Fallen Angel Raziel in Jewish and Christian Tradition

The figure of Raziel, often associated with esoteric Jewish traditions, is not found in the canonical texts of either the Hebrew Bible or the Christian Old and New Testaments. The concept of "fallen angels" is present in various biblical and extra-biblical writings, but specific names like Raziel do not appear in the primary scriptural records.

Biblical texts do refer to angels and, in some instances, to their rebellion or fall. For example, passages in Genesis 6 describe "sons of God" who took human wives, leading to interpretations of angelic transgression ^[1]. However, these passages do not name specific fallen angels beyond general references. Similarly, the New Testament speaks of angels who "did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling" (Jude 1:6), reserving them for judgment. Yet, again, no angel named Raziel is mentioned in this context.

The names of angels that appear in the Bible are typically those associated with divine service or specific messages, such as Gabriel and Michael. Other names, like Jeiel, which means "snatched away by God" or "strength of God," are found in the Old Testament, referring to human individuals rather than angelic beings ^{[1, 2]}. For instance, Jeiel is identified as a descendant of Benjamin, a Levite, a scribe, and a Reubenite chief in various passages of 1 Chronicles and Ezra ^[1]. Another name, Shealtiel, meaning "asked for of God," is identified as the father of Zerubbabel ^[3]. These examples illustrate that names with "El" (God) as a suffix are common in biblical Hebrew names for humans, not exclusively for angels, and certainly not for fallen angels in the canonical texts.

Commentaries on biblical texts, such as those by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, focus on interpreting the canonical scriptures. For instance, in their commentary on 1 Chronicles 16:5, they note that Jeiel is the same as Aziel ^[4]. Rashi, a prominent medieval Jewish commentator, provides interpretations of Ezekiel, discussing concepts like a wall falling or "wings" referring to those around a central figure, but does not introduce figures like Raziel ^{[5, 6]}. Similarly, discussions of sacrificial metaphors or the destruction of places like Shiloh in Jeremiah do not involve extra-biblical angelic figures ^{[7, 8]}.

The absence of Raziel in canonical scripture suggests that his prominence as a "fallen angel" likely stems from later mystical or apocryphal traditions outside the direct biblical narrative. These traditions often expand upon biblical themes, introducing new characters and narratives that are not part of the accepted scriptural canon for either Judaism or Christianity.