Is Amenadiel an Angel? What Do We Know about Him?
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The Bible has influenced Western culture more than any other source. From ideas of government to human rights and religion, Scriptural concepts and principles dominate society. Even when Western culture seeks to change the names or appropriate biblical ideas (like equality and justice), the root remains.
Christian ideas also permeate entertainment and the arts. The figures and stories of the Bible continue to loom large, and so storytellers pull from these sources to use these familiar symbols and images to build their narratives. Judeo-Christian symbols go beyond the Scripture, as well. Extra-biblical and mystical texts have also influenced the arts with their epic and apocalyptic stories.
One such character from Christian lore is the angel Amenadiel. While entertainment has incorporated this figure, as Christians, we should explore the background for ourselves.
Is Amenadiel Actually Mentioned in the Bible?
The name Amendadiel doesn’t appear anywhere in the biblical canon, the Old or New Testament. Instead, the name is mentioned in later Jewish mystical traditions, especially ones regarding angelology and “secret names” of heavenly beings.
The name “Amenadiel” combines two Hebrew words. “Amen” should be familiar to Jews and Christians, meaning “truly” or “so be it.” Many prayers end with this agreement. The suffix “el” is common in names of people and especially angels. In the Bible, heavenly beings have names like Michael and Gabriel. The “el” means “of God” or “God is.” Depending on the translation, Amenadiel could be “truly God is” or “faithfulness of God.” Therefore, the name structure fits biblical names, even though not found in the Scripture.
The earliest mention of Amenadiel comes from other texts. The main source is the Book of Enoch tradition. These traditions make comments and have discussions about the Book of Enoch, a popular writing not included in the canon due to its false attribution to the biblical figure Enoch. The Book of Enoch lists many angels, but Amenadiel doesn’t appear there, either. The name seems to arise in later angelic lists, such as occult and Renaissance texts about supernatural spirits like angels and demons.
For example, he shows up in “grimoires” (manuals of magic to invoke angels) that spread during medieval times. The grimiores list him as an angel of truth or one who has authority over time and creation. Since scholars can’t find mention of him before these times, centuries after the New Testament, Amenadiel is even further removed from the Bible.
Many today might know his name through modern entertainment. Amenadiel is a character in the DC comics universe on the television show Lucifer. The series shows him as one of God’s powerful angels who enforces divine justice. Lucifer borrows from Jewish and Christian angelology, but it has no spiritual or instructional value.
What are Some Interpretations of Who Amendiel Is?
Both Jewish and Christian scholars recognize that Amendiel originated centuries after the New Testament, but they view his importance differently.
Jewish scholars include Amenadiel within the tradition of angelology that developed during the Second Temple period, which began with the Book of Enoch. These writings expanded later with the mystical Kabbalah and the grimoires in medieval times. Among these studies, angels carry specific duties over time and human history. Some Jewish mystics describe Amenadiel as an angel who governs the order of time or the movement of the sun and moon. The Jewish mystics had a fascination with the cosmic order, and they believed God used angels as servants to maintain creation. However, the Jewish traditions don’t see Amenadiel as an actual angel. To them, he’s more a symbolic representation of angelic hierarchies and roles they use for meditation or even practicing magic.
Christian scholars are more skeptical regarding this angel. Because Amenadiel isn’t in Scripture, most theologians dismiss him as a later fiction used in mystical practices or even the occult. Early church fathers and later Christian writers didn’t acknowledge him in their angelologies, which focused more on the angels named in the Bible.
Some Christian scholars find him interesting as a unique blend of Jewish mysticism, Christian tradition, and magic. There’s a definite implication that the revelation of Amenadiel comes from a search for “hidden knowledge.”
All these traditions agree that Amenadiel emerged from human imagination rather than any divine teaching.
As usual, Christians have opinions about the TV show Lucifer, and modern Christian scholars engaging with pop culture have expressed different views. Some see his portrayal as a twisted version of biblical truth, while others think his character reveals how humans remain interested in the unseen realm.
What Angels Are Mentioned in Scripture Vs. Angels Mentioned in Extra-Biblical Texts?
