1.  From the biblical Greek angelos, used as the translation of mahlach as found in the Hebrew bible. In English, both mean “messenger.”

Although there is a common myth that a good person becomes an angel after he or she dies, there is no biblical or theological support for this position. Rather, angels form a class of created entities—whose actions my be interpreted by humans as good or evil due to our limited understanding of the universe—who actually perform the Will of God.

The term can be confusing as it is often used to describe all such entities (including archangels, cherubim, seraphim, etc.) as well as being one specific type of entity in the heavenly hierarchy. Although not limited to having any specific form, they are often described as robed and having wings.