Zagzagel appears as a heavenly teacher and scribe in the Moses legends retold by Louis Ginzberg. The name is connected with Moses’s knowledge of divine mysteries and with the account of his death.
Moses’s celestial teacher
In The Legends of the Jews, volume III, Ginzberg describes Zagzagel as the teacher and scribe of celestial beings. Moses’s powerful prayer is associated with knowledge of the divine name learned from this teacher. Another passage connects Moses’s radiance with instruction in the secrets of the Torah.
When God asks Zagzagel to take Moses’s soul, the teacher declines because Moses was his disciple. Later in the death narrative, Zagzagel accompanies Michael and Gabriel, prepares a pillow, and stands at Moses’s feet as God receives the prophet’s soul. These details belong to the retold legendary account.
Comparison with Zakzakiel
3 Enoch 18:17–18, in Odeberg’s edition, names Zakzakiel as a prince who records Israel’s merits on the Throne of Glory. This is a useful comparison with a similar name and scribal role, but the two passages should be identified separately.
The teaching scenes, death narrative and record of Israel’s merits are different accounts. Comparing them is useful without treating every Zagzagel, Zakzakiel or similarly spelled name in later angel lists as interchangeable. A further association with the burning bush would need a separately identified passage rather than being inferred from the teacher’s closeness to Moses.
Explore related entries
Read Kemuel, Metatron, Michael, Gabriel, the angel names A–Z index, or the guide to source traditions.