Sahaqiel is the angel associated with the fourth heaven in 3 Enoch 17. Odeberg’s translation prints the form Shahaqi’el in the detailed assignment. The passage belongs to a catalogue of heavenly rulers related to, but distinct from, the following list of rulers of the sun, moon and constellations.
The ruler of the fourth heaven
In 17:3, Shahaqi’el is appointed over the fourth heaven, identified there as Zebul. The same list assigns the third heaven, Shehaqim, to Badariel, with Baradiel given as a variant. These named locations should not be interchanged merely because Sahaqiel’s spelling resembles the word Shehaqim.
The surrounding verses introduce seven princes and say that each is accompanied by 496,000 myriads of ministering angels. This number belongs to the text’s presentation of the heavenly hosts. It is not a personal numerical office unique to Sahaqiel.
Reading the names with the apparatus
Odeberg prints different forms of the introductory name list and records further variants in the detailed assignments. His explanatory notes also compare other arrangements of the heavens. Consequently, this profile identifies a role in this edition rather than asserting a single universal map accepted throughout Jewish angelology.
The similar-looking name Sachiel appears in a different setting, the planetary and weekday scheme of the Heptameron. Resemblance alone does not establish that the fourth-heaven prince and the Thursday angel have the same identity or duties. The source, spelling and assigned office all need to remain visible in comparisons.
Explore related entries
Read Barakiel, Baradiel, Sachiel, the angel names A–Z index, or the guide to source traditions.