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Sandalphon (Hebrew: סַנְדַּלְפוֹן Sandalp̄ōn; Greek: Σανδαλφών Sandalphṓn) is an archangel in Jewish and Christian writings, although not in scripture. Sandalphon figures prominently in the mystical literary traditions of Rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity, notably in the Midrash, Talmud, and Kabbalah and is generally seen as gathering prayers and passing them on to God.

Origin

Although not explicitly referenced in scripture, some of the earliest sources on Sandalphon refer to him as the prophet Elijah transfigured and risen to angelic status.^[1] Other sources (mainly from the midrashic period) describe him as the "twin brother" of Metatron, whose human origin as Enoch is similar to the human origin of Sandalphon.^[2]

Meaning of name

The name Sandalphon, which may be related to the Hebrew sandek, godfather (thereby corresponding to the tradition of a station held by Elijah with regard to evocation of the prophet in his capacity being protector of unborn children^[3]), may also be derived from the Greek prefix syn-, meaning "together", and adelphos, meaning "brother"; thus approximately meaning "co-brother", since the modern Greek word for "co-worker", synádelphos (συνάδελφος), has these roots as seen in the Book of Revelation, chapter 19, verse 10. This probably refers to Sandalphon's relationship to Metatron, although this derivation shows uncertain Semitic influences.^[4]

Descriptions and functions

Physical descriptions of Sandalphon vary depending on the source. He is uniformly depicted as extremely tall—he exceeds Hadraniel in height by a 500-year foot journey.^[5]^[6] During Moses' visit to the Third Heaven, he is said to have glimpsed Sandalphon and called him the "tall angel", though this legend dates to much later than the time of the Torah. The Babylonian Talmud Hagigah 13b says Sandalphon's head reaches Heaven, which is also said of Israfil and of the Greek monster Typhon, with whom Sandalphon seems to have similar mythological roots. He is also described as being a member of the śārim (Hebrew: שָׂרִים "princes"), and a Hazzan (חַזָּן master of heavenly song).

In the Greater Key of Solomon, Sandalphon is designated "the left-hand feminine cherub of the Ark of the Covenant". In the liturgy for Sukkot, he is credited with gathering the prayers of the faithful, making a garland of such prayers, and then "adjuring them to ascend as an orb to the supreme King of Kings". In the Zohar he is "chief of the Seventh Heaven".^[7] As Michael does, he carries on a ceaseless battle with Samael (perhaps Satan), angel of evil.

The ancient sages also referred to him by the name Ophan (אוֹפַן "wheel"), a reference to the "wheel within the wheel" from Ezekiel's vision of the heavenly chariot in the Book of Ezekiel chapter 1.^[8] Sandalphon is also said to be instrumental in bringing about the differentiation of sex in the embryo.^[7]

Ibn Hazm describes Sandalphon as an angel "who serves the crown". He further states that the Jews, though regarding Metatron as an angel, celebrate him as a lesser god for 10 days in each year (probably a reference to Rosh Hashanah in connection with Merkabah mysticism - in which Metatron is conceived actually to have played a part in the creation of the world).^[9]

In Kabbalah, Sandalphon is the angel who represents the sephirah Malkuth^[10] and overlaps (or is confused with) the angel Metatron. He is said to appear before the feminine presence of the Shekhinah^[1] and to receive human prayers and send them to God.

In literature

Sandalphon is the eponymous subject of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Sandalphon".^[11]

In the Japanese light novel series Date A Live, Sandalphon is the name of a spiritual weapon (referred to as Angels within the series), belonging to Tohka Yatogami. Sandalphon takes the form of a large broadsword stuck in a gilded throne. The sword has the power to send out waves of Spirit Power that can cut through objects. At full power, Sandalphon can cut virtually anything, including the fabric of spacetime.

