Raphael is the angel who accompanies Tobiah in the Book of Tobit and later reveals that God sent him to help Tobit and Sarah. He also appears in 1 Enoch, where different passages describe his place among the holy angels, his healing role, and his part in the judgment of Azazel.
Raphael in the Book of Tobit
In Tobit 5, Tobiah seeks someone who knows the journey to Media. He meets Raphael without recognizing him as an angel. Raphael introduces himself to Tobit as Azariah, son of Hananiah, and becomes the young man’s travelling companion.
The story links Raphael’s help with several needs: the journey, Sarah’s release from the demon Asmodeus, and Tobit’s recovery of sight. Tobit 8:1–3 describes the expulsion and binding of the demon.
In Tobit 12:12–15, Raphael explains his mission and identifies himself as one of the seven angels who stand before God. The revelation changes how the family understands the companion who travelled with Tobiah: his help was an answer to prayer within the narrative.
Raphael in 1 Enoch
1 Enoch 20 includes Raphael among the holy angels. In chapter 40:9, the four named presences are Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Phanuel; Raphael is associated with human diseases and wounds.
His role is not limited to healing. In 1 Enoch 10:4–8, he is commanded to bind Azazel in the wilderness. Reading both passages gives a fuller picture than assigning him a single modern label.
Why different readers encounter different accounts
Tobit and 1 Enoch are different books, and the religious status of such works varies between communities. The Catholic Bible used for the Tobit references here includes the book; the Orthodox Church in America also names Raphael in its account of the archangels.
The title “healing angel” summarizes a traditional role. The narratives themselves remain religious texts, rather than evidence of a promised medical result. Their specific passages are the basis for the statements in this profile.
Labbiel in Ginzberg’s account
Louis Ginzberg’s The Legends of the Jews, translated by Henrietta Szold, names Labbiel as commander of the third company of angels consulted about creating humanity. After the fate of the earlier companies, he advises his followers to assent to God’s plan. They agree and offer to serve humanity.
In this account, God changes Labbiel’s name to Raphael, the Rescuer, because his advice saved his host. The next sentence appoints him Angel of Healing and describes his keeping of heavenly remedies. This is the connection made in Ginzberg’s English synthesis.
Source: The Legends of the Jews, Volume 1, Chapter II, “The Angels and the Creation of Man.”
Explore related entries
Continue with Asmodeus, Michael, Gabriel, the A–Z angel name index, or our guide to sources and traditions.