The concept of an “angel of death” is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. However, there are passages that refer to angels having some involvement with death.
In the Old Testament, the destroying angel that God sent to kill the firstborn males of Egypt during the 10th plague (Exodus 12:23) is sometimes referred to as the “angel of death.” However, the text does not use that term specifically. It simply refers to “the destroyer.”
In 2 Samuel 24, God sends an angel to inflict a plague as punishment for David taking a census of Israel. This angel is not called the “angel of death” but it has a role in causing widespread death.
In the New Testament, there is a reference to angels carrying Lazarus’ soul to “Abraham’s bosom” when he died (Luke 16:22). This indicates angels are involved in some way with the death of righteous people.
The book of Revelation describes the release of four horsemen, one of whom is given power over a fourth of the earth “to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence” (Revelation 6:8). The text does not state this horseman is an angel, but some connect this figure with the idea of an angel of death.
The book of Hebrews states that human beings have a scheduled time to die, after which they will face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). This implies that God oversees and appoints the time of a person’s death rather than angels arbitrarily deciding when someone dies.
In summary, the Bible does not present a specific angel whose sole purpose is to cause death or determine when someone dies. Angels may be involved in some way with certain deaths, but ultimately life and death are in God’s hands. The concept of an individual “angel of death” comes more from pop culture and tradition than from explicit biblical teaching.
Biblical Examples of Angels Involved with Death
The Destroying Angel in Exodus
The Passover story describes a destroying angel being sent by God to kill the firstborn males in the land of Egypt:
For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. (Exodus 12:23)
Some key things to note:
- This angel is carrying out God’s will and judgment.
- Its purpose is specific – killing firstborn males as the 10th plague.
- It is referred to as “the destroyer,” not “the angel of death.” That is a more modern term applied retrospectively.
This example shows angels can be involved in bringing death, but always according to God’s command and for specific purposes in particular situations.
The Angel that Struck Down People in 2 Samuel 24
2 Samuel 24 describes an episode where God brings judgment on Israel after David conducts a census. God sends an angel to strike down the people:
Then the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” (2 Samuel 24:15-16)
Again, this angel is an agent of God’s specific judgment for a particular sin. Its role is limited in scope – inflicting a plague until God says it is enough. It is not acting on its own initiative.
The Angel that Carried Lazarus to Abraham’s Bosom
In one of Jesus’ parables, He tells of a poor man named Lazarus who died and was carried by angels:
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. (Luke 16:22)
This indicates angels have some involvement with righteous people as they die, but very little detail is given.
This passage is set in the context of a parable, so some caution should be used in deriving doctrinal principles from it. However, it does suggest angels may have a role in escorting the souls of God’s people into His presence when they die.
The Horseman of Death in Revelation
Revelation Chapter 6 describes four horsemen that are released in the end times. The fourth horseman is described as follows:
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:8)
Some key observations:
- This horseman is not specifically called an angel, but is personified as “Death.” Interpretations vary on the identity of the four horsemen.
- He seems to embody evils God allows to afflict part of the earth, rather than being an individual angel of death.
- His authority is limited in scope – he can only afflict one fourth of the earth.
So while this horseman is sometimes connected conceptually with the idea of an angel of death, the text does not definitively say this is the same figure.
The Biblical View of Life and Death
Looking at the broader teaching of Scripture, life and death are always in God’s hands, according to His timing and purposes. For example:
See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. (Deuteronomy 32:39)
The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. (1 Samuel 2:6)
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16)
Furthermore, Hebrews 9:27 states that human beings die once and then face judgment before God. This implies that the timing of a person’s death is fixed by God rather than being arbitrary:
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)
So while angels may have roles in certain events and situations related to death, the Bible does not present any one angel as having the power or authority to randomly end human life.
Addressing Common Questions
To summarize some key questions that often arise regarding this topic:
Is there a specific “angel of death” mentioned in the Bible?
No, there is no angel specifically given this title or sole function in Scripture.
Do angels ever have anything to do with human death?
There are some instances in the Bible where angels are involved in bringing about death, always by God’s command and for specific purposes.
Do angels arbitrarily decide when someone dies?
No, according to passages like Hebrews 9:27, the timing of each person’s death is fixed by God’s sovereign plan.
Does the “grim reaper” exist?
The hooded, scythe-wielding “grim reaper” figure comes from pop culture, movies and books rather than biblical teaching. Scripture does not present death this way.
Are angels ever portrayed as dark, frightening or skull/corpse-like?
No, angels in the Bible appear human-like and radiant, without dark, ghoulish qualities attached to them.
So in conclusion, while the Bible acknowledges there are spiritual forces at work in matters of life and death, the concept of a specific “angel of death” does not originate in Scripture. Life and death are in God’s hands, according to His wise and sovereign purposes.
Important Bible Passages on Life, Death, and Angels
Here is a selection of relevant Bible verses to get a comprehensive picture of what Scripture says about these topics:
God’s Power Over Life and Death
“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.” (Deuteronomy 32:39)
“The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.” (1 Samuel 2:6)
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)
Angels Carrying Out God’s Judgments
“For the Lord will pass through to strike down the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.” (Exodus 12:23)
“So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.” (2 Samuel 24:15)
The Timing of Human Death
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27 KJV)
An Angel Carrying a Soul to Heaven
“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.” (Luke 16:22)
By examining these and other Scriptures, we gain an understanding of how the Bible approaches matters of life, death, judgment and the roles of angels.