The angel who brought God's seed to the virgin Mary. The Bible says Gabriel "came in unto her," which meant he had sexual intercourse with her, in King James terminology (Luke 1:28). Gabriel's name means "divine husband." There seems to have been a hidden reference to the ancient custom, whereby temple virgins were impregnated by certain priests designated "fathers of the god," as in Egypt. Barbara G. Walker / The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets
