In Judaism, the Malach Hamavet (מלאך המות, “Angel of Death”) is the Divine agent tasked with ending a person’s life. In scripture, he is sometimes referred to as the mashchit (משחית), “destroyer.”

A Servant of G‑d

The Malach Hamavet appears in Midrash and Talmud in several instances, sometimes depicted holding a knife. For example, the Talmud records a fascinating exchange between Rabbi Joshua ben Levi and the Angel of Death.

During the course of their negotiation, Rabbi Joshua actually has the angel hand him his knife, to prevent him from killing him. Ultimately, a heavenly voice orders him to return the knife, because death is necessary for life to function.1

Thus, we see that the Angel of Death is not an evil being or an enemy of G‑d, but just one more faithful servant of the Creator.

This is consistent with the teaching regarding Satan, whose primary task is tempting people to sin. He, too, is seen in Judaism not as an independent adversary to G‑d but as a loyal servant with an unpleasant portfolio.2

And, our sages tell us, Satan, the Yetzer Hara (our internal inclination to sin), and the Angel of Death are all one and the same.3

In Scripture

In the Torah, we read of G‑d’s angel carrying out the grim task of ending lives in several contexts.

In the Book of Exodus, when promising to bring death to the Egyptian firstborns and save the firstborns of Israel, G‑d refers to the "Mashchit” a spiritual being who brings destruction, which the ancient Targum renders as Malacha Mechabla, “the angel of wounding” (in Aramaic).4

In Scripture, this word mashchit is clearly identified as an angel in the episode of the plague of death that broke out following King David’s census. When G‑d decides it’s time for the plague to end, he speaks to the malach hamashchit (“angel who was destroying”) and tells him to stop at the threshing floor of Aravna, the future site of the Holy Temple.5

May we merit the day when the Holy Temple be rebuilt, death be curtailed forever, and the Malach Hamavet be put out of a job.