Gabriel

==Judaism==
===Hebrew Bible===
In the Hebrew Bible, Gabriel appears to the prophet [[Daniel (biblical figure)|Daniel]] to explain his visions ([[Daniel 8]]:15–26, [[Daniel 9|9]]:21–27). Later an angel, not named but likely Gabriel again, appears to him and speaks of receiving help from the archangel Michael in battle against the demon prince of Persia ([[Daniel 10]]:13, 21) and also Michael's role in times to come ([[Daniel 12]]:1). These are the first instances of a named angel in the Bible. Gabriel's main function in Daniel is that of revealer, responsible for interpreting Daniel's visions, a role he continues to have in later traditions.

===Rabbinic Judaism===
Gabriel, ({{lang-he|גַּבְרִיאֵל|Gaḇrīʾēl}}) is interpreted by [[Talmud]]ic [[rabbi]]s to be the "man in linen" mentioned in the [[Book of Daniel]] and the [[Book of Ezekiel]]. Talmudic Judaism understands the angel in the Book of Ezekiel, who was sent to destroy [[Jerusalem]], to be Gabriel. According to the ''[[The Jewish Encyclopedia|Jewish Encyclopedia]]'', Gabriel takes the form of a man, and stands at the left hand of God.<ref name=je>{{cite book|url=http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6450-gabriel |title=Jewish Encyclopedia, Gabriel|date= 1906|access-date=2 December 2016 |volume=5 |pages=540–543}}</ref> [[Shimon ben Lakish]] ([[Syria Palaestina]], 3rd century) concluded that the angelic names of Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel came out of the Babylonian exile (Gen. Rab. 48:9).<ref name=everson/> Alongside the archangel Michael, Gabriel is described as the guardian angel of Israel, defending this people against the angels of the other nations.<ref name="philologos.org">[[Louis Ginzberg|Ginzberg, Louis]]. 1909. ''[[Legends of the Jews]] [https://philologos.org/__eb-lotj/vol1/one.htm#1 Vol I: The Creation of The World – The First Things Created] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120184551/https://philologos.org/__eb-lotj/vol1/one.htm#1|date=20 January 2019}}'', translated by [[Henrietta Szold|H. Szold]]. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Jewish Publication Society.</ref>

===Mystical Judaism===
In the [[Kabbalah|Kabbalistic tradition]], Gabriel is identified with the [[sephirah]] of [[Yesod]]. Gabriel also has a prominent role as one of God's archangels in the Kabbalah literature. There, Gabriel is portrayed as working in concert with Michael as part of God's court. Gabriel is not to be prayed to because only God can answer prayers and sends Gabriel as his agent.<ref name=je/>

According to [[Jewish mythology]], in the [[Garden of Eden]] there is a [[Tree of life (biblical)|tree of life]] or the "tree of souls"<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9dRi8v-j7OMC&q=%22Tree+of+Souls%22&pg=PA153 |title=Origins of the Kabbalah |access-date=1 May 2014|isbn=0691020477 |year=1990 |last1=Scholem |first1=Gershom Gerhard |publisher=Princeton University Press }}</ref> that blossoms and produces new [[souls]], which fall into the [[Guf]], the ''Treasury of Souls''. Gabriel reaches into the treasury and takes out the first soul that comes into his hand.