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What gender are angels in the Bible?
Angels throughout Scripture are often described in the masculine form. Like in the cases of Lot in Sodom and Daniel with the angel Gabriel, angels are always described as men or in the masculine gender. Based on every clear recorded appearance of angels in the Bible, the gender of angels is male.
But this is only when they appear to interact with humans, because angels are spirits. Here's a deep dive on Scriptures concerning angels.
Scriptures That Indirectly Show Angels Are Not Gendered Beings
| Scripture | What It Says About Angels | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 22:30 | “They neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven.” | Marriage & reproduction are human categories — angels do not participate. |
| Luke 20:35–36 | Resurrected humans are “like the angels… neither marry nor die.” | Angels are immortal & non-reproductive → Unlike male/female humans. |
| Hebrews 1:14 | Angels are “ministering spirits.” | Spirit = not flesh, no biological sex. |
| Genesis 1:27–28 | Male & female created for fruitfulness. | Biblical gender = reproductive capacity. Angels never reproduce (except in the case of the fallen angels below.) |
| Job 38:7 | All angels existed before humanity. | They did not reproduce — they were directly created. |
| Hebrews 2:16 | Christ helps humans, not angels — humans = seed of Abraham. | Angels are outside the biological line of “seed.” |
| Psalm 148:2,5 | Angels were created by command, not birth. | No angelic parents → no reproduction. |
These are powerful arguments for no gender, but they leave out the numerous scriptures that point in the other direction. While the Scriptures don't overtly say that the angels are all males, The Bible alludes to this fact, for all referenced angel appearances in the Bible are in the male form.
Scriptures Where Angels Appear as Men
| Scripture | Description | Notes / Scholarly View |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 18:2 | Abraham sees “three men” — two angels and the Lord | Appear as men to interact with humans; hospitality context. |
| Genesis 19:1 | Two angels visit Lot in Sodom | Called “men”; physically interact (eat, speak). Masculine language is grammatical. |
| Judges 13:6 | Samson’s mother sees “a man of God” | Later identified as Angel of the Lord. Masculine appearance to convey authority. |
| Daniel 10:5–6 | Angel described as a “man clothed in linen” | Highly symbolic; appearance as a man for vision, not human gender. |
| Zechariah 1:8–11 | Angel appears as “a man riding a red horse” | Visionary/functional role; masculine imagery common. |
| Luke 1:11–13 | Gabriel appears to Zechariah | Clearly described as a man to communicate effectively. |
| Luke 2:9 | Angel of the Lord appears to shepherds | Appears in human (male) form, speaking to men. |
| Acts 12:7 | Angel frees Peter from prison | Appears as a man; human perception of angelic messenger. |
| Acts 27:23–24 | Angel speaks to Paul in a vision | Masculine representation; functional appearance. |
| Revelation 10:1 | Mighty angel appears | “Clothed with cloud, rainbow on head” — masculine in description, symbolic authority. |
Key Scholarly Notes
| Point | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Masculine grammar | Hebrew often uses masculine forms because no neuter exists for angels. |
| Functional appearance | Angels appear as men so humans can perceive them. |
| Not biological sex | Angels have no seed, womb, or reproductive organs. Masculine form = symbolic authority. |
| Temporary form | In visions, angels take human male form for communication or instruction. |
It's also interesting that in the book of Genesis, when the The Scriptures describe the situation in the time of Noah, it shares that the sons of God went in with the daughters of men, illustrating that these angels who had interactions with the daughters of men were, in fact, male, or the male gender.
Genesis 6:2-5 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Clearly these fallen angels had reproductive capacity for they took wives of the daughters of men.
Here are Hebrew Scholars on the term sons of God so we know this refers to fallen angels.
Scholarly Views on “Sons of God” as Fallen Angels
| Scholar / University | View |
|---|---|
| R.H. Charles – Oxford | “Sons of God” = angels who rebelled (corresponds with 1 Enoch) |
| Michael Heiser – Univ. of Wisconsin | Direct reference to Watchers / fallen angels; took human women |
| Gordon Wenham – Cambridge | Second Temple Jewish interpretation: fallen angels; Genesis 6 is mythic but based on angelic rebellion |
| Umberto Cassuto – Hebrew University | “Sons of God” = divine beings, not Sethites; Genesis 6 = angelic fall |
| John Walton – Wheaton College | Supernatural beings (angels) taking wives → boundary-crossing sin |
| James VanderKam – Notre Dame | “Sons of God” are angels; narrative reflected in 1 Enoch 6–15 |
| Jon Levenson – Harvard | Angels are b’nei ha-Elohim, not human lineage; 1 Enoch expands the story |
| Ancient Targums | Explicitly interpret Genesis 6 as fallen angels mating with humans |
| Maimonides – Córdoba | Angels do not reproduce; Genesis 6 is allegorical for rebellion, but sons of God = angels |
| Rashi – Troyes | Some rabbis: sons of God = angels who descended and sinned with humans |
So the angels that took wives with the daughters of men had marital relations with them in contradiction to what The Lord Jesus said about the angels of heaven. But this shows that the angels of heaven who follow God's laws and ordinances do not marry, but the fallen angels who are reprobate crossed the line and used their ability to reproduce, and ofcourse produced the race of giants called Nephilim.
Producing the race of giants alludes to the fact that these fallen angels were of the male gender since they procreated with the daughters of men or women.
Again, all recorded instances of angels in Holy Scripture show that angels are of the male gender.
Of course, angels are not human, they are spirits. However, when they do come in human or in physical form, they show up as males.
The interesting thing here is that God is Spirit, but when He shows up in physical form, He likewise shows up as a Man, The Lord, Christ Jesus, and He's referred to in the masculine gender.
Following the Scriptures typologies and insights it follows that angels in this realm show up as male but are not allowed to have intercourse with human beings, but the fallen angels didn't follow the rules and mated with women.
Conclusion: Angels are spirits but can take on the appearance or form of men when interacting with human beings.
So it follows likewise, that the angels, even though they're ministering spirits, when they come in human form, they do so in the male gender.
