Female Angels? Are you serious?
A brother recently shared with us an occurrence where he told someone that there were female angels, and he used this passage Zechariah 5:9 to prove his statement.
Zechariah 5:9 NASB Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and there two women were coming out with the wind in their wings, and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens.
I could not recall an instance where I had seen a female angel described in scripture. Several of us read the passage and our immediate response, in general, was, sounds interesting, or, I had no idea.
Upon closer examination of the passage, “ two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork”
- The word women is the Hebrew word ishshah; a word never used of angels. It is, however, overwhelmingly used to describe a wife. Since we know these are not meant to be seen as wives, then they are merely seen as women.
Ishshah (61a); from an unused word; woman, wife, female: - adulteress *(2), any woman.
From the Word Study Dictionary: While this word predominantly means woman or wife, it is further used in various ways: those able to bear children (Gen_18:11); a widow (Ruth_4:5; 1Sa_27:3); an adulteress (Pro_6:26; Pro_7:5); female children (Num_31:18); or female animals (Gen_7:2).
The instances where the word ishshah is translated to adulteress are minimal and not worthy of consideration. There is no assignment of evil, or other communication about them, so let's just allow them to carry the basket with a woman in it, without excess speculation, to its destination.
- The word not used is mal'âk, a Hebrew word used to define an angel. Look up the word angel, and you will never find it in relation to this incident.
Hebrew - mal'âk/mal-awk' From an unused root meaning to dispatch as a deputy; a messenger; - If you examine the idea of stork wings, you find that the concept is more like a hanging piece of cloth or cape being lifted, perhaps by the women themselves.
The Hebrew word is kânâph/ kaw-nawf' and means just an edge or extremity; (of a garment or bed clothing) a flap.
Angels, by-the-way, have never been seen with wings.
What does the verse say? “and they had wings like the wings of a stork.” Since we now know that the word could easily say, they had extremities to their garments like the wings of a stork; then the imagery should convey that like the seamless robes many wore, these women too had a robe like garment on, which hung from their arms.
The IVPBB Commentary tells us this: women with wings. In the Old Testament angels are not female and are not portrayed with wings (though in Dan_9:21 Gabriel perhaps comes in swift flight; but see comment there). In Ugaritic literature Baal's sister, Anat, is portrayed with wings. In Mesopotamian art winged creatures are generally either protective genies or demons. The goddess Ishtar is also occasionally portrayed with wings. Two winged female genies are portrayed flanking a stylized tree in a relief from the ninth century.
- “there two women were coming out”
Many of the commentaries implied that the woman was being carried off to her punishment. That would make the two women conveyors of judgment, and they do not do that. Setting the woman on a pedestal, a place of momentary dignity, is just the opposite of punishment. We, make the assumption that the woman is left in the basket, but there is nothing that indicates she stays there. Because the angel seems to slam the lead lid back down upon her, you might correctly assume some hostility with this persona. Will this woman in the basket be judged? Absolutely; we have gathered the association of this woman with Babylon and the harlot of Revelation, and, there is no doubt that Babylon, the spiritual entity, also known as the harlot, is severely judged. You need to understand that the woman in the basket is representative of something much more encompassing the attractiveness of a woman, this is the global desire that attempts to entrap and pull us away from God continually.
Will this woman in the basket be judged? Absolutely; we have gathered the association of this woman with Babylon and the harlot of Revelation, and, there is no doubt that Babylon, the spiritual entity, also known as the harlot, is severely judged. You need to understand that the woman in the basket is representative of something much more encompassing the attractiveness of a woman, this is the global desire that attempts to entrap and pull us away from God continually.
Since we have the angels own words to help with this matter, then what did the Angel say the woman was?
Zechariah 5:5-8 NASB Then the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, "Lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth." 6) I said, "What is it?" And he said, "This is the ephah going forth." Again he said, "This is their appearance in all the land 7) (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah." 8) Then he said, "This is Wickedness!" And he threw her down into the middle of the ephah and cast the lead weight on its opening.
Notice that the angel shows no love nor respect for the entity inside the basket. No human being should be treated like that, and, we have an understanding of God's nature and character when we read:
Matthew 18:14 NASB "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
2 Peter 3:9 NASB The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
So it is safe to assume that God is not sending a human off to their destruction without judgment. Another factor that gives us clarity is the implications that this is a representation.
Depending on the translation you also get lawlessness, evil, and sin. Several translations even tell you, “this represents ...” Since we are made aware that it looks like a woman, then there is an associated attractiveness or even a seduction to this evil.
The word translated as evil, wicked or lawless is the Hebrew word rish‛âh and means wrong (especially moral): - fault, wickedly (-ness).
Allowing scripture to interpret scripture I later returned to this subject and looked at the entirety of chapter five. I had noticed that the chapter speaks of:
a woman in a basket with a lead lid.
