Michael

Etymology

From 'mi' (who), 'ka' (like), and 'El' (God). A rhetorical question expecting the answer 'no one.' The same construction as Micah, but with the full form of 'El' rather than the shortened 'Yah.'

Who they were

Michael is the warrior archangel — the defender of Israel and the commander of heaven's armies. In Daniel 10, a heavenly messenger tells Daniel that Michael came to help him when he was delayed by 'the prince of the kingdom of Persia' — a passage that gave rise to the concept of cosmic spiritual warfare. Daniel 12 says that in the end times, 'Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise.' In the epistle of Jude, Michael is described as disputing with the devil over the body of Moses. In Revelation 12, the fullest picture: 'There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.' Michael is the angel of battle — not gentle annunciation like Gabriel, but direct confrontation with evil. His name — 'Who is like God?' — is itself a battle cry. It has been one of the most popular male names in the Western world for decades, number one in the United States from 1954 to 1998. The name carries both a question and a declaration: no one is like God, and Michael stands ready to prove it.

Character qualities

• Cosmic warrior
• Protector of Israel
• Commander of angels
• Opponent of evil

Key verse

Revelation 12:7

Where they appear

Themes

Variants & related forms

Mike · Mikey · Michel · Miguel · Mikhail · Mikael · Micheal

Related names