I Asked AI to Create Biblically Accurate Angels

Here are the results

Image by the Author using DALL-E and Canva

When most people think of angels, an image like the one above comes instantly to mind.

There are good reasons for that.

But Biblically accurate angels don’t always follow tradition. Some are probably downright bizarre and terrifying.

Let’s explore AI’s interpretation of Biblically accurate angels.

Disclaimer: In no way do I think that I’ve got the Bible figured out on the subject of angels (or really any subject, for that matter). This is just my current base of understanding combined with a little infusion of AI magic.

Let’s Start With How We Came Up With Our Description

The Bible mentions angels (or angelic beings) somewhere between 90 and over 300 times. Yeah, that’s a wide range, depending on your interpretation of an angelic being.

But we have to start somewhere.

I scoured the Bible and found a specific list of passages instructive.

Here is a list of biblical verses that mention angels, along with any physical descriptions that are given:

• Genesis 3:24 — "He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life." (Note: Cherubim are often depicted as having multiple wings and a human-like face.)
• Genesis 18:2 — "He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth." (Note: While it is not explicitly stated that these men are angels, they are often interpreted as such. No physical description is given.)
• Genesis 19:1 — "The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth." (Note: No physical description is given.)
• Genesis 28:12 — "And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." (Note: No physical description is given.)
• Exodus 23:20-23 — "Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out." (Note: No physical description is given.)
• Psalm 91:11-12 — "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone." (Note: No physical description is given.)
• Daniel 3:25 — "He answered and said, 'But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.'" (Note: While it is not explicitly stated that the fourth man is an angel, he is often interpreted as such. The description is that he looks like a "son of the gods.")
• Daniel 9:21 — "While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice." (Note: Gabriel is not described physically in this verse, but is often depicted as having wings and wearing white robes.)
• Matthew 1:20 — "But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.'" (Note: No physical description is given.)
• Luke 1:26-27 — "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed
  to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary." (Note: Gabriel is mentioned again, but no physical description is given.)
• Luke 2:9-14 — "And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'" (Note: No physical description is given.)
• Acts 12:7-10 — "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, 'Get up quickly.' And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, 'Dress yourself and put on your sandals.' And he did so. And he said to him, 'Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.' And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision." (Note: No physical description is given.)
• Hebrews 1:14 — "Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Note: No physical description is given.)
• Revelation 4:6–8 — “In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
• Revelation 10:1–2 — “Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land.” (Note: Clouds, rainbows, and sun, oh my!)

In summary, while some angels are depicted with wings and other human-like features, many of the biblical references to angels do not include physical descriptions.

Instead, they are often described in terms of their actions or the messages they convey.

Putting It All Together

The physical descriptions of angels in the Bible vary widely.

As you can imagine, that makes coming up with a Biblically accurate angel image tricky (to say the least).

While some angels are depicted with wings and human-like features, such as the cherubim, others are not described at all. Gabriel is often depicted as wearing white robes and having wings, but no specific physical features are mentioned.

The fourth man in the fiery furnace is described as looking like a "son of the gods," but it is not explicitly stated that he is an angel.

The Book of Revelations mentions many supernatural and potentially symbolic descriptions of angelic and demonic creatures. I’ll be taking some of that into account when prompting AI.

My AI Image Prompts for Biblically Accurate Angels

Here is the main prompt I used:

Angels, wings and multiple faces, white robes, digital art

That’s what got me the image at the top of this blog post. Which is pretty and probably accurate for at least some angels mentioned in the Bible.

But the Bible depicts a variety of angelic beings in different contexts and with different roles, such as messengers, worshippers, and warriors. So, let’s go a different route.

Here is the second prompt I used:

Angel, beholder with giant eye with multiple wings sprouting around the eye, the wings are covered in tiny eyes, centered, digital art

Now, let’s look at the results.

Biblically Correct Angels

I really love the color of this one:

Image by the Author using DALL-E and Canva

Here is how I might describe this picture:

The giant beholder floats in a sea of blackness, a massive eye at the center of its body. The eye is colored in ripples of lush colors, with shades of blue, green, purple, and gold, that seem to shimmer and swirl as the beholder moves.

Its giant wings are covered in iridescent feathers, ranging from deep blues and purples to vibrant greens and speckles of gold.

They beat slowly and majestically, giving the beholder an otherworldly appearance. A halo of light surrounds its head, shining with a warm and welcoming glow. Despite its size, the beholder moves gracefully and with purpose, radiating an aura of power and wisdom.

AI also gave me this image:

Image by the Author using DALL-E and Canva

Of course, at least some Biblical angels are warriors.

They’re not all soft and ethereal. Some are terrifying and awe-inducing. These angels can take out entire human armies.

When I asked AI to create an angelic warrior, the results were quite remarkable. Take a look.

The warrior angel:

Image by the Author using DALL-E and Canva

Final Thoughts: Biblically Accurate Angels

As we marvel at the amazing capabilities of AI to create so-called biblically accurate angels, it is important to remember that these beings are not merely the products of human ingenuity.

They are spiritual entities that point us toward the divine.

The descriptions of angels in the Bible remind us that we are not alone in this world and that there is a higher power guiding us toward goodness and truth.

Thanks for reading!

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