- Zechariah 5:11 NASB Then he said to me, "To build a temple for her in the land of Shinar; and when it is prepared, she will be set there on her own pedestal."
I wanted to find out who is this woman is who having a temple built for her in the plain of Shinar,
Shinar, why does that sound familiar?
Genesis 10:8-11 NASB Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9) He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD." 10) The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11) From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah,
What we have is a reliable link to Babylon of end times.
There is nothing good associated with Shinar at this point.
You should have noted two other names; Babel, and Nineveh. Yes, this was the town the prophet Jonah was sent to with a message of repent or be destroyed. If you know the story, then you know Jonah wanted these people to die, but he also knew God would show them mercy.
Why such hatred toward a people?
Because Israel had suffered tremendous harm at the hands of the Ninevehites/Assyrians, and Jonah, like so many others, carried an intense hatred and prejudiced against them. God, at least for a short period, had other plans; and, when Nineveh as a whole repented, God, for a time, relented on His judgment. Take the time to read the four chapters of Jonah. The last one finds Jonah, lying under gourd plant that has withered, wishing he was dead. When God speaks to Jonah, He explains that mercy is His to show, regardless of how Jonah feels about it.
The Life Application Study Bible commentary has a rather large paragraph about this, but only one small aspect makes any sense. It goes like this, “The woman in a basket was carried away "to the land of Babylonia," which had become a symbol for the center of world idolatry and wickedness.”
- Babel and Babylon are the same places. With certainty, the woman and Babylon have taken on a spiritual meaning.
Zechariah 5:11 And I am going to piece this to together from several version so that you can understand the ramifications.
(AMP) “And he said to me, To the land of Shinar [Babylonia] to build it a house,”
- Consider this designation for a moment. When shown to the prophet, he sees a woman in a basket. However, he is told, “this is evil!”
- And, she will be set upon a pedestal.(BBE) “And he said to me, To make a house for her in the land of Shinar: and they will make a place ready, and put her there in the place which is hers.”
What could that mean? If this is a fallen angel, then it apparently has a throne as well.
(GNB) He answered, "To Babylonia, where they will build a temple for it. When the temple is finished, the basket will be placed there to be worshiped."
Considering that there is an association with Babylon, then, in what ways do we, the world, worship this harlot? The Good News Bible translation triggers off quick thoughts, as the entire world, it seems, will be forced to worship the image of the beast. - Revelation 17:1 NASB Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,
Note the word sits. The woman that Zechariah saw in the basket is also seated; is this just a coincidence? I don't think so.
Revelation 14:8 NASB And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality."
Both of these references assign some lawlessness or evil to a feminine characterization. Revelation 14:8 intertwines the harlot not only with Babylon (what a coincidence) but her immorality as well. Because it uses the term passion, we are led to believe that there is a seductiveness.
Zechariah 5:5-8 NASB Then the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, "Lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth." 6) I said, "What is it?" And he said, "This is the ephah going forth." Again he said, "This is their appearance in all the land 7) (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah." 8) Then he said, "This is Wickedness!" And he threw her down into the middle of the ephah and cast the lead weight on its opening.
Look at verse six from the Message version:
Zechariah 5:6 MSG I said, "What in the world is that?" He said, "This is a bushel basket on a journey. It holds the sin of everyone, everywhere."
While I can grasp the idea that it contains the sin of everyone; our sins then, are completely characterized by one person - this woman referred to as “it.”
However, it is not, at this moment in Scripture, directed at everyone.
It is expressly directed at Israel; And, we know this because it says in Zechariah 5:6, “This is their appearance in all the land.”
Can the world be enticed and therefore included? Absolutely. We are all taken in by the abominations of the earth. You know that Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world and their glory. Pursue this in Matthew 4. Jesus responded to Satan with, “It is written,..” Israel, being the focus and center of God's attention, is God's focus in the statement, “This is their appearance in all the land.”
What we may be seeing here is the representation of the Harlot, the Mother of Harlots.
Revelation 17:5-6 NASB and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." 6) And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.
Note how it describes Babylon as the mother of harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.
Revelation 18:2 NASB And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.
We understand that a harlot entices you to give up your virginity, your dignity, destroy your marriage, and end your relationship with important and vital people in your life, like the wife; God. Now, look at the other descriptives: Babylon, a spiritual entity, is the woman drunk with the blood of saints and witnesses of Jesus. Isn't it clear that this harlot is a murderer? It is also the dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit.
Revelation 18 concludes with Babylon, the great city, being thrown down with violence and not be found any longer. In reality, that throwing down, physically, happened not that long after perhaps Darius. Wikipedia tells us: It has been estimated that Babylon was the largest city in the world from c. 1770 to 1670 BC, and again between c. 612 and 320 BC. With some solid dates, we can associate the destruction of Babylon with the Alexandrian empire.
