Hekamiah: Angel No. 16, Ruling Dates, Psalm and Symbolism

Who is Hekamiah?

Hekamiah is the sixteenth angel on the list and the last of the Choir of Cherubim. His name reads "God who raises up the universe": the Hebrew letters הקם are connected to the root of the verb "to rise, to set up". He is associated with loyalty, frankness and sincere friendship. His name is also written Hakamiah or Hécamiah.

The name Hekamiah comes from a reading method: the three verses of Exodus 14:19-21 (72 letters each) are superimposed (the second is read backwards), and the 16th column gives the three letters הקם (hé-qof-mem). The ending -iah, which recalls the divine name Yah, makes it a name for an angel. The meaning most often given to Hekamiah is "God who raises up the universe".

This page is part of our guide to the 72 angels. The correspondences given here (dates, hour, choir, psalm) are presented according to the Kabbalistic and esoteric tradition: they are symbolic reference points, which each reader is free to accept or not. The historical background is detailed in the introduction to the 72 angels.

Hekamiah's key facts

Here are Hekamiah's key facts, as handed down by tradition.

Note: according to authors, these dates shift by one to a few days. Here we follow the calendar of five days per angel, without interruption from March 21 (365-day year); other lists align the periods with the signs of the zodiac. The quinary is the 5-degree slice of the zodiac linked to this angel; it does not exactly match the real position of the Sun on these dates. The decan (10 degrees) and its planet come from classical astrology: see the page on the sign of Gemini and the entry on the associated planet.

Hekamiah's psalm

The associated psalm is Psalm 88, verse 2: "O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you." (Vulgate: Psalm 87). Its title attributes it to the sons of Korah and to Heman the Ezrahite. It is one of the darkest psalms in the Bible, for it ends without any clearing: "You have taken friend and companion far from me; those closest to me have vanished." (verse 19). The link with an angel of friendship is therefore striking: the psalm describes the solitude of someone who no longer has anyone. One may read in it an invitation: to know that friendship is earned and protected, and that those who suffer need a loyal presence.

Traditional symbolism

Hekamiah is the angel of what does not betray. Tradition credits him with loyalty to one's commitments, uprightness in friendships and a certain nobility of character. His theme is that of active faithfulness: keeping one's word, speaking with clarity, not abandoning someone because they are going through a difficult time.

• Loyalty: keeping one's word, even when it costs
• Frankness: saying things clearly and gently
• Friendship: being present in the moments when the other is struggling

These attributions come from esoteric literature of the 19th and 20th centuries; they differ from one author to another and rest on no established ancient text. They are themes for reflection, never guaranteed effects.

Hekamiah's time of year and hour

Hekamiah's period corresponds to the beginning of June. On June 5, the United Nations marks World Environment Day, established in 1972 and celebrated since 1974: a pledge of loyalty to a common good. In Paris, daylight arrives around 5:50 a.m. (summer time), and the angel's hour, from 5:00 a.m. to 5:20 a.m., corresponds to dawn. The days are then almost the longest of the year.

Hekamiah's hour runs from 5:00 a.m. to 5:20 a.m. Tradition links each 20-minute slice to an angel: a person born during this window is said to fall under Hekamiah as "angel of the hour". Authors differ on which time to use, legal time (that of the birth certificate) or solar time. The full method is set out in our calculation page.

A gentle practice with Hekamiah

List the people you can count on and those who count on you. Then choose one concrete gesture: keeping a promise left hanging, sending a message to a friend going through a trial, thanking someone who has stayed faithful. Loyalty is proven through actions.

A few questions to ask yourself, in writing or aloud:

• To whom did I make a promise that I have not yet kept?
• Whom can I count on, and who counts on me?
• Where do I need to be more frank, with gentleness?

These exercises belong to personal reflection and do not replace medical advice or psychological support.

What belongs to tradition, and its limits

Let us keep an honest view of this system. It dates from the Renaissance (Reuchlin's list, 1517) and is not recognised by the Catholic Church, which names only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. No experience demonstrates the action of an angel, and the correspondences change from one author to another. Psalm 88 speaks of distress. If you feel very alone or without hope, talk to someone close to you or to a health professional; in France, 3114 can be reached at any hour, free of charge.

To put this guide in perspective, see also the guide to the archangels and the page on angel oracles.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Guide to the 72 guardian angels.