Spiritual beings who praise God in a manner that is beyond human capacity.
Angels worship God in his presence
Revelation 7:11 See also Revelation 3:5, Revelation 8:2
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
Angels praise God for his works
Angels praise God's work of creation
Job 38:4–7 See also Psalm 148:1–5; Nehemiah 9:6
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Angels praise God's work of redemption
Luke 2:13–14 The angels are praising God for Jesus Christ's birth. See also Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 49:13; Luke 15:10; Hebrews 1:6; Deuteronomy 32:43
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
Angels praise God's kingdom
Psalm 103:19–21 See also Psalm 96:10–11 parallel 1 Chronicles 16:30–31; Psalm 145:10–11; Revelation 11:15
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command. Bless the LORD, all His hosts, you servants who do His will.
Angelic beings praise God
Isaiah 6:2–4 See also Revelation 4:8, Revelation 5:8–10, Revelation 7:11–12
Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.
Thousands of angels worship God
Hebrews 12:22 See also Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalm 68:17; Daniel 7:10; Revelation 5:11–12
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
Images of angelic beings decorate Israel's sanctuaries
1 Kings 6:23–29 parallels 2 Chronicles 3:7, 2 Chronicles 3:10–13 See also Exodus 26:1; Ezekiel 41:18–20, Ezekiel 41:25 The images of the cherubim represent the angels who worship God in heaven.
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So the full wingspan was ten cubits. The second cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same size and shape, and the height of each cherub was ten cubits. And he placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple. Since their wings were spread out, the wing of the first cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the second cherub touched the other wall, and in the middle of the room their wingtips touched. He also overlaid the cherubim with gold. Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.
Angels are not to be worshipped
Revelation 22:8–9 See also Matthew 4:9–10 parallel Luke 4:7–8; Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:18
And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.