How to Say "Angel of Death" in Hebrew

מלאך המוות

mal'akh ha-mavet

The English phrase 'angel of death' is translated into Hebrew as מלאך המוות (mal'akh ha-mavet).

The term is used to refer to the personification of death, commonly found in art and fiction.

Meaning: personification of death in fiction and in art (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase מלאך המוות is composed of mal'akh (angel), ha (the) and mavet (death), literally meaning 'angel of the death'.

An alternative formal phrase is Mal'ach HaShachat, where HaShachat refers to 'the destroyer'.

To change the phrase from a single angel to the plural 'angels of death', the noun mal'akh changes to its construct form מלאכי המוות.

mal'akh ha-mavet

In Jewish folklore, the מלאך המוות is often depicted not as a skeleton, but as a terrifying figure with a knife or a sword. This differs from the common Western image of the Grim Reaper with a scythe.
The Hebrew word for angel מלאך comes from a root meaning 'to send'. This makes an angel literally a 'messenger' rather than a winged spirit.
The formal term Mal'ach HaShachat is specifically tied to biblical narratives, such as the plague of the firstborn in Egypt.

הציור הזה מתאר את מלאך המוות.
ha-tsiyur ha-ze metare et malakh ha-mavet.
This painting depicts the angel of death.
היא כתבה על מלאך המוות בספר שלה.
hi katva al malakh ha-mavet ba-sefer shela.
She wrote about the angel of death in her book.

Two friends are discussing a new dark fantasy novel.

נועה Noa

האם הדמות הראשית היא מלאך המוות?
ha-im ha-dmut ha-rishit hi malakh ha-mavet?
Is the main character the angel of death?
איתי Itay

כן, הוא דמות מאוד מפחידה.
ken, hu dmut me'od mafkhida.
Yes, he is a very scary character.
נועה Noa

זה נשמע כמו סיפור אפל.
ze nishma kmo sipur afel.
That sounds like a dark story.
איתי Itay

זה בהחלט סיפור מסתורי.
ze be-hekhlet sipur mistori.
It is definitely a mysterious story.

Sources

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