Gen 16:7 | TNotes | STEP | 16:7 The angel of the Lord was the Lord himself (16:13 ; 21:17 ; 22:11-12 ; 31:11-13 ; 48:16 ; Exod 3:2 ; 32:34 ; Judg 6:11 , 16 , 22 ; 13:22-23 ; Zech 3:1-2 ) but was also distinct from the Lord (Gen 24:7 ; 2 Sam 24:16 ; Zech 1:12 ). The angel of the Lord was probably a theophany (a manifestation of God) or a Christophany (an appearance of the pre-incarnate Messiah; see Gen 18:1-2 ; 19:1 ; Num 22:22 ; Judg 2:1-4 ; 5:23 ; Zech 12:8 ), speaking with the authority of the Lord himself.

16:7 ^a The angel of the Lord was the Lord himself (16:13 ^b; 21:17 ^c; 22:11-12 ^d; 31:11-13 ^e; 48:16 ^f; Exod 3:2 ^g; 32:34 ^h; Judg 6:11 ⁱ, 16 ^j, 22 ^k; 13:22-23 ^l; Zech 3:1-2 ^m) but was also distinct from the Lord (Gen 24:7 ⁿ; 2 Sam 24:16 ^o; Zech 1:12 ^p). The angel of the Lord was probably a theophany (a manifestation of God) or a Christophany (an appearance of the pre-incarnate Messiah; see Gen 18:1-2 ^q; 19:1 ^r; Num 22:22 ^s; Judg 2:1-4 ^t; 5:23 ^u; Zech 12:8 ^v), speaking with the authority of the Lord himself.