Raphael (archangel)

Raphael is an archangel primarily recognized as a celestial healer.

The name is derived from the Hebrew root *r-p-ʾ*, which means "to heal." Consequently, the name can be translated as "God has healed." An archangel is a high-ranking messenger or representative of a divine being. While the term *mal'akh* in Hebrew originally referred to any messenger, both human or supernatural, later traditions created a specific hierarchy. Raphael occupies a significant place within these various religious and philosophical systems.

In early literature, Raphael appears in two distinct works from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. The first is 1 Enoch, a collection of independent texts. In the oldest parts of 1 Enoch, he is listed as one of four named archangels. In this text, he is described as being set over all disease and every wound of the people. He is also credited with binding the armies of Azazel and casting them into a valley of fire.

The second major source is the Book of Tobit, dating to the early 2nd century BC. In Tobit, he is one of seven archangels and often acts under a human disguise.

The mechanism of Raphael's healing is often illustrated through specific narratives. In the Book of Tobit, he travels under the name Azariah, which means "Yah has helped." While disguised as a human, he acts as a physician. He uses an extraordinary fish to bind the demon Asmodeus and to heal the eyes of a man named Tobit.

This demonstrates a pattern where Raphael uses both spiritual authority and physical means to restore health. He is often seen as an intermediary who intervenes in the physical world to resolve suffering.

Jewish tradition provides several different roles for Raphael. In the Babylonian Talmud, he is identified as one of the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre. In this specific arrangement, Michael walked in the middle and Gabriel was on the right. Raphael was positioned on the left.

Each angel had a mission. Gabriel was to destroy Sodom, Michael was to tell Sarah she would have a son, and Raphael was to heal Abraham and save Lot. This shows his role as a protector of life and a restorer of health.

Other traditions offer unique perspectives on his identity and name. Midrash Konen suggests he was originally named Libbiel, meaning "God is my heart." According to this text, he changed his name to Raphael after he healed what his friends had destroyed. He was then given control over all the medicines in the universe. In Islam, he is known as Israfil. In this tradition, he is the unnamed angel from Quran 6:73. He is described as standing eternally with a trumpet to his lips, ready to announce the Day of Judgment.

In the complex system of Kabbalistic thought, Raphael has many symbolic connections. In the writings of Rabbi Aharon Meir Altshuler, Raphael corresponds to the Sephirah of Tiphereth, which represents Beauty. He acts as an intermediate conductor between Chesed, or Kindness, and Din, or Judgment. The Zohar also associates him with the image of man in the tetramorph. He is linked to the zodiac sign of Aquarius and the Sephirah of Malkhuth, representing the Earth.

These connections place him at the center of cosmic balance.

Christianity also incorporates Raphael through association and tradition. Although the New Testament only names Michael and Gabriel, later Christian tradition identifies Raphael with the unnamed angel in John 5:2–4. This is the angel believed to stir the waters in the Pool of Bethesda to heal the sick. Because of these roles, the Catholic Church recognizes him as a saint. He serves as a patron for many specific groups, including travelers, nurses, physicians, and medical workers. He is also considered a patron for the blind, matchmakers, and Christian marriage.