References

^ ^a ^b Davidson, Gustav (1967), A Dictionary of Angels, Including The Fallen Angels, Free Press, p. 257, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-19757, ISBN 9780029070505
^ Angel Princes
^ Kolatch, Alfred J. The Jewish Book of Why. Jonathan David: New York, 1995. ISBN 0-8246-0256-0 .
^ Sandalfon at JewishEncyclopedia.com
^ Pesikta Rabbati 20:3
^ "Who is Metatron" Archived 2007-01-02 at the Wayback Machine at Hebrew Witness Archived 2006-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b Lewis, James R., Oliver, Evelyn Dorothy, Sisung Kelle S. (Editor) (1996), Angels A to Z, Entry: Sandalphon, pp. 352, 353, Visible Ink Press, ISBN 0-7876-0652-9
^ Pick, Bernard (1913), The Cabala, Chapter 2: "The Development of the Cabala in The Pre-Zohar Period", at sacred-texts.com
^ Hava Lazarus-Yafeh Intertwined Worlds: Medieval Islam and Bible Criticism Princeton University Press 2004 ISBN 9781400862733 p. 32
^ "The World of Beriah (Creation)", A Study of The Book of Revelation at Yashanet
^ Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (1886) [1841]. "Sandalphon". The Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: The Poetical Works. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company. pp. 175–176.

[Davidson257-1] Davidson, Gustav (1967), A Dictionary of Angels, Including The Fallen Angels, Free Press, p. 257, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-19757, ISBN 9780029070505

[2] Angel Princes

[3] Kolatch, Alfred J. The Jewish Book of Why. Jonathan David: New York, 1995. ISBN 0-8246-0256-0 .

[4] Sandalfon at JewishEncyclopedia.com

[5] Pesikta Rabbati 20:3

[6] "Who is Metatron" Archived 2007-01-02 at the Wayback Machine at Hebrew Witness Archived 2006-12-05 at the Wayback Machine

[b-7] Lewis, James R., Oliver, Evelyn Dorothy, Sisung Kelle S. (Editor) (1996), Angels A to Z, Entry: Sandalphon, pp. 352, 353, Visible Ink Press, ISBN 0-7876-0652-9

[8] Pick, Bernard (1913), The Cabala, Chapter 2: "The Development of the Cabala in The Pre-Zohar Period", at sacred-texts.com

[9] Hava Lazarus-Yafeh Intertwined Worlds: Medieval Islam and Bible Criticism Princeton University Press 2004 ISBN 9781400862733 p. 32

[10] "The World of Beriah (Creation)", A Study of The Book of Revelation at Yashanet

[11] Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (1886) [1841]. "Sandalphon". The Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: The Poetical Works. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company. pp. 175–176.

