Who is Angel Raphael in the Bible?

Overview of the Name and Etymology

Raphael’s name is often rendered in Hebrew as רְפָאֵל (Rĕfāʾēl), typically interpreted to mean “God heals” or “Healed by God.” While this name appears in some religious traditions, it does not appear in the universally recognized canonical books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) or the New Testament as received in most Protestant circles. Instead, the name “Raphael” is primarily known from later Jewish writings and certain Christian traditions that include extra-biblical or deuterocanonical texts.

Raphael in Deuterocanonical Literature

One of the most prominent mentions of Raphael occurs in the Book of Tobit, included in the deuterocanonical (or Apocryphal) writings acknowledged by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, but not part of most Protestant Bibles. In Tobit (especially chapters 5–12), Raphael is depicted as an angelic companion guiding Tobit’s son, Tobiah, and revealing himself as “one of the seven angels who stand before the Lord” (Tobit 12:15). While Protestants do not affirm Tobit as canonical Scripture, the narrative has historically influenced artwork and angelic understandings in some Christian traditions.

Canonical Status in Protestant Tradition

According to the commonly used 66-book canon, the name “Raphael” does not appear, distinguishing him from angels explicitly named in these texts—namely Michael (e.g., Daniel 10:13; Jude 1:9) and Gabriel (e.g., Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:26). Therefore, in denominations adhering strictly to these books, Raphael is not officially recognized as a named angel.

This distinction reflects the historical debates over the status of Tobit and similar writings. The earliest Hebrew and Aramaic manuscript fragments recovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls (such as those cataloged in Qumran discoveries) do include portions of Tobit, underscoring the book’s longstanding use in certain Jewish communities. However, these manuscripts do not alone establish Tobit’s status as unequivocal Scripture within traditions that maintain a narrower canon.

Role and Functions Attributed to Raphael

Outside the Protestant biblical canon, texts such as Tobit identify Raphael with a healing ministry. In Tobit 11:7–14, for example, Raphael instructs Tobiah on how to cure his father’s blindness. The meaning “God heals” resonates with this depiction.

Some later Jewish traditions, as well as medieval and certain modern Christian writings, expand on Raphael’s role, sometimes describing him as an archangel and associating him with God’s providential care. While these traditions can be part of valuable historical or devotional study, they are not drawn from the recognized 66 canonical books.

Angels in Canonical Scripture

Although Raphael’s name does not appear in the standard Protestant texts, the Bible frequently describes angelic beings as God’s messengers (Hebrews 1:14: “Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”). Angels like Gabriel and Michael are presented as significant in God’s redemptive plan (Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19; Daniel 10:21).

Scripture also underscores that angels serve God’s purposes, worship Him (Isaiah 6:2–3; Revelation 5:11–12), and occasionally deliver divine messages (Luke 1:13–17). While believers find encouragement in the existence of these spirits, the Bible exhorts followers to worship God alone (Revelation 19:10), emphasizing that angels themselves, named or unnamed, remain His faithful servants.

Examining Historical and Archaeological Context

• The Book of Tobit and other Apocryphal texts have been found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (c. 2nd century BC to 1st century AD). These finds demonstrate that some Jewish communities read and preserved these works.

• Early Church Fathers such as Augustine had varying views on the Apocrypha. Jerome, the translator of the Latin Vulgate, distinguished canonical from ecclesiastical writings, which included texts like Tobit in an “appendix” section.

• Protestant Reformers (16th century) generally affirmed a 39-book Old Testament, aligning with the Hebrew Masoretic Text’s contents, and thus excluded several works known as Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical Books—Tobit among them. This choice shaped the more familiar 66-book Bible in Protestant branches of Christianity.

Doctrinal and Theological Perspectives

• Those who uphold the 66-book canon do not generally teach “Raphael” as an authoritative, revealed angelic name. Instead, they note that Scripture deliberately names only Gabriel and Michael in direct service to God’s people.

• Meanwhile, Catholics and Orthodox Christians who include Tobit among their scriptures can view Raphael’s example of guidance and healing as part of God’s broader revelation, though they still affirm that worship belongs to God alone.

Key Takeaways

1. Raphael appears in the Book of Tobit, traditionally classified as deuterocanonical/apocryphal by various Christian groups.

2. The name “Raphael” does not occur in the 66 canonical books accepted by many Protestant denominations, differentiating him from angels like Michael and Gabriel, whose names are explicitly recorded in the mainstream biblical text.

3. Historical documents, like fragments of Tobit among the Dead Sea Scrolls, show the text’s ancient use but do not resolve ongoing denominational differences concerning canonicity.

4. Regardless of stance on Tobit’s canonicity, Scripture in its universally recognized parts emphasizes the presence of angels as God’s messengers, always serving to direct attention to the Creator rather than themselves.

Conclusion

In most Protestant Bibles, Raphael does not appear because the name is absent from the standardized Old Testament and New Testament writings. Instead, references to Raphael notably arise from the Book of Tobit, which is treasured in certain Christian traditions but considered non-canonical in others. While these mentions enrich the broader religious and cultural understanding of angelic beings, core doctrines concerning angels rest upon the consistently affirmed books, where God’s messengers point humanity to the sovereign Lord and His redemptive work.

Raphael’s role—as described in writings outside the 66-book canon—often highlights God’s healing and guidance, aligning with his name’s meaning, “God heals.” Nevertheless, primary teaching on angels is found in the broader scriptural witness: they are servants of God, assisting in His redemptive plan, and giving all glory to Him alone (Revelation 5:11–13).