Archangel Jophiel: Meaning, the Zohar, Yellow Ray and Stones

Who is Jophiel?

Jophiel is an angel of Jewish mystical tradition who is today counted among the archangels. His Hebrew name Yofi'el means "beauty of God" (yofi, beauty). He is sometimes written Iophiel or Zophiel, but the latter form often designates another angel ("God is my watchman"). He does not belong to the biblical texts: he is known through late apocryphal traditions, the Zohar and the scholarly angelologies of the Renaissance. He takes his place in our guide to the archangels.

What the texts say

A late popular tradition also makes him the angel with the flaming sword who guards the entrance to Eden after Adam and Eve leave: Genesis (3:24) speaks of cherubim and a sword, without naming this angel. It is therefore a later identification.

Iconography

He is often shown with a flaming sword, in reference to the tradition of guarding Eden, or with a book for wisdom. He appears in stained glass and frescoes in Anglican churches, among the seven archangels. In contemporary esoteric art, he is shown bathed in yellow light, often with a feather or a book.

Symbolism: wisdom, beauty, clarity of mind

Jophiel carries two linked ideas: beauty and wisdom. He is thought of for creation, study, art, but also for clear thinking and the ability to appreciate what is beautiful around us. His role as angel of the Torah recalls the link between study and light.

These associations are symbolic; they promise neither success in exams nor artistic talent.

Feast and traditional day

No official feast is attached to Jophiel in the major Churches. Some calendars of groups of Anglican or esoteric inspiration place him on the archangels' feast of 29 September. As for the day of the week, lists vary: linked to Saturn (Saturday) or Jupiter (Thursday) depending on the Renaissance authors, with other days in modern lists. No consensus exists.

What comes from tradition and what is modern

• Late Jewish tradition: angel of the Torah and of beauty (Zohar, apocrypha).
• Renaissance angelology: correspondences with Saturn, Jupiter or a sephirah (Binah).
• Modern systems: the yellow ray of wisdom and illumination, which comes from the teachings of the Ascended Masters (20th century) and from the New Age. The solar plexus chakra, also associated with yellow, is often linked to him. These correspondences are recent and vary from one author to another.

The stones associated in modern traditions

Yellow and golden stones serve as reference points. Modern convention:

• Citrine: yellow quartz, often obtained by heating amethyst.
• Amber: fossil resin, to be distinguished from plastics and copals.
• Orange calcite: soft, to be handled with care.
• Golden quartz: quartz with warm reflections.
• Topaz: a hard gem, often coloured by treatment.
• Sunstone: feldspar with metallic reflections, often confused with goldstone, a glass.

Respectful practice

• A yellow or white candle, in a stable holder on a non-flammable surface, for a moment of study or drawing. Never leave it unattended.
• A beauty break: choose an object, a flower, a landscape, and look at it for three minutes without doing anything else. The sense of beauty can be cultivated this way.
• A meditation: breathe calmly and imagine a golden light illuminating your thought. No result is promised.
• If you are a believer: pray with the words of your tradition. The Churches do not recognise Jophiel; respect their position.

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 archangels.