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+{{Short description|Archangel in Jewish and Christian writings}}
 [[File:Sandalphon by Florence Freeman - Longfellow National Historic Site - DSC04799.JPG|thumb|right|250px|''Sandalphon'' by [[Florence Freeman]]]]
-'''Sandalphon''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: סַנְדַּלְפוֹן ''San'dal'fōn''; {{lang-el|Σανδαλφών}} ''Sandalfón'') is an [[archangel]] in [[Judaism|Jewish]] and [[Christianity|Christian]] writings, although not in [[scripture]]. Sandalphon figures prominently in the mystical literary traditions of [[Rabbinic Judaism]] and early [[Christianity]], notably in the [[Midrash]], [[Talmud]], and [[Kabbalah]] and is generally seen as gathering prayers and passing them on to God.
+'''Sandalphon''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: סַנְדַּלְפוֹן ''Sandalp̄ōn''; {{lang-el|Σανδαλφών}} ''Sandalphṓn'') is an [[archangel]] in [[Judaism|Jewish]] and [[Christianity|Christian]] writings, although not in [[scripture]]. Sandalphon figures prominently in the mystical literary traditions of [[Rabbinic Judaism]] and early [[Christianity]], notably in the [[Midrash]], [[Talmud]], and [[Kabbalah]] and is generally seen as gathering prayers and passing them on to God.
 ==Origin==
-Though not explicitly referenced in scripture, some of the earliest sources on Sandalphon refer to him as the [[prophet]] [[Elijah]] transfigured and risen to [[angel]]ic status.<ref name = "Davidson257">Davidson, Gustav (1967), ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/A_dictionary_of_angels.html?id=Ed7yHWuTEewC A Dictionary of Angels, Including The Fallen Angels]'', Free Press, p. 257, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-19757, {{ISBN|9780029070505}}</ref> Other sources (mainly from the [[midrash]]ic period) describe him as the "twin brother" of [[Metatron]], whose human origin as [[Enoch (ancestor of Noah)|Enoch]] was similar to the human origin of Sandalphon.<ref>[http://www.steliart.com/angelology_angel_princes.html Angel Princes]</ref>
+Although not explicitly referenced in scripture, some of the earliest sources on Sandalphon refer to him as the [[prophet]] [[Elijah]] transfigured and risen to [[angel]]ic status.<ref name = "Davidson257">Davidson, Gustav (1967), ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/A_dictionary_of_angels.html?id=Ed7yHWuTEewC A Dictionary of Angels, Including The Fallen Angels]'', Free Press, p. 257, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-19757, {{ISBN|9780029070505}}</ref> Other sources (mainly from the [[midrash]]ic period) describe him as the "twin brother" of [[Metatron]], whose human origin as [[Enoch (ancestor of Noah)|Enoch]] is similar to the human origin of Sandalphon.<ref>[http://www.steliart.com/angelology_angel_princes.html Angel Princes]</ref>
 ==Meaning of name==
-The name ''Sandalphon'', which may be related to the Hebrew [[sandek]], godfather (thereby corresponding to the tradition of a station held by Elijah with regard to evocation of the prophet in his capacity being protector of unborn children<ref>[[Alfred J. Kolatch|Kolatch, Alfred J.]] ''The Jewish Book of Why''. Jonathan David: New York, 1995. {{ISBN|0-8246-0256-0}}  .</ref>), may also be derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] prefix ''sym-''/''syn-'', meaning "together", and ''adelphos'', meaning "brother"; thus approximately meaning "co-brother", since the modern Greek word for "co-worker", ''synadelfos'' (''συνάδελφος''), has these roots as seen in the [[Book of Revelation]], chapter 19, verse 10. This probably refers to Sandalphon's relationship to Metatron, though this derivation shows uncertain [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] influences.<ref>[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=223&letter=S Sandalfon] at [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/ JewishEncyclopedia.com]</ref>
