Most people have heard about Archangel Gabriel. In the Judeo-Christian world, he is the most famous and well-known archangel who told the message of Jesus’s birth to Mary. Most people think of Gabriel as a male angel. However, it is quite possible Archangel Gabriel is a female.
Archangel Gabriel May Not Have Been a Male Angel
In Angels A to Z, the authors tell us that Gabriel is unique in the sense that it is almost certain that she is the only female in the higher echelons. Gabriel is said to sit on the left- hand side of God, whose dwelling is popularly believed to be residing in the seventh heaven (or, sometimes, the tenth heaven). This, the author claims, is further evidence of Gabriel being female. The female character of Gabriel is once again confirmed in popular lore, which tells how she takes the invariably protesting soul from paradise and instructs it for the nine months while it remains in the womb of its mother.
Muslims believe Archangel Gabriel, or as they call him, Djibril dictated the Koran to the prophet Muhammad. However, Gabriel is depicted mainly as a male angel within Islam. However, some later depictions of angels in Islamic art portray Gabriel as more feminine.
Gabriel has been portrayed as a motherly figure in several ways not only has Gabriel announced pregnancy news, Gabriel has also been known to assist parents with children. In these ways, Gabriel possesses more feminine qualities than males. Gabriel has been known to work with the conception, pregnancies, and birth. He helps with adoption, sensitive children, and mentoring children and parents.
Archangel Gabriel: Neither a Female Nor Male Angel
Many sources say that Archangel Gabriel is neither a female nor a male angel. Angels are genderless and do not procreate as humans. According to scripture, each angel was created directly by God before the creation of our universe (Job 38:7). Jesus also taught that angels do not marry (Matthew 22:30). Angels reportedly have appeared in some situations with no discernible gender.
Archangel Gabriel: Both a Female and a Male Angel
There are other sources that believe archangel Gabriel possesses the perfect balance of feminine and masculine traits. This paints the portrait as a very androgynous archangel. The angel has been portrayed in an androgynous manner in Renaissance art. Reportedly, Gabriel also has the ability to show up a female angel in some situations, and as a male angel in other situations.
A passage from the Torah and the Bible in Zechariah 5:9-11) describes separate genders of angels appearing at once: Two female angels lifting a basket and a male angel answering the prophet Zechariah’s question: “Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth. ‘Where are they taking the basket?’ I asked the angel who was speaking to me. He replied, “To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it” (Hopler, 2018).
