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Raziel (Hebrew:רָזִיאֵלRāzīʾēl, "God is my Mystery"), also known asGallitsur (Hebrew: גַּלִּיצוּרGallīṣūr),[1] is anangel within the teachings ofJewish mysticism (of theKabbalah ofJudaism) 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 thesephirahChokmah ofKabbalah, alongsideJophiel.[2]
The angel Raziel can be compared to theManda d-Hayyi ofMandaeism. 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.
InMandaeism, after the creation of the material world,Adam Kasia (Adam Kadmon in the Jewish tradition) asksAbatur (Ancient of Days orMetatron in the Jewish tradition. TheMerkabah textRe'uyot Yehezkel identifies the Ancient of Days asMetatron[3]) what he will do when he goes toTibil (Earth orMalkuth). Abatur responds that Adam will be helped by Manda d-Hayyi, who instructs humans with sacred knowledge and protects them.
Various teachings assign Raziel to diverse roles, including that of acherub,[4] a member of theOphanim,[5] and chief of theErelim.
Raziel, under the alternate name Gallitsur, "Revealer of The Rock", is described as the "ruling prince of the 2nd Heaven". He is said to expound the clear teachings of the "Torah's divine wisdom" and protects the ministering angels from theliving creatures that uphold the universe.[6][7]
The famousSefer Raziel HaMalakh ("Book of Raziel the Angel") attributed to this figure is said to contain all secret knowledge, and it is considered to be a book ofmagic. He stands close byGod's throne and therefore hears and writes down everything said and discussed.[4] He purportedly gave the book toAdam and Eve after they ate from the forbiddentree of the knowledge of good and evil (that resulted in their expulsion from theGarden of Eden) so the two could find their way back "home" and better understand their God. Raziel's fellowangels were deeply disturbed by this, and thus stole the book from Adam and threw it into the ocean. God did not punish Raziel, but instead retrieved the book throughthe Rahab and returned it to Adam and Eve.[2]
According to some sources, the book was passed on through the generations toEnoch (In3 Enoch believed to have later become the angelMetatron), who may have incorporated his writings into the tome. From Enoch, the archangelRaphael gave it toNoah, who used the wisdom within to buildNoah's Ark.[8]The Book of Raziel was said to have come into the possession of KingSolomon,[9] and some texts claiming to be this volume have appeared.
Sefer HaRazim, a 4th-century Jewish mystical text which is distinct fromSefer Raziel HaMalakh, is also said to have been given toNoah by the angel Raziel.[10]