The canonical Bible mentions two angels by name—Michael and Gabriel. At the same time, many others have been named outside the main Scripture. These appear through various apocryphal writings and mystical traditions.
- Raphael is known as one of the archangels in Christian tradition, although he doesn’t appear in the Protestant Bible. His name means “God heals,” and this expresses his role as a messenger of healing. The Book of Tobit in the Apocrypha (Deuterocanon) describes Raphael leading Tobias and healing Tobit’s blindness. In Tobit 12:15, Raphael identifies himself as one of the seven angels who stand before God.
- Another well-known angel is Uriel. His name means “God is my light,” and he’s mentioned in apocryphal writings like 2 Edras and a few versions of 1 Enoch. These writings show Uriel as an angel of wisdom and repentance, even bringing dire warnings. Later accounts have him warn Noah about the flood or as the angel who guards the gates of Eden with a fiery sword. Uriel has become a popular figure in Jewish mysticism and Christian devotionals.
- Another angel is Raguel, whose name means “Friend of God.” Raguel appears in the Book of Enoch as a holy angel who punishes rebellious spirits like demons. He symbolizes fairness and God’s justice. Like many of the Old Testament stories where God sends an angel to wipe out an army, Raguel emphasizes the angelic role of enforcer.
- Sariel (or Saraquael) is another angel from the Book of Enoch, and his name means the “Prince of God.” Sariel heals, guides, and protects. Sariel has been mentioned as an angel to guard humanity from demons.
- Remiel’s name means “Mercy of God,” and he appears in both Jewish apocalyptic and Christian writings. He supposedly guides souls after death, and he’s been described as one of the angels of resurrection. From the Jewish hope in the resurrection, it makes sense Christian writers would also include him.
The angels listed above have been named among the Seven Archangels. They serve as guardians, messengers, and warriors for God’s will in mystical and apocalyptic texts.
What Should Christians Know about Amendiel?
First, the Bible does describe God’s court in heaven as an assembly of heavenly beings who serve, worship, and obey God’s commands. 1 Kings 22:19 reveals the Lord seated on the throne with “all the host of heaven standing beside him.” Job 1:6 writes about the “sons of God” (angels) who present themselves before the Lord. Revelation 4 gives more detail, including elders and living creatures among the countless angels. The Bible names two angels, so it follows that all of them have a name.
Second, we have no evidence Amenadiel is one of those revealed to us by God. Instead, he’s a figment of human imagination. We must remember to relegate him to human creativity. Unfortunately, tradition connects Amenadiel with mystical angelology and magic practices. Both have serious dangers.
Third, the apostle Paul warns us to not fall into the trap of angel worship. He cautions against those who delight in the “worship of angels” (Colossians 2:18), reminding us how this takes attention away from Christ who is the head of the Church. Through Christ, we’ve been given direct access to the throne of God, and worshipping angels becomes idolatry. Angels exist, but in the Bible, they reject being any object of worship (Revelation 22:8-9). The danger isn’t in acknowledging their existence but putting them in the place that only belongs to God. Even worse, Amenadiel is associated with invoking angels in magic rituals, which goes against Scripture.
Fourth, the idea of “hidden knowledge” comes from pagan or gnostic writings, not the Scripture. The Bible warns against seeking this secret knowledge outside of God’s revelation. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children.” God calls us to trust his revealed Word rather than pursue secret teachings or mystical knowledge, much of which leads to pride and superiority instead of truly walking humbly with God. The pagan and gnostic principles oppose the Gospel since they shift focus from Christ. True wisdom comes openly through God’s clear Word, not secret sources that can be manipulated.
Pop culture portrays angels (like Amenadiel) as powerful characters with great purposes. While entertaining, these narratives often don’t glorify God or his power. Unfortunately, they can confuse us or lead to an unhealthy fascination with the unseen.
In the end, we must remember angels are servants of God, not objects of faith. They are meant to glorify God and minister to his people. Any tradition that moves the focus from those truths and from the Lord alone should be treated with skepticism. Amenadiel might be an interesting figure in stories and mysticism, but he doesn’t belong in any Christian devotion.
Peace.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/daniele consorti
