Angel Yeiazel (No. 40): regency, psalm, symbolism and reading

Who is Yeiazel, angel no. 40?

Yeiazel is the fortieth angel of the classical list and the last of the choir of the Powers. He is also written Ieiazel or Ihiazel. He is the angel of consolation: the one tradition calls upon for people who are suffering, isolated, deprived of freedom or without support.

His role as angel of friendship and of creators (books, printing, the arts) is more recent and remains secondary.

Yeiazel bears the number 40 in the list of the 72 angels of the Shem HaMephorash, which Kabbalistic tradition draws 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.

Traditional benchmarks

Dates follow the most common calendar (angel no. 1 reigns from 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 lament: “Lord, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?” It belongs to Psalm 88, which commentators consider the darkest in the Psalter: it ends without any clearing, with darkness as its companion.

There is a paradox here that deserves to be stated honestly: the angel of consolation is associated with the least consoling psalm. One possible reading is that consoling begins by acknowledging suffering without denying it or rushing it.

The name is formed, according to tradition, from the Hebrew letter triplet ייז (Yod, Yod, Zayin) followed by the ending Aleph and Lamed (El, “God”). Spellings vary (Ieiazel, Ihiazel) according to transliteration. Psalm 88 is Psalm 87 in the Vulgate; its title counts as verse 1 in Hebrew numbering, hence the one-step shift. The verse lists also differ slightly from one author to another.

What tradition associates with Yeiazel

Attributions vary. The usual ones are:

• Consolation for those who suffer, and the courage to remain present with them.
• Liberation, symbolically, from every form of captivity: prison, isolation, dependencies, depending on the edition.
• Friendship and loyalty between people.
• The arts of the book: some recent lists link him to writing and publishing.

Most of these themes are extrapolations. Tradition promises no real liberation: in a situation of captivity, violence or distress, support services exist.

A reading for today

Consoling someone is a difficult art: the recommendations of psychologists stress listening, presence and the avoidance of hasty advice. Phrases such as “it will get better” rarely help. The figure of Yeiazel can serve as a reminder of this restraint.

If you are yourself in a very dark moment, this psalm may say things we dare not say, and that is one of the reasons it has been preserved.

Its period of the year and its sign

Yeiazel's period, 2 to 6 October, falls in autumn (northern hemisphere, within the framework of the original calendar). It roughly covers the sign of Libra. In the table of the 36 decans, each ten-day span receives two angels: Yeiazel shares his with Rehael (no. 39).

In the choir of the Powers

In the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius (around 500), the Powers form the end of the second triad; they evoke the force that maintains order and drives back disorder. The term appears in Paul's letters (Ephesians 3:10 and 6:12). In the list of 72, this choir comprises 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.

Yeiazel is the eighth and last angel of the Powers. After him opens the choir of the Virtues, with Hahahel: we move from the force that keeps order to the force that acts in the world.

To place Yeiazel in the sequence of angels, here are his immediate neighbours: Rehael (no. 39) before him and Hahahel (no. 41) after him. The choir is presented in detail on the page Choir of the Powers.

A gentle practice with Yeiazel

An exercise of presence with someone close, lasting ten minutes:

1. Think of a person going through a difficult period.
2. Write down what you would like them to know, without advice or solutions.
3. Read verse 15 of Psalm 88 as a lament that has every right to exist.
4. Offer them a simple moment: a call, a cup of tea, a walk.

Listening without trying to fix anything is sometimes the greatest service one can offer.

What to keep in mind

This table of 72 angels is a learned system of the Renaissance, enriched by French authors of the nineteenth century, and not a revealed teaching. It remains a basis for reflection, and it does not replace medical advice, legal counsel or psychological support.

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.

If you or someone close to you is going through deep distress, the 3114 helpline in France (suicide prevention) is free and available day and night; in an emergency, call 17 or 112 (the emergency number throughout the European Union).

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.