Original Word: גַּבְרִיאֵל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Gabriy'el
Pronunciation: gav-ree-EL
Phonetic Spelling: (gab-ree-ale')
KJV: Garbriel
NASB: Gabriel
Word Origin: [from H1397 (גֶּבֶר - man) and H410 (אֵל - God)]

1. man of God
2. Gabriel, an archangel

Garbriel

From geber and 'el; man of God; Gabriel, an archangel -- Garbriel.

see HEBREW geber

see HEBREW 'el

Word Origin
from geber and el
Definition
"man of El," an archangel
NASB Translation
Gabriel (2).

גַּבְרִיאֵל proper name, masculine (man of El) an arch-angel Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21(compare Luke 1:19).

גבשׁ (be firm, massive, compare Assyrian gâbašu, be thick massive, Zim^{BP 76, & derivatives}; compare also Aramaic גַּבֵּשׁ; Pa`el heap up & גַּבְשׁוּשִׁית height, hill).

Identity and Meaning

Gabriel is presented in Scripture as a personal, conscious heavenly messenger who stands “in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19). His name, signifying God’s might acting on behalf of His people, anticipates the decisive interventions he announces.

Appearance in the Book of Daniel

1. Daniel 8:16 introduces Gabriel as the angelic interpreter of the ram-goat vision. Daniel “heard a human voice calling, ‘Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.’ ” The prophet is overwhelmed (Daniel 8:17), underscoring the holiness of the messenger and the gravity of the revelation.
2. In Daniel 9:21-27 Gabriel returns “in swift flight” during evening sacrifice to clarify Jeremiah’s seventy-year prophecy, unfolding the seventy “weeks” that reach to Messiah and final restoration. The repeated ministry indicates both Gabriel’s reliability and God’s commitment to make prophetic truth intelligible.

Messenger of God’s Eschatological Plan

Gabriel’s explanations turn opaque symbolism into coherent history. He reveals:
• The rise and fall of Medo-Persia and Greece (Daniel 8:20-22).
• The oppression of the saints by a blasphemous ruler (Daniel 8:23-25).
• The timetable leading to Messiah’s atoning work and the ultimate end of desolations (Daniel 9:24-27).

Thus Gabriel functions as a guardian of redemptive chronology, ensuring that God’s people can trace His covenant faithfulness through the kingdoms of men.

Intertestamental Expectation

Second Temple literature echoes Gabriel’s role, heightening anticipation for divine intervention. While not canonical, these writings reflect a community that remembered Daniel’s visions and waited for the angel’s next announcement, preparing the way for the Gospel era.

Ministry in the New Testament

Gabriel reappears in Luke, maintaining continuity with Daniel:
• To Zechariah: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you” (Luke 1:19). He foretells the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner implied in Daniel 9:25.
• To Mary: he proclaims the incarnation of the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:26-38), fulfilling the promise of an anointed ruler who will establish an everlasting kingdom.

The same messenger who interpreted distant prophecy now announces its realization, demonstrating the unity of Scripture.

Theological Themes

• Divine Sovereignty: Gabriel’s messages reveal that history unfolds by God’s precise decree.
• Mediation: Angels serve as communicative links but never eclipse God; worship is directed to the Sender, not the sent.
• Revelation and Understanding: God provides both vision and interpretation, affirming that He wills to be known.
• Hope and Consolation: Gabriel appears at moments of distress (Daniel’s confusion, Israel’s barrenness, Mary’s perplexity) to herald salvation.

Practical Reflections

1. Confidence in Prophecy: Gabriel’s fulfilled announcements validate the trustworthiness of Scripture.
2. Readiness for God’s Timetable: Just as Gabriel came “about the time of the evening sacrifice” (Daniel 9:21), believers are called to order their lives around worship, expecting divine visitation.
3. Prayer and Insight: Daniel’s intensity in prayer preceded Gabriel’s arrival; persistent intercession remains a means by which understanding is granted.
4. Humble Reception: Mary’s response, “May it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), models submission to revelations God sends, whether through Scripture or providence.

Gabriel’s limited but strategic appearances frame the arc of redemption from exile to incarnation, reminding the faithful that the same God who dispatched him still governs history and guides His people toward the consummation of all things.

גַּבְרִיאֵ֕ל גַּבְרִיאֵ֡ל גבריאל gaḇ·rî·’êl gaḇrî’êl gavriElInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts