Who is Angel Raguel?

Etymology and Meaning of the Name

The name “Raguel” (sometimes spelled “Rahael,” “Raguil,” or “Reuel”) is often understood to mean “Friend of God” or “God is my friend” from the Hebrew roots. While variations of the name “Reuel” or “Raguel” appear in different contexts, no figure explicitly known as “Angel Raguel” appears in the standard 66-book Protestant canon.

References in Non-Canonical Works

Several references to an “Angel Raguel” can be found in texts outside the traditional Protestant canon. The most notable mention occurs in the Book of Enoch (particularly 1 Enoch 20), a work categorized as pseudepigraphal in most Christian traditions but accepted as canonical within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. According to 1 Enoch, Raguel is listed among several archangels—Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, and others—tasked with various duties in heaven. In some manuscripts of 1 Enoch discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran (4Q201–4Q212), Raguel is described as an angel who “takes vengeance on the luminaries,” a phrase open to various interpretations but generally indicating a role of overseeing order and justice in the cosmos.

Distinguishing Raguel from “Reuel” in Scripture

Although “Raguel” appears in certain Greek and Aramaic texts, Scripture in the original Hebrew sometimes features a name spelled “Reuel” (e.g., Genesis 36:4) that refers to human individuals, not an angelic being. In Exodus 2:18, many translations mention “Reuel” (or “Raguel” in some older English Bibles) as the father-in-law of Moses, though the Berean Standard Bible renders his name as “Reuel” (Numbers 10:29). This individual is distinct from the angelic Raguel mentioned in the non-canonical Book of Enoch.

Appearances in the Apocrypha

In the Deuterocanonical book of Tobit—found in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles but not in most Protestant Bibles—a man named “Raguel” is introduced (Tobit 7). This individual is again a human figure, specifically the father of Sarah and a relative of Tobit, rather than an angel. His role in Tobit is significant as part of the storyline, but it does not connect him with the heavenly domains that some ancient traditions attribute to the angelic Raguel.

Canonical Scripture and the Nature of Angels

Since no explicit reference to “Angel Raguel” appears in the 66 canonical books, evangelicals and many other Protestant believers do not formally recognize Raguel as one of the angels affirmed in Scripture. The Bible does describe a heavenly host of angels, including archangels such as Michael (Jude 1:9) and mentions Gabriel by name (Luke 1:26). Scripture recognizes that angels are servants of God (Hebrews 1:14; Psalm 91:11) who carry out divine purposes—protecting believers, delivering messages, or carrying out judgments. However, no verse attributes any of these roles to an angel specifically named Raguel.

Historical and Manuscript Considerations

Manuscript evidence confirms that 1 Enoch existed in multiple communities in the Second Temple period. Fragments found at Qumran indicate the book held some importance in certain Jewish circles. However, the ancient Jewish community and early Christian councils did not universally accord 1 Enoch the same canonical status as the Pentateuch, the Prophets, or the New Testament writings. Protestant Bibles follow a canon that excludes 1 Enoch; hence references to “Angel Raguel” do not appear in the biblical texts used in the majority of Protestant churches.

Interpretations and Debates

• Some early Jewish and Christian thought, especially influenced by the Book of Enoch, views Raguel as an archangel overseeing heavenly justice.

• Many scholars note that various groups in the intertestamental period attributed specialized roles to angels, leading to enumerations of multiple archangels, sometimes naming seven in total (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Saraqael, and Remiel).

• Conservative Christian traditions that prioritize the 66-book canon typically view these expansions on angelic hierarchies (including Raguel) as insight into certain historical beliefs rather than as part of inspired Scripture.

Theological Significance

Because the name “Raguel” does not appear in the accepted Old or New Testament canon, it carries no binding doctrinal authority within most mainstream Protestant, Evangelical, or conservative Christian circles. The essential biblical teachings on angels center on their created nature (Colossians 1:16), their service to God’s people (Psalm 91:11), and their worship of God (Revelation 5:11–12). While the Book of Enoch provides an ancient perspective on the angelic realm, conservative believers accord ultimate doctrinal weight to the Scripture recognized as canonical.

Conclusion

“Angel Raguel” is a figure found primarily in the non-canonical Book of Enoch and is not attested in the core biblical texts accepted by Protestant traditions. References to “Reuel” in the canonical Bible concern human individuals and do not refer to an angelic being. As such, within the sphere of mainstream conservative Christianity, the concept of Angel Raguel is acknowledged as part of certain intertestamental or extrabiblical traditions but does not carry the same authority as angelic names appearing in the universally recognized Scriptures. The final authority in this matter remains the inspired Word, where no mention of an “Angel Raguel” can be found (2 Timothy 3:16).