Camael, (Hebrew: חַמּוּאֵל Ḥammūʾēl, "God has warmed") also spelled Chamuel, Khamuel, Camiel, Cameel and Camniel, is an archangel in Jewish and Christian angelology.
According to poet Gustav Davidson's popular work A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels (1967), he is known as one of the twelve Kabbalah angels, assigned to the sephira Gevurah, alongside the planet Mars. Camael's name is also included in Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite's 5th or 6th century Corpus Areopagiticum as one of the Seven Archangels, along with Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Jophiel, and Zadkiel.
Camael was excluded from the Holy See's list of named angels in the 2001 Directory on popular piety, which states: "The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael whose names are contained in Holy Scripture".
Painting by Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix of an angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword.
According to Robert Means Lawrence, Arthur de Bles, and R.L. Giles, the angel who cast Adam and Eve out of Paradise was said to be Jophiel.
According to the Bible, a flaming sword (Hebrew: להט החרב lahat chereb or literally "flame of the whirling sword" Hebrew: להט החרב המתהפכת lahaṭ haḥereb hammithappeket) was entrusted to the cherubim by God to guard the gates of Paradise after Adam and Eve were banished (Genesis 3:24). Scholars have variously interpreted the sword as a weapon of the cherubim, as lightning, as a metaphor, as an independent divine being, or even as a figurative description of bladed chariot wheels.
In Kabbalah, the flaming sword represents the order which the sefirot were created in, also known as “the path of the flaming sword.”
Who are the 12 archangels?
In the Kabbalah there are traditionally twelve archangels, who are each assigned to a certain sephira: Shubael, Raziel, Cassiel, Zadkiel, Camael, Michael, Uriel & Haniel, Raphael & Jophiel, Gabriel, and Azrael.
Archangel Camael: Angel of Divine Justice
In the celestial hierarchy, each archangel possesses unique attributes and roles that offer guidance and support to those who seek their presence. Among these, Archangel Camael shines brightly as the “Angel of Divine Justice.”
Chamuel vs. Camael: Understanding the Relationship and Differences
Chamuel and Camael are two names that are sometimes used interchangeably in certain spiritual and religious traditions.
However, it’s important to note that while they share a common origin, their attributes and roles can vary depending on the specific tradition or belief system.
Chamuel:
- Qualities: Chamuel is often associated with qualities such as love, compassion, and emotional healing. This archangel is often invoked for matters related to improving relationships, finding love, and experiencing divine love and forgiveness.
- Spiritual Contexts: Chamuel is recognized in Christian, New Age, and some Jewish mystical traditions. Within Christianity, he is sometimes considered one of the archangels, and prayers to Chamuel are often focused on matters of the heart and emotional well-being.
Camael:
- Qualities: Camael has distinct attributes such as courage, strength, and justice. This archangel may be invoked for matters related to finding inner strength, overcoming challenges, and seeking divine justice or judgment.
- Spiritual Contexts: Camael is more commonly recognized in esoteric and occult traditions, including some branches of Kabbalah. Within these contexts, Camael is often linked to the Sephirah Geburah on the Tree of Life, representing strength and severity.
Camael, also known as Chamuel, is an archangel associated with love, strength, courage, and war in Judeo-Christian angelology. He is often depicted as a warrior angel, but also associated with peaceful relationships and love. Camael is not mentioned in the Bible but is recognized in other texts like the Kabbalah and by some Christian theologians.
Camael is considered the archangel of love, particularly fostering gratitude and unconditional love. He is also associated with helping people find love, resolve relationship conflicts, and heal from relationship trauma.
Camael's name translates to "He who sees God" or "He who seeks God," and he is seen as a source of strength, courage, and the ability to overcome obstacles.
He is also associated with war and divine justice, often depicted with a flaming sword as the leader of the Powers, who guard souls on their way to heaven.
Camael is linked to the planet Mars, which is associated with energy, passion, and assertiveness.
He is also associated with the day Tuesday.
Camael is sometimes linked to the Greek god of war, Ares.
Some interpretations associate Camael with Samael, also known as Satan, and the underworld, though this is not a universally accepted view.
In the Kabbalah, Camael is one of the twelve angels assigned to the sephira Gevurah, which represents severity and justice.
He is often depicted as the leader of the Powers, an angelic rank that protects souls.
