Raziel

This article is about the angel in Jewish mysticism. For other uses, see Raziel (disambiguation).
Archangel Raziel (Circle of Francisco de Zurbarán), circa 1650.

Raziel, (Hebrew: רָזִיאֵל Rāzīʾēl, "God is my Mystery") also known as Gallitsur (Hebrew: גַּלִּיצוּר Gallīṣūr)[1] is an angel within the teachings of Jewish mysticism (of the Kabbalah of Judaism) who is the "Angel of Secrets" and the "Angel of Mysteries”. He is also called "Keeper of All Magic." He is one of the angels associated with the sephirah Chokmah of Kabbalah, alongside Jophiel.[2]

The angel Raziel can be compared to the Manda d-Hayyi of Mandaeism. Both are described as intermediaries who convey divine knowledge to humans, especially Adam. In Jewish mysticism, Raziel delivers the "Sefer Raziel" to Adam, containing esoteric secrets about the universe and divine mysteries, while in Mandaism, Manda d-Hayyi instructs Adam about the mysteries of life and creation.

In Mandaeism, after the creation of the material world, Adam Kasia (Adam Kadmon in the Mandaean tradition) asks Abatur (Ancient of Days or Metatron in the Mandaean tradition. The Merkabah text Re' uyot Yehezkel identifies the Ancient of Days as Metatron [3]) what he will do when he goes to Tibil (Earth or Malkuth). Abatur responds that Adam will be helped by Manda d-Hayyi, who instructs humans with sacred knowledge and protects them.

  1. ^ Jastrow, Marcus (1903). "Jastrow, גַּלִּיצוּר". Sefaria.
  2. ^ Lewis, James R., Oliver, Evelyn Dorothy, Sisung Kelle S. (Editor) (1996), Angels A to Z, Entry: Raziel, pp. 346, 347, Visible Ink Press, ISBN 0-7876-0652-9
  3. ^ Deutsch, Nathaniel (1999). Guardians of the gate: angelic vice regency in late antiquity. Brill's series in Jewish studies. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-10909-4.