Anapiel, usually printed as Anaphiel in Odeberg’s edition of 3 Enoch, is a powerful prince connected with the heavenly halls. The text explains his name through the image of an overshadowing branch and places him within a sequence of angels acknowledging one another’s authority.
The keys of the heavenly halls
In 18:18, Zakzakiel removes his crown and falls on his face when he sees Anaphiel. Anaphiel keeps the keys of the heavenly halls. His honor, majesty, crown and brilliance are said to overshadow the chambers of Araboth, supplying the branch imagery used to explain his name.
The point is the extent of the prince’s heavenly dignity. The passage compares the spread of his splendor with scriptural language about God’s glory, while still presenting him as an angelic prince.
Anaphiel and Metatron’s punishment
Chapter 16 describes Acher seeing Metatron seated on a throne and mistakenly concluding that there are two divine powers. A prince commissioned by God strikes Metatron with sixty fiery lashes and makes him stand.
The name in that verse varies: Odeberg’s main translation prints Aniyel, while the apparatus identifies Anaphiel in other witnesses. It is therefore accurate to associate Anaphiel with the episode as a manuscript reading, rather than quote the name as though every witness agreed.
Odeberg’s notes also compare guardianship traditions and a separate citation about the ring and seal of heaven and earth. The latter belongs to the editor’s comparative material; it should not silently replace the keys actually described in 18:18.
Explore related entries
Read Metatron, Zagzagel, Suriel, the angel names A–Z index, or the guide to source traditions.