**Uriel** **Uriel** (**אוּרִיאֵל** "El/God is my light]", Auriel/Oriel (God is my light) [Standard Hebrew](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Hebrew)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Standard_Hebrew) **Uriʾel**, [Tiberian Hebrew](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberian_Hebrew)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Tiberian_Hebrew) **ʾÛrîʾēl**) is one of the [archangels](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archangel)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Archangel) of post-Exilic [Rabbinic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbinic_literature)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Rabbinic_literature) tradition, and also of certain [Christian](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Christianity) traditions. His name may have analogies with [_Uriah_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriah_the_Hittite)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Uriah_the_Hittite). ### Name and origins The angels mentioned in the older books of the [Hebrew Bible](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_Bible)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Hebrew_Bible) are without names. Indeed, rabbi [Simeon ben Lakish of Tiberias](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_ben_Lakish_of_Tiberias)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Simeon_ben_Lakish_of_Tiberias) (230–270), asserted that all the specific names for the angels were brought back by the Jews from Babylon, and some modern commentators would tend to agree. Of the [seven Archangels](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Archangels)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Seven_Archangels) in the angelology of post-Exilic Judaism, only two, [Gabriel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Gabriel), and [Michael](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_%28archangel%29)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Michael_%28archangel%29), are mentioned by name in the Scriptures Where a fourth archangel is added to the named three, to represent the four cardinal points, Uriel is generally the fourth. Uriel is listed as the fourth angel in Christian [Gnostics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnostic)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Gnostic) (under the name [Phanuel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phanuel_%28angel%29)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Phanuel_%28angel%29)), by [Gregory the Great](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_the_Great)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Gregory_the_Great), and in the angelology of [Pseudo-Dionysius](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudo-Dionysius)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Pseudo-Dionysius). However, the Book of Enoch clearly distinguishes the two Angels; Uriel means 'the Light of God' while Phanuel means "the Face of God." Uriel is the third angel listed in the [_Testament of Solomon_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testament_of_Solomon)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Testament_of_Solomon), the fourth being [Sabrael](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabrael)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Sabrael). Uriel also appears in the [_Second Book of Esdras_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Esdras)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/2_Esdras) (found in the [Apocrypha section](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_apocrypha)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Biblical_apocrypha) of many bibles, and sometimes called Esdras IV in Catholic versions, which makes up part of the [apocalyptic literature](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalyptic_literature)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Apocalyptic_literature) of [_Esdras_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esdras)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Esdras)), in which the prophet [Ezra](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Ezra) asks God a series of questions, and Uriel is sent by God to instruct him. According to the Revelation of [Esdras](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esdras)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Esdras), the angels that will rule at the end of the world are [Michael](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Michael)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Saint_Michael), [Gabriel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Gabriel), Uriel, [Raphael](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_%28archangel%29)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Raphael_%28archangel%29), [Gabuthelon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabuthelon)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Gabuthelon), [Beburos](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beburos)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Beburos), [Zebuleon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebuleon)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Zebuleon), [Aker](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aker_%28angel%29)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Aker_%28angel%29), and [Arphugitonos](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arphugitonos)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Arphugitonos). The last five listed only appear in this book and nowhere else in apocryphal or apocalyptic works. In Christian [apocryphal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocrypha)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Apocrypha) gospels Uriel plays a role, differing between sources, in the rescue of [Jesus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Jesus)' cousin [John the Baptist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/John_the_Baptist) from the [Massacre of the Innocents](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Massacre_of_the_Innocents) ordered by King [Herod](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Herod_the_Great). He carries John and his mother [Saint Elizabeth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_%28Biblical_person%29)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Elizabeth_%28Biblical_person%29) to join the [Holy Family](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Holy_Family) after their [Flight into Egypt](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_into_Egypt)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Flight_into_Egypt). Their reunion is depicted in [Leonardo da Vinci](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Leonardo_da_Vinci)'s [Virgin of the Rocks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_of_the_Rocks)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Virgin_of_the_Rocks). Uriel is often identified as a [cherub](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherubim)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Cherubim) and angel of repentance. He "stands at the Gate of Eden with a fiery sword," or as the angel who "watches over thunder and terror." In the [_Apocalypse of Peter_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse_of_Peter)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Apocalypse_of_Peter) he appears as the Angel of Repentance, who is graphically represented as being as pitiless as any demon. In the [_Life of Adam and Eve_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_of_Adam_and_Eve)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Life_of_Adam_and_Eve), Uriel is regarded as the spirit (i.e., one of the cherubs) of the third chapter of Genesis. He is also identified as one of the angels who helped bury Adam and Abel in Paradise. Stemming from medieval Jewish mystical traditions, Uriel has also become the Angel of Sunday (_Jewish Encyclopedia_), the Angel of Poetry, and one of the Holy [Sephiroth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sephiroth_%28Kabbalah%29)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Sephiroth_%28Kabbalah%29). Uriel is depicted as the destroyer of the hosts of [Sennacherib](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sennacherib)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Sennacherib). He checked the doors of [Egypt](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Egypt) for lamb's blood during the plague. He also holds the key to [the Pit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Hell) during the [End Times](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_Times)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/End_Times) and led [Abraham](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Abraham) to the West. In [Thomas Heywood](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Heywood)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Thomas_Heywood)'s _Hierarchy of Blessed Angels_ (1635), Uriel is described as an Angel of the Earth. Heywood's list is actually of the Angels of the Four Winds: Uriel (south), Michael (east), Raphael (west) (serving also a governor of the south, with Uriel), and Gabriel (north). He is also listed as an Angel of the four winds in the medieval Jewish _Book of the Angel Raziel_ which lists him as Usiel (Uzziel); according to it, this book was inscribed on a sapphire stone and handed down from Seraph to [Metatron](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metatron)[(SP)](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Metatron) and then to Adam.