Angel Rehael (No. 39): Reign, Psalm, Symbolism and Reading

Who is Rehael, angel no. 39?

Rehael is the thirty-ninth angel of the list, the seventh of the Powers choir. French editions also write him Rehaël. In tradition he is linked to respect for parents and to humility: the one who knows how to receive as much as to give.

His period, between late September and early October, has given rise to the image of an angel of entry into the dark season, a time suited to withdrawal and reflection.

Rehael bears number 39 in the list of the 72 angels of the Shem HaMephorash, which Kabbalistic tradition derives from three verses of Exodus (14:19 to 21). Everything that follows is presented according to the Kabbalistic and esoteric tradition. For the origin of the system, read our introduction to the 72 angels.

Reference points of the tradition

The dates follow the most common calendar (angel no. 1 reigns 21 to 25 March, then five days per angel over 365 days). Sources sometimes shift by a few days, and leap years are handled differently: see how the guardian angel is calculated. According to many authors, the hour is counted in local solar time.

The verse and the name

The verse retained is a brief plea: “Hear, Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my help.” It belongs to Psalm 30, a song of thanksgiving sung after a grave trial, whose title refers to the dedication of the house. It contains the famous image of mourning turned into dancing.

The verse shows the lowest moment, the cry for help, before relief comes. Hence the idea, in Rehael, that one may accept being helped without shame.

According to tradition, the name is formed from the triplet of Hebrew letters רהע (Resh, He, Ayin), followed by the ending Aleph and Lamed (El, “God”). French spellings vary (Rehaël) depending on transliteration. Psalm 30 is Psalm 29 in the Vulgate; its title counts as verse 1 in Hebrew numbering, hence the offset. Lists of verses also differ slightly from one author to another.

What tradition associates with Rehael

According to the books, Rehael is associated with:

• Filial respect: the bonds between generations, gratitude towards parents and elders.
• Humility and the ability to ask for help.
• Support in trial, including in illness, according to older editions, which remains an image.
• Submission, in the sense of accepting what one does not control.

These attributions are symbolic. Tradition does not say that an angel replaces care: in case of illness, help must be sought from a doctor.

A reading for today

A quiet theme of this page is asking for help. Many people shy away from it, out of pride or fear of being a burden. Research on mental health stresses the importance of seeking support early.

Respect for parents, for its part, plays out in ordinary gestures: a visit, a call, a thank you. Rehael’s figure can serve as a reminder of this, without claiming to smooth over difficult relationships.

His period of the year and his sign

Rehael’s period, from 27 September to 1 October, falls in autumn (northern hemisphere, original calendar frame). It roughly covers the sign of Libra. In the table of the 36 decans, each ten-day span receives two angels: Rehael shares his with Yeiazel (no. 40).

In the Powers choir

In Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (around 500), the Powers form the end of the second triad; they evoke the force that maintains order and repels disorder. The term is read in Paul’s letters (Ephesians 3:10 and 6:12). In the list of 72, this choir groups angels 33 to 40. Note that this list places the Powers before the Virtues, whereas Dionysius cites the Virtues before the Powers: the systems differ on this point.

Rehael is the seventh angel of the Powers. In this choir of disciplined force, he embodies its inner face: the strength to recognise one’s own fragility.

To place Rehael in the sequence of angels, here are his immediate neighbours: Haamiah (no. 38) before him and Yeiazel (no. 40) after him. The choir is presented in detail on the page Choir of the Powers.

A gentle practice with Rehael

A gratitude exercise towards an elder, ten minutes long:

1. Think of an older person who mattered to you: a parent, a teacher, a neighbour.
2. Write down three things they gave you, however modest.
3. Read verse 11 of Psalm 30, thinking of a time when someone helped you.
4. If possible, thank them in person or in writing.

If the relationship is difficult, or if the person is no longer there, writing a letter you will not send is a recognised alternative.

What to keep in mind

This system is symbolic, not an established fact. Nothing demonstrates that a given angel corresponds to your date of birth, and no one can promise you protection or an event. Read these pages as a bestiary: for the images and the reflection they prompt.

The Catholic Church does not recognise this system: it retains only the three archangels named in Scripture, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Believers of all faiths nevertheless find in the psalms a text for prayer.

This page is not medical advice. If you are worried about your health, consult a doctor; in distress, in France, 3114 answers day and night.

See also the guide to the 72 angels and the guide to the archangels.

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.