+The name ''Sandalphon'', which may be related to the Hebrew [[sandek]], godfather (thereby corresponding to the tradition of a station held by Elijah with regard to evocation of the prophet in his capacity being protector of unborn children<ref>[[Alfred J. Kolatch|Kolatch, Alfred J.]] ''The Jewish Book of Why''. Jonathan David: New York, 1995. {{ISBN|0-8246-0256-0}}  .</ref>), may also be derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] prefix ''syn-'', meaning "together", and ''adelphos'', meaning "brother"; thus approximately meaning "co-brother", since the modern Greek word for "co-worker", ''synádelphos'' (''συνάδελφος''), has these roots as seen in the [[Book of Revelation]], chapter 19, verse 10. This probably refers to Sandalphon's relationship to Metatron, although this derivation shows uncertain [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] influences.<ref>[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=223&letter=S Sandalfon] at [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/ JewishEncyclopedia.com]</ref>
 ==Descriptions and functions==
 Physical descriptions of Sandalphon vary depending on the source. He is uniformly depicted as extremely tall—he exceeds [[Hadraniel]] in height by a 500-year foot journey.<ref>''[[Pesikta Rabbati]]'' 20:3</ref><ref>[http://www.thechristianrabbi.org/whoismetatron.htm "Who is Metatron"]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102041434/http://thechristianrabbi.org/whoismetatron.htm |date=2007-01-02 }} at [http://www.thechristianrabbi.org Hebrew Witness] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205052222/http://thechristianrabbi.org/ |date=2006-12-05 }}</ref>  During [[Moses]]' visit to the [[Third Heaven]], he is said to have glimpsed Sandalphon and called him the "tall angel", though this legend dates to much later than the time of the Torah. The [[Babylonian Talmud]] ''Hagigah'' 13b says Sandalphon's head reaches Heaven, which is also said of [[Israfil]] and of the [[ancient Greek religion|Greek]] monster [[Typhon]], with whom Sandalphon seems to have similar mythological roots. He is also described as being a member of the ''śārim'' ({{lang-he|שָׂרִים}} "princes"), and a ''[[Hazzan]]'' ({{lang|he|חַזָּן}} master of heavenly song).
-In the [[Greater Key of Solomon]], Sandalphon is designated "the left-hand feminine [[cherub]] of the [[Ark of the Covenant]]". In the liturgy for [[Sukkot]], he is credited with gathering the prayers of the faithful, making a garland of such prayers, and then "adjuring them to ascend as an orb to the supreme King of Kings". In the ''[[Zohar]]'' he is "chief of the Seventh Heaven".<ref name = "b">Lewis, James R., Oliver, Evelyn Dorothy, Sisung Kelle S. (Editor) (1996), ''Angels A to Z'', Entry: '''Sandalphon''', p. 352, 353, Visible Ink Press, {{ISBN|0-7876-0652-9}}</ref>  As [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]] does, he carries on a ceaseless battle with [[Samael]] (perhaps [[Satan]]), angel of evil.
+In the [[Greater Key of Solomon]], Sandalphon is designated "the left-hand feminine [[cherub]] of the [[Ark of the Covenant]]". In the liturgy for [[Sukkot]], he is credited with gathering the prayers of the faithful, making a garland of such prayers, and then "adjuring them to ascend as an orb to the supreme King of Kings". In the ''[[Zohar]]'' he is "chief of the Seventh Heaven".<ref name = "b">Lewis, James R., Oliver, Evelyn Dorothy, Sisung Kelle S. (Editor) (1996), ''Angels A to Z'', Entry: '''Sandalphon''', pp. 352, 353, Visible Ink Press, {{ISBN|0-7876-0652-9}}</ref>  As [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]] does, he carries on a ceaseless battle with [[Samael]] (perhaps [[Satan]]), angel of evil.
-The ancient sages also referred to him by the name Ofan ({{lang|he|אוֹפַן}} "wheel"), a reference to the "wheel within the wheel" from [[Ezekiel]]'s vision of the heavenly chariot in the [[Book of Ezekiel]] chapter 1.<ref>Pick, Bernard (1913), [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/cab/cab04.htm ''The Cabala'', Chapter 2: "The Development of the Cabala in The Pre-Zohar Period,"] at [http://www.sacred-texts.com sacred-texts.com]</ref> Sandalphon is also said to be instrumental in bringing about the differentiation of sex in the embryo.<ref name = "b"/>
+The ancient sages also referred to him by the name ''Ophan'' ({{lang|he|אוֹפַן}} "wheel"), a reference to the "wheel within the wheel" from [[Ezekiel]]'s vision of the heavenly chariot in the [[Book of Ezekiel]] chapter 1.<ref>Pick, Bernard (1913), [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/cab/cab04.htm ''The Cabala'', Chapter 2: "The Development of the Cabala in The Pre-Zohar Period"], at [http://www.sacred-texts.com sacred-texts.com]</ref> Sandalphon is also said to be instrumental in bringing about the differentiation of sex in the embryo.<ref name = "b"/>
