Does Hebrews Prove Jesus Isn’t The Angel Of The Lord?

A common objection that comes up when discussing Jesus in the Old Testament is this:

“How can Jesus be the Angel of the Lord if the book of Hebrews says He isn’t an angel?”

On the surface, this might sound like a strong argument. But when we examine the text carefully, we’ll see that this reasoning is flawed. Hebrews isn’t saying what many people think it says.

In fact, when we understand the context and the meaning of the word “angel,” the supposed contradiction disappears completely.

The verse most commonly cited is Hebrews 1:5:

“For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”

From this, critics argue: “Hebrews says Jesus is not an angel, so He cannot be the Angel of the Lord.” But that argument misses the entire point of what Hebrews is addressing.

In this article, we’ll look at two main reasons why Hebrews does not conflict with the idea that Jesus appeared as the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament.

Reason #1: Jesus Is Not a Created Angel

Hebrews is making one central argument in Chapter 1: Jesus is far superior to the angels. It is clear that Jesus is not on the same level as the created beings who serve God.

He is the Son of God—eternal, divine, and worshipped by the very angels mentioned in the text.

“And let all the angels of God worship him.” – Hebrews 1:6

That alone tells us that Jesus is not part of the created angelic order. If He is worshipped by them, He is in a completely different category.

But here’s where the misunderstanding happens: people assume that if Hebrews says Jesus is greater than angels, then He could never appear in angelic form. That assumption is wrong.

In the Old Testament, God frequently appeared in forms that were not His eternal nature. He wasn’t a man, but He appeared as a man several times:

• Genesis 18: God appears in physical form with two angels and speaks to Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Genesis 32: Jacob wrestles with a man all night, yet later says, “I have seen God face to face.”

God didn’t become a man in His nature in those moments. He simply took on that appearance for a specific purpose. The same principle applies to Jesus.

Even though He is not a created angel, that does not mean He couldn’t appear as an “angel” (a messenger) in the Old Testament.

This is why the argument falls apart: Hebrews is not saying Jesus could never appear in angelic form—it’s saying He is not a created being like the angels.

Reason #2: Don’t Confuse the Word “Angel”

The second misunderstanding comes from how people interpret the word “angel”. Today, we picture a winged spiritual being whenever we hear the word. But in Scripture, the word simply means “messenger.”

• In Hebrew, the word is Malak.
• In Greek, the word is Angelos.

These words describe a role, not a nature. They tell us what the being is doing, not what the being is. And the Bible uses this word in different ways:

• For human messengers: In Genesis 32, the same Hebrew word for angel is used for men.
• For heavenly beings: Created spiritual beings who serve God.
• For divine appearances: God Himself taking on a temporary form to deliver a message.

So when Hebrews talks about “angels,” it is clearly referring to created heavenly beings. But when we read about the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament, the context shows something different.

The Angel of the Lord Is Different

The Angel of the Lord is set apart from all other angels. He is identified with God in ways that no created angel ever is:

• Genesis 16: The Angel of the Lord speaks to Hagar, and she calls Him “God” after the encounter. (Moses narrating Genesis calls the Angel YHWH)
• Genesis 32: Jacob wrestles with this figure and later says, “I have seen God face to face.”
• Genesis 48: Jacob prays and invokes the Angel alongside God in the same breath—a practice that would be blasphemous if the Angel were a mere creature.
  

This shows that the Angel of the Lord belongs to the divine side of reality, not the created side. Hebrews isn’t contradicting that truth—it’s emphasizing it by showing that Jesus is above all created angels.

Context Is Everything

One of the biggest mistakes people make is taking Hebrews out of context. The author of Hebrews isn’t addressing the question of whether Jesus appeared as the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament.

The point of the passage is to show that Jesus is supreme over all created beings.

So, keep these two truths in mind:

1. Jesus is not a created angel.
2. The Angel of the Lord is not a created angel either—it is a divine appearance.

When you understand that, the supposed contradiction disappears.

Throughout history, God has chosen to reveal Himself in various ways—even as a messenger. This doesn’t diminish His divinity; it magnifies His willingness to draw near to His people.

If you want to go deeper into the identity of Jesus and why He is truly God, read this related article where John makes it clear that Jesus is the Word of God. 

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