Ariel (angel)
Angel found in Judaism and Christianity, associated with nature.
Another one of my pictures: This photograph was taken by Medium69 (William Croch · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ariel (Hebrew: אֲרִיאֵל, romanized: ʾÁrīʾēl; Ancient Greek: Ἀριήλ, romanized: Ariel) is an angel recognized mainly in Judaism and Christianity, and is linked to nature. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible and on the Mesha Stele with various spellings, though never as an angel’s name, and its meaning shifts between uses, sparking debate. The inconsistent spellings and meanings, along with a lack of Hebrew parallels, suggest it was likely borrowed from another language.
- Field
- Angelology
- Known for
- Angel associated with nature; appears in Judaism and Christianity; linked to the Demiurge in mysticism
- Associated texts
- Hebrew Bible, Mesha Stele, Pistis Sophia, Paradise Lost
- Alternate roles
- Sometimes considered a demon, a city, or a ruler of waters and Earth
Lore & Background
In the Hebrew Bible and on the Mesha Stele, the word Ariel appears with inconsistent spellings and meanings, leading scholars to suggest it is a foreign loan-word. Samuel Feigin argued its original meaning related to death, possibly linked to the Mesopotamian underworld names Arali and Arallu. In various biblical passages, it may refer to a hero, a spirit, an altar-pillar, a lion-like man, a personal name, the highest part of an altar, or Jerusalem. The Talmud interprets its use in Isaiah 33:7 as the name of a class of angels of death, the Erelim.
In the Coptic Pistis Sophia, Jesus bids the apostles preach that they 'be delivered from the rivers of smoke of Ariel,' likely an allusion to the fires of Gehenna. In John Milton's Paradise Lost, Ariel is a rebel angel overcome by the seraph Abdiel. Occultist Cornelius Agrippa noted that Ariel is the name of an angel, sometimes also of a demon, and of a city. In mysticism, Ariel is often depicted as a lion-headed deity with power over the Earth, associated with the Gnostic Demiurge.
Reader's Guide
Ariel's significance lies in its multifaceted and often ambiguous presence across Jewish, Christian, and occult traditions. Unlike many angels with clear scriptural roles, Ariel's identity shifts between a nature angel, a demon, a city, and even a class of angels. The name's appearance in the Hebrew Bible and Mesha Stele, though not as an angel, shows its ancient roots, while later texts like the Pistis Sophia and Paradise Lost adapt it for different theological purposes. In occult writings, Ariel is elemental, ruling waters, winds, fire, and the Earth, and is sometimes linked to the Demiurge. This fluidity makes Ariel a subject of scholarly debate and a figure that bridges canonical scripture, apocryphal literature, and esoteric mysticism. Its legacy is that of a boundary-crossing entity, reflecting how angelic names can evolve across cultures and centuries.
Did You Know?
- The word Ariel appears in the Hebrew Bible and on the Mesha Stele, but not as the name of an angel.
- In the Pistis Sophia, Jesus speaks of being delivered from 'the rivers of smoke of Ariel,' likely referring to Gehenna.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ariel (angel)?
Ariel is an angel figure recognized primarily within Jewish and Christian angelological traditions, most commonly identified as a spirit connected to the natural world. The name derives from the Hebrew אֲרִיאֵל and also appears in Ancient Greek as Ἀριήλ.
What are Ariel's powers or role in angelology?
Ariel is traditionally regarded as a guardian or ruler over nature, including waters and the Earth. In certain mystical texts, the figure is also linked to the Demiurge, and in some traditions Ariel is alternatively cast as a demon rather than a benevolent angel.
Where does Ariel appear in religious texts?
The name shows up in the Hebrew Bible and on the Mesha Stele, though in those contexts it is never explicitly used as an angel's personal name. Later Christian and Gnostic works such as Pistis Sophia and Milton's Paradise Lost further develop the figure's angelic identity.
Why is the name Ariel debated among scholars?
The spelling and meaning of the word shift across different sources, and no clear Hebrew parallel has been identified. This inconsistency has led researchers to conclude the term was probably borrowed from another language before being adopted into Hebrew and Greek usage.
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