Bible Word Study
Μιχαήλ
michaēl · Michael
Μιχαήλ
Michael
Definition
Μιχαήλ (Michael) is the personal name of a specific archangel in the New Testament. The name means 'Who is like God?' and is used exclusively for this celestial being. In Jude 1:9, he is called 'the archangel Michael' who contends with the devil over the body of Moses, highlighting his role as a defender and a being of authority who submits to God's judgment. In Revelation 12:7, he leads the heavenly armies in war against the dragon (Satan), emphasizing his function as a warrior-prince who fights for God's people and enforces divine victory.
Biblical Usage
The name Μιχαήλ appears only twice in the New Testament, in Jude and Revelation. In both instances, it refers to the same archangelic figure engaged in cosmic conflict. The usage in Jude 1:9 presents him in a dispute, appealing to the Lord's authority. In Revelation 12:7, his role is militaristic, leading angels in a definitive battle. The pattern shows Michael as a high-ranking angelic being involved in spiritual warfare on behalf of God's purposes.
Etymology
Μιχαήλ is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el, H4317) into Greek. The Hebrew name is a rhetorical question composed of 'mi' (who), 'ka' (like), and 'El' (God), meaning 'Who is like God?' This underscores the angel's subordinate nature and the unmatched supremacy of God. The Greek form preserves the Hebrew meaning and identity of this figure from Jewish tradition.
Semantic Range
Michael is a significant figure in biblical angelology and eschatology. His appearances reinforce key doctrines: the reality of a structured angelic hierarchy, the ongoing spiritual conflict between God's kingdom and Satan's forces, and God's ultimate sovereignty as exercised through his agents. Understanding this name enriches reading by connecting the New Testament to Old Testament angelic imagery (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1) and highlighting the cosmic scope of redemption history. In Second Temple Jewish culture, Michael was understood as one of the chief angels, often a protector of Israel (as in Daniel). The New Testament authors assume this cultural background. The title 'archangel' (Jude 1:9) indicates a recognized rank of supreme angelic authority. His role as a warrior reflects common apocalyptic expectations of a final battle between divine and demonic forces, which Revelation portrays as fulfilled in Christ's victory. ἀρχάγγελος (archangelos, G743) — A title for Michael in Jude 1:9, denoting his rank as a chief or ruling angel. ἄγγελος (angelos, G32) — The general Greek word for 'messenger' or 'angel,' of which Michael is a specific, high-ranking example.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]