestations of God’s presence or authority. The term is used for both generic messengers and specific angelic figures; later Jewish and Christian traditions name various angelic beings and assign them particular roles within a broader hierarchy of malakhim.

Within Judaism, malakhim have been elaborated in rabbinic literature and mystical texts. Angels are depicted as intelligent beings with tasks ranging from delivering messages to recording deeds or praising God. Some traditions feature prominent figures such as Metatron as a high-ranking celestial being, though such depictions vary across schools of thought and are not universally accepted.

In Christian and Islamic contexts, the concept of malakh parallels the broader idea of angels as divine messengers. In Christian usage, malakh is typically translated as “angel” in the Old Testament. In Islam, the corresponding term is mala’ika (singular malaḵ), describing angels created from light who carry out God’s commands; the Hebrew and Arabic terms are closely related etymologically but belong to distinct theological frameworks.

Modern usage: Malakh remains common in Hebrew-language religious literature and is also encountered as a given name or surname in Jewish communities.