what does the bible say angels look like

As to the personal appearance of angels we have little account. The popular pictures of feminine beings with white wings are, of course, fanciful. Angels are often spoken of as “men,” never as “women.” They usually occasioned no surprise by their appearance, and sometimes it was only by the way they spoke and acted that their true nature was discerned.

Verses 5-9, describe the angelic visitation and the effect it had upon Daniel. We may remark that uniformly when angelic beings assume a form visible to human eyes, they appear as men. Nevertheless that which is supernatural marks them, reminding the one who sees them of the presence of God. It was so on this occasion, and the description given in verse 6 reminds us of John's description of his Lord, as recorded in Revelation 1:14-15. Yet the angel here was not the Lord, as verse 13, we think, makes plain. Still it put Daniel on his face and prostrate.

(Vv. 4-6). Daniel, being in a right condition of soul to receive communications from God, has a wonderful vision of a glorious angelic being, by whom God will communicate His mind. He sees the angel, not as having assumed some simple garb in order to appear to man, but in his own angelic glory, setting forth his majesty, holiness and power as a divine messenger.

This time the angel was not like an ordinary man in appearance. He did not come with a message of grace to one of God’s humble ones. He came on a mighty errand. “His countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow.” The keepers of the tomb shook and became as dead men. The angel gave the tidings of the resurrection to the women at the grave and they ran to deliver their momentous message with fear and great joy. But the Lord would not allow the angels alone to witness to His resurrection. He Himself met them, confirming the truth of the angels’ message.

Mark adds the information that the angel was in appearance “a young man clothed in a long white garment.” Evidently the terror of his appearance was reserved for the keepers of the sepulchre.

9 I, John, your brother and joint-partaker in tribulation and the kingdom and patience in Christ [Jesus], was in the isle that is called Patmos, because of the word of God and [because of] the testimony of Jesus [Christ]. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet, 11 saying, What thou seest write in a book, and send to the seven churches; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see the voice which was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lamp-stands, 13 and in the midst of the [seven] lamp-stands one like the Son of man, clad in a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the paps with a golden girdle: 14 his head and his hairs white as white wool, as snow; and his eyes as a flame of fire; 15 and his feet like fine brass, as glowing in a furnace; and his voice as a voice of many waters: 16 and he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance as the sun shineth in its strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead: and he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one: and I was dead, and, behold, I am alive unto the ages of the ages; and I have the keys of death and of hades. 19 Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which are about to come to pass after these: 20 the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest on my right hand, and the seven golden lamp-stands; the seven stars are angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp-stands are seven churches.

Though previous to this chapter we read twice of the Lord appearing to Abraham (Gen. 13:7; Gen. 17:1), we are not told in what way He appeared. Now, in Genesis 18 we are faced with what is called a “theophany,” for the Lord Himself appears in manhood form, and two angels accompany Him, also appearing as men. They are called angels in Genesis 19:1. The occasion is not confined to leaving a message, but involves having a prolonged visit with Abraham. It is clear that the Lord desired this time of fellowship with His servant before He must engage in the solemn work of judging Sodom and Gomorrah. In what body He came remains a mystery: we do not know, though it was certainly miraculous.

Apparently there was no outward token by which Abraham, or others, could have discerned the presence of Jehovah. All that the world would have seen were three men appearing at his tent door. Abraham, with the spiritual discernment of a man of faith walking in nearness to God, distinguishes the LORD from the two angels, and in reverence bows himself to the ground and addresses Him personally, for he says, "Lord, if now I have found favour in Thy sight, pass not away, I pray Thee, from Thy servant." He asks to be allowed to wash their feet, and invites them to rest under the shadow of the tree while he sets refreshment before them.

Next we find the Lord in angelic form appearing to Abraham with two angels as men, showing that angels, in this case as in many others, appeared in no wise after an unusual fashion.

It was not the appearance of angels that mattered so much as their message. Their appearance generally created no surprise, but their communications and manner left no doubt as to who they were.

The angels had never seen the Lord Jesus before. They had had access to Him, they worshipped Him, but when He was born in Bethlehem's manger and a great host of angels welcomed Him saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). He had never been seen by angels before, but there they saw their Creator in a little baby in Bethlehem's manger. Think of the seraphim, "each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isa.6:2-3), and the cherubim having four wings (Ezek.10:20-21) guarding the righteousness of God. We are used to seeing pictures of angels being female but that is probably not what an angel looks like, but be that as it may, here the Lord Jesus was seen of angels.

Symbolical celestial beings seen by Isaiah standing above the Lord on His throne (Adonai, but many MSS read Jehovah). Each had three sets of wings: with one pair he covered his face, in token of reverence; with another he covered his feet, in token of humility; and with the third he flew to accomplish his mission.