The Book of Raziel and the Shemhamphorash

The archangel Raziel (רזיאל) was regarded as the Angel of Death, called “the secret of the Lord” and “the angel of riddles.” His name means “the mystery of the Lord,” since he is so closely connected to the Creator that he knows all the secrets of the universe and can control them. A later legend about Moses’ ascension to heaven describes Raziel (Raguel) as the angel who spread his wings over the angelic order of the Hayyot (“the living”) HaKodesh, so that the other angels serving God would not be killed by the Hayyot’s fiery breath. (“Pesikta Rabbati” 20). In medieval mythology Raziel appears as the progenitor of practical Kabbalah and the Angel of Magic, who taught people astrology, divination, and the use of amulets.

According to the legend, on the third day after the expulsion from Paradise the angel Raziel appeared to Adam and presented him with the famous “Book of the Angel Raziel.” The angels, jealous of the wisdom granted to an ordinary man, stole the book and hurled it deep into the sea. Then, by the command of the Almighty, Rahav — the “prince of the sea,” the angel who rules all the earthly waters — retrieved the book and returned it to Adam. The Book passed from Adam first to Enoch and then to Noah, who supposedly learned from it how to build the ark.

According to the Midrashim, the “Book of Raziel” contained all human and divine knowledge. This book was made of sapphires, and Noah kept it in a golden chest. In the ark it served as Noah’s clock to tell day from night because during the Flood the sun and moon were obscured by clouds. Later, King Solomon learned magic from it.

The full translated title reads as follows: “This is the book of Adam Kadmon, given to him by the angel Raziel, and this book is a gate through which the righteous pass by the way of peace to the abode of God, to partake of divine grace.” The edition is based on a manuscript held by Rabbi Isaac ben Abraham of Neustadt. In the preface Isaac states that the presence of this book in a house will protect the house from fire. The final part of the book includes various magical recipes and seals.

They were issued in the format of small booklets and were often reprinted in large print runs. Such books were not meant to be read since the type was very small. It is known that they were placed in a newborn’s cradle to protect the child from illness and the evil eye. The title page of the Book of Raziel often proclaimed that whoever keeps this book in the house will protect their home from fire. Thus, Scripture in the Jewish folk tradition underwent a number of transformations and turned from a sacred text into a sacred object.

The custom forbade opening this Book in the presence of strangers; it was believed that its protective power would be lost.

The main purpose of the rites of the “Book of Raziel” was to protect people from evil spirits. For example, someone who has had a bad dream is advised to fast. The terminally ill are advised to assume a new name, to begin a new life under a new name to deceive the Angels of Death.

Interestingly, the “Book of Raziel” also includes a description of preparing for dreams, including incantations, invocations, and rites.

However, the principal consequence of the appearance of the “Book of Raziel” was the popularization of a method the Great Name. According to this Book, the Name pronounced by Moses at the Burning Bush on Mount Sinai had infinite power. “I must say thus: I command you, Anael, Hasdiel and Tzadkiel by this Name, such and such shall be done. This name is obtained from the three verses ‘And he moved,’ ‘And he came,’ ‘And he stretched’ (Exodus 14:19–20–21). One must rearrange them with each other, starting with the end, then the beginning. This will be the Great Name, explainable in 72 Names.” It was this passage that prompted the creation of various methods of composing the “Shemhamphorash” — tables of Names that grant great power.