-[[Ibn Hazm]] mentions Sandalphon as an angel "who serves the crown". He discusses that [[Jews]], although regarding [[Metatron]] as an angel, would celebrate Metatron as a lesser god 10 days each year, probably a reference to [[Rosh Hashanah]] in connection with [[Merkabah mysticism]] that Metatron took part on the creation of the world.<ref>Hava Lazarus-Yafeh ''Intertwined Worlds: Medieval Islam and Bible Criticism'' Princeton University Press 2004 {{ISBN|9781400862733}} p. 32</ref>
+[[Ibn Hazm]] describes Sandalphon as an angel "who serves the crown". He further states that the [[Jews]], though regarding [[Metatron]] as an angel, celebrate him as a lesser god for 10 days in each year (probably a reference to [[Rosh Hashanah]] in connection with [[Merkabah mysticism]] - in which Metatron is conceived actually to have played a part in the creation of the world).<ref>[[Hava Lazarus-Yafeh]] ''Intertwined Worlds: Medieval Islam and Bible Criticism'' Princeton University Press 2004 {{ISBN|9781400862733}} p. 32</ref>
-In [[Kabbalah]], Sandalphon is the angel who represents the [[sefirah]] [[Malkuth]]<ref>[http://www.yashanet.com/studies/revstudy/rev6b.htm "The World of Beriah (Creation),"] A Study of The Book of Revelation at [http://www.yashanet.com/ Yashanet]</ref> and overlaps (or is confused with) the angel Metatron. He is said to appear before the feminine presence of the [[Shekhinah]]<ref name = "Davidson257"/> and to receive human prayers and send them to [[God]].
+In [[Kabbalah]], Sandalphon is the angel who represents the [[sefirah|sephirah]] [[Malkuth]]<ref>[http://www.yashanet.com/studies/revstudy/rev6b.htm "The World of Beriah (Creation)"], A Study of The Book of Revelation at [http://www.yashanet.com/ Yashanet]</ref> and overlaps (or is confused with) the angel Metatron. He is said to appear before the feminine presence of the [[Shekhinah]]<ref name = "Davidson257"/> and to receive human prayers and send them to [[God]].
 ==In literature==
-Sandalphon is the [[eponym|eponymous]] subject of [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]]'s poem, ''Sandalphon''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NdIyAQAAMAAJ&q=Sandalphon+longfellow&pg=PA62|title = The Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: The poetical works|last1 = Longfellow|first1 = Henry Wadsworth|year = 1886}}</ref>
+Sandalphon is the [[eponym|eponymous]] subject of [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]]'s poem "Sandalphon".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Longfellow |first=Henry Wadsworth |author-link=Henry Wadsworth Longfellow |year=1886 |orig-year=1841 |chapter=Sandalphon |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/poeticalworksofhenry00longiala/page/174/mode/2up |title=The Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: The Poetical Works |url=https://archive.org/details/poeticalworksofhenry00longiala/page/174/mode/2up |location=Boston |publisher=Houghton, Mifflin and Company |pages=175–176}}</ref>
+In the Japanese [[light novel]] series ''[[Date A Live]]'', Sandalphon is the name of a spiritual weapon (referred to as Angels within the series), belonging to Tohka Yatogami. Sandalphon takes the form of a [[Classification of swords|large]] [[Basket-hilted sword|broadsword]] stuck in a gilded throne. The sword has the power to send out waves of Spirit Power that can cut through objects. At full power, Sandalphon can cut virtually anything, including the fabric of [[spacetime]].
+==See also==
+* [[List of angels in theology]]
 ==References==
 <references/>
-== External links ==
-* [http://qabalah.dk/sephiroth.html Copenhagen Qabalah ]
-* [http://www.angelicsign.com/en/15-archangels/sandalphon Angelics sign ]
-* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160217010046/http://www.angeltherapy.com/archangel-sandalphon Angel therapy ]
-* [http://www.innerlightworkers.co.uk/archangels/sandalphon.htm Inner light-workers site]
-* [https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/612555 Smashwords.com]
 {{Angels in Abrahamic religions}}
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 [[Category:Angels of the Presence]]
 [[Category:Angels in Islam]]
+[[Category:Judaism and abortion]]