A Voice from Heaven: The Bat Kol in Rabbinic and New Testament Traditions
After the collective prophecy faded, Jewish tradition still spoke of a heavenly voice, the Bat Kol, calling out to us from above. From the Talmud to the Apostolic writings, learn how this tradition still speaks to us today.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear the voice from heaven? And I don't mean metaphorically, but a clear and audible sound? Would it be thunderous and terrifying, or subtle and calming?
We get a glimpse of this in the Book of Exodus, where G_D spoke to the entire nation of Israel. And, it turns out that it was terrifying.
Interestingly, though, nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible - nor history for that matter - does another incident of this magnitude occur of direct Divine speech to an entire nation at once.
This is also why all religions rooted in the Bible preserve the events at Sinai. Replacement theology may attempt to dismiss that, but it cannot replace the giving of the Torah.
From that moment forward, Divine communication in the Tanakh shifts to visions and messages given privately to individual prophets.
But in the centuries after the prophets, Jewish tradition preserved the idea that the heavens didn’t fall silent. Not entirely. This parting phenomenon became known as the Bat Kol (בַּת קוֹל), literally, the “daughter of a voice.”
What Is the Bat Kol?
The Bat Kol is not a full-out prophecy or a face-to-face encounter, but seems to be a lesser form of Divine messaging. Though some accounts portray this experience in auditory terms, others portray it somewhere between a vision and an internal revelation.
A notable aspect of the Bat Kol is that it is often public, or at least heard by a few others.
The Bat Kol seems to function as a backup line between G_D and the nation of Israel after the collective prophecy came to an end:
After the last prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi died, the Divine Spirit of prophetic revelation departed from the Jewish people, and they were still utilizing a Divine Voice - Yoma 9b
Though Divine in origin, Rabbinic accounts seem to regard the Bat Kol as having less prominence than the Voice at Sinai. G_D is still speaking, but not as directly as that time.
But G_D has not gone anywhere. The distance is on our side. With each passing generation, we slip a little further and further from the earliest revelations.
Bat Kol in Rabbinic Literature
The Bat Kol appears many times in the Talmud and Midrash¹, often involving itself in Rabbinic debates, affirming one opinion over another, or announcing when something significant has happened in the world.
Presumably carried by angelic messengers, one source² indicates that the Bat Kol can be a man's or even a woman's voice at times.
The Bat Kol doesn't just speak to the righteous; at times, it may also speak to those we least expect, such as evil rulers. Sometimes warning them of their actions, or even heralding events to come. In one example, the Bat Kol warned and even encouraged the Roman Emperor Titus down a path that led to his demise³.
Commonly, the Bat Kol is heard affirming and praising the good deeds or wisdom of a leader among the Jewish people. This happened for King Solomon, Rabbi Akiva, and others. For example;
Rav Yehuda said: ‘Each and every day a Bat Kol goes out from Mount Horeb and says: The entire world is sustained by the merit of My son Ḥanina ben Dosa
- Taanit 24b
The Bat Kol in the New Testament
While some may have the impulse to dismiss the Bat Kol as Rabbinic folklore, one cannot ignore the parallels in the Apostolic writings.
The language of the New Testament is usually a "voice (φωνή) from heaven", and the Bat Kol makes an appearance at key moments. Here are a few.
1. Jesus's Immersion
We see one occurrence in Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, when Jesus is immersed.
“And behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
In parallel with its appearances in the Rabbinic literature, the Bat Kol affirms and endorses key moments in Jesus's life and mission.
2. The Transfiguration
Similar to the Rabbinic examples, the Bat Kol affirms Jesus's status as a Shaliach⁴ at the Transfiguration.
“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’” - Matthew 17:5
True to form, the text indicates that the Disciples heard this voice and "fell on their faces".
3. The Crowd Hears the Divine Voice
John 12 tells of another incident in Jerusalem:
Jesus says, “Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” - John 12:28
Apparently, this one was also heard by a group of people, but some in the crowd debated whether it was thunder, an angel, or a Divine Voice. The confusion mirrors similar accounts in the Rabbinic literature.
In these cases, some witnesses hear a Bat Kol clearly while others remain unsure of what they’ve heard. It seems clarity correlates with spiritual acuity.
4. Peter's Vision in Acts 10
In Acts 10:13, Peter hears a Bat Kol⁵, which commands him to "Rise, Kill, and eat."
The text tells us that Cornelius's voice came from an Angel, but Peter's seems to be from a higher source. Similar to other Rabbinic stories, Peter actually argues with the Divine voice as he sorts out the meaning of his vision.
But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” - Acts 10:4
Who Has the Final Word?
In the later Rabbinic sources, the Bat Kol encounters are taken with a grain of salt, particularly in cases of Jewish law. This is captured in the famous Talmudic story, known as the Oven of Akhnai, where the Bat Kol was essentially told to stay out of it.
For some, it is shocking that the sages would be so brazen, but we see similar arguments in the Bible. Notably, Abraham and Moses argue with G_D to seek mercy and compassion.
The New Testament appearances of the Bat Kol align with the Jewish tradition in form and function. Though, as you might imagine, these appearances are predominantly focused on the affirmation of Jesus's mission and role.
The Bat Kol Today
In Rabbinic texts, and later Chasidic works, the Bat Kol affirms G_D’s continued engagement with Israel and those who seek Him in truth.
Though not always as clear as we would like, there are times we might hear something of an internal voice that guides us, too.
The Bat Kol today may be somewhat ambiguous and more internalized, but it should never lead one away from the framework of Torah and tradition.
For those suggesting that a Bat Kol instructed someone to violate G_D's Will shifts the discussion into a different category, such as evil spirits⁷.
All in all, tradition preserves the idea that G_D still speaks. Even when prophecy is no longer reliable, and the heavens seem silent to us, there remains a voice for those with the faith to hear.
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Notes:
¹ Megillah 32a
³ Gittin 56b. It is interesting that the Rabbinic tradition considers the gnat one of the least creatures. In some traditions, gnats represent the ego or the yetzer hara, hence, Titus, a person of great ego, died through the means of a gnat.
⁴ The Shaliach: Agency and Representation in Jewish Tradition
⁵ Peter's Vision: Is Acts 10 About Dietary Law?