The angel Barachiel is not directly mentioned by name in the Bible. However, some traditions identify Barachiel as an archangel and angel of blessings. Let’s examine what the Bible does and does not say about Barachiel and whether he may be associated with any biblical figures.
What the Bible Says About Angels
The Bible refers to angels over 300 times in both the Old and New Testaments. Angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve him, deliver messages, minister to people, and more.
Some key things the Bible teaches about angels:
- Angels were created by God (Nehemiah 9:6)
- Angels worship and serve God (Psalm 103:20, Revelation 5:11-12)
- Angels ministered to Jesus (Matthew 4:11, Luke 22:43)
- Angels bring messages from God (Luke 1:11-20, Acts 10:3-6)
- Angels protect God’s people (Psalm 91:11, Acts 12:6-11)
The Bible names a few individual angels, such as Michael and Gabriel, and refers to groups of angels, like cherubim and seraphim. It does not provide an exhaustive list of all the angels God created.
Archangels in the Bible
The Bible directly mentions one archangel by name: Michael. In Jude 1:9, Michael is called “the archangel.” He is depicted as a warrior delivering God’s people (Daniel 10:13, 21, 12:1) and fighting spiritual battles (Revelation 12:7-9).
Gabriel is another angel prominently featured in the Bible, delivering important messages about the births of John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1:11-38). Though never directly called an archangel in scripture, Gabriel is included as an archangel in Jewish and Christian traditions.
Apart from Michael and Gabriel, no other angels are directly named as archangels in the biblical text. However, some passages have been interpreted as possibly alluding to other archangelic figures.
For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 states:
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
This reference to “the voice of the archangel” crying out at the return of Christ has led some to propose this could refer to an archangel other than Michael. However, the text itself does not specify the identity of this archangel.
Development of Traditions about Seven Archangels
While only Michael is directly named an archangel in the Bible, traditions naming six or seven archangels emerged early in church history. By the sixth century, many Christian traditions settled on identifying seven archangels. Their names were often given as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Sariel/Selaphiel, and Barachiel.
The early roots of these seven archangels include:
- In the Book of Enoch from the 2nd century BC, archangels named include Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Saraqael, Gabriel, and Remiel.
- The five books of the Sibylline Oracles, dated to the 2nd-5th centuries AD, include Uriel, Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, and sometimes Raguel.
- The Apocryphal book of 2 Esdras from the late 1st century AD names Uriel, Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, Jeremiel, Sariel, and Raguel as archangels.
By the fifth century AD, Pseudo-Dionysius solidified the idea of seven archangels in his book Celestial Hierarchies, with Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Chamuel, Jhudiel, and Barachiel. Other variants of the seventh archangel include Sariel, Raguel, and Remiel.
The establishment of this tradition of seven archangels occurred over several centuries after the biblical texts were written. The names of the seven often varied, but Barachiel or one of the other proposed seventh archangels appeared in many early lists.
Barachiel in Tradition
Barachiel does not appear anywhere in the biblical text. He is known only from extra-biblical traditions as one of the seven archangels. Here is some background on Barachiel and his identification from tradition:
- The name Barachiel comes from Hebrew meaning “God’s blessing.” He is identified as the archangel of blessings.
- Pseudo-Dionysius in the 5th century included Barachiel in his listing of the seven archangels.
- Barachiel’s role as the angel of blessings led to association with bringing blessings to marriage and family life.
- In Catholic tradition, Barachiel is the patron angel of marital relations and is sometimes shown holding a white rose.
- Barachiel is celebrated in the Roman Martyrology on September 29 along with the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
- Barachiel’s areas of influence include fertility, marriage, infants, couples, travelers, and more, related to his role as the angel of blessings.
- He is often depicted in art with a book, scepter, orb of blessings, white rose, white wings, and carrying a blessing.
Though not found in the Bible, Barachiel has become a popular figure in art and tradition related to angels. He rose to prominence along with six other archangels named from sources outside the biblical canon.
Possible Biblical Parallels
Since Barachiel is never mentioned by name in the Bible, we cannot definitively equate him with any biblical angel. However, some see possible parallels between his traditional attributes and biblical figures. Potential connections include:
Zachariel/Zechariah
In some manuscripts of Pseudo-Dionysius’ Celestial Hierarchy, Barachiel is named Zachariel. This opens up a possible linkage to the biblical prophet Zechariah, whose name means “Yahweh remembers” in Hebrew. As a prophet, Zechariah delivered the word of God to bless and comfort Israel. If Barachiel was originally named Zachariel, this could provide a biblical precedent related to his role as an angel of God’s blessings.
Raphael
The archangel Raphael plays a prominent role in the apocryphal Book of Tobit. Raphael guides and protects Tobias, performing healing work and delivering blessings. He also brings important messages and is one of the seven archangels. Some see parallels between Raphael’s protective work and blessings and Barachiel’s traditional role.
Angel of the Lord
The “angel of the Lord” makes several key appearances in the Old Testament, speaking revelation and bringing blessings from God. Some propose this could have been an early manifestation of the angel Barachiel. However, since this angel is not named, we cannot make a certain link to Barachiel or any other specific angel.
Joel’s Unnamed Archangel
As mentioned earlier, the archangel referenced in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 crying out at Christ’s return is unnamed. Barachiel could potentially be equated with this mysterious archangel, sent to deliver a final blessing of resurrection to God’s people. However, with no name given, any such connection cannot be made with certainty.
Conclusion
In the end, the angel Barachiel does not directly appear in the Bible. He originates instead from extra-biblical tradition as one of the seven archangels. While interesting parallels exist between Barachiel’s role and some biblical figures, we cannot definitively equate him with any specific angel mentioned in the text. The Bible itself gives no conclusive evidence about Barachiel.
Traditions connecting the angel Barachiel to blessings, family life, and marital relations remain popular. However, these traditional stories remain outside of biblical canon. The scriptures themselves contain no explicit reference to an archangel Barachiel.
He appears based on tradition rather than direct biblical support. While fascinating to consider as part of the wider folklore surrounding angels, Barachiel and his seven archangel companions must be viewed as extra-biblical figures added to tradition hundreds of years after the Bible’s texts were first recorded. In the end, the scriptures themselves contain no direct evidence about an archangel named Barachiel.
References
- Bunson, M. (1996). Angels A to Z. Crown Publishing Group.
- Cruz, J. C. (2009). Angels and devils. Tan Books.
- Graham, B. (1994). Angels: God’s secret agents. Doubleday.
- Ronner, J. (1993). Know your angels. mamre Press.
- Yarden, L. (1999). The book of angels. Flare Books.