Searching all the times an angel spoke to a human

James Johnson
James Johnson Member Posts: 217 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Well, I am having an issue finding the search perimeters to find all the occurrences an angel spoke to a human.   I am trying to find out if the angel always addressed the person and told them not to be afraid.  I could search the fraise but then I will get all the times God said not to be afraid as well, I just want to see if EVERYTIME an angel spoke to a human if they told them not to be afraid and its not working out for me, thanks in advance. 

Comments

  • Anon
    Anon Member Posts: 516 ✭✭

    Well, I am having an issue finding the search perimeters to find all the occurrences an angel spoke to a human.   I am trying to find out if the angel always addressed the person and told them not to be afraid.  I could search the fraise but then I will get all the times God said not to be afraid as well, I just want to see if EVERYTIME an angel spoke to a human if they told them not to be afraid and its not working out for me, thanks in advance. 

    This may help as a start.  In a bible search try:   speaker:"An Angel"

     

  • Rosie Perera
    Rosie Perera Member Posts: 26,194 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm sure someone who knows the search parameters better than I do can tell you how to do it the technical way, but I just searched for "angel said" and found some places where an angel spoke to a human and did NOT tell them not to be afraid. One was the angel of the Lord who spoke to Gideon (Judges 6). Another was the angel of the Lord who spoke to those standing before Joshua the high priest, telling them to take the filthy clothes off of Joshua (Zechariah 3). There was also the angel who freed Peter from prison (Acts 12).

  • James Johnson
    James Johnson Member Posts: 217 ✭✭

    Its not a help, sorry I am very good at using the search tool and searching for your suggested option would bring up every time an angel spoke.   this would be to man, God, another angel, satan, etc.  I am looking for each time an an angel (not an angel of the LORD - as this is typically known as Jesus before his incarnation as a Human)  but thank you. 

  • James Johnson
    James Johnson Member Posts: 217 ✭✭

    These are all an Angel from the Lord.  I am looking for just an angel, and I cant figure out the parameter's.   I am trying to study if the bible records people being afraid of angels every time or not because a lot of people today claim to have seen an angel (knowingly) and their description is always peaceful or without fear, and I just don't believe them.  Its hard to take someone genuine because normally the people claiming to have an encounter with an angel are doing it for views or reputation unfortunately.  Once i figure out the search parameters then I will go deeper and look into if the ones they were not afraid were only visions or actually physical form in front of them.   :) Thank you for the help though, for now I will look to see the difference between angels of the Lord and regular angels appearing, to arch angels.

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 36,131

    I am looking for just an angel, and I cant figure out the parameter's.

    Type speaker:angel to see that there are many persons with 'angel' in the name, which makes it difficult to find speech by angels.

    But you could build a search afraid INTERSECTS speaker:angel 

    if you keep selecting a choice from typing speaker:angel and executing the Search.

    A Search that is simpler is   afraid WITHIN 30 WORDS sense:angel

    even if angel does include "angel of the lord".

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13

  • James Johnson
    James Johnson Member Posts: 217 ✭✭

    Thank you Dave! I have come to the conclusion that when a regular angel is addressing someone via a vision or any other way they normally say "Do not be afraid".  However, When the angel of the LORD speaks, he does not always tell them to be afraid.  I wonder why that is? I suppose I have much to study on this topic. 

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 36,131

    When the angel of the LORD speaks, he does not always tell them to be afraid.

    True! In some bibles, the word fear is used as well as "afraid"  i.e.

    speaker:"Angel of the Lord" NOT INTERSECTS (fear OR afraid), has 98 results.

    Contrast this with  speaker:"Angel of the Lord" INTERSECTS  (fear OR afraid)  and note where "not" is absent (Gen22:!2).

    99 without vs 6 with (ESV).

    I wonder why that is?

    Is that the right question?

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13

  • James Johnson
    James Johnson Member Posts: 217 ✭✭

    Thank you for this, I appreciate  the different search parameters and will save this post for future reference.  

    Still trying to understand why some angels said not to fear them and others did not.   I am trying to see if they were feared because of their appearance or some other reason.   

    Thanks again brother.

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 36,131

    Still trying to understand why some angels said not to fear them

    Look at the circumstances  e.g. Mt 28:1-5, Lk 1:8-13, 26-30, 2:8-10, Acts 27:23-25, Gen 21:16-18.

    ..and others did not.

    The more numerous examples of this are instructive e.g. fear may be intended Num 22:31-35. But why was Joshua not afraid (Josh 5:13-15) in similar circumstances ("drawn sword")? Contrast that with the story of David (1 Chron 21:16-27 then 21:28-22:1). A commentary would be helpful, as it makes a good message!

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13