Archangel Zadkiel: Meaning, Chesed, Violet Flame and Stones

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Zadkiel, "justice of God", is the angel of kindness and mercy in Christian Kabbalah and scholarly angelology, and the archangel of the violet flame in modern systems.

Key points

Names	Zadkiel, Tzadkiel, Zedekiel, Hesediel ("kindness of God")
Meaning of the name	Tzedek-El: "justice of God"
Sources	Scholarly angelology and Christian Kabbalah; absent from the Bible
Scholarly tradition	Angel of Chesed (kindness) and of Jupiter
Modern tradition	Archangel of the violet ray and the "violet flame"
Image	Often shown holding a dagger, in reference to the sacrifice of Abraham
Feast	No official feast
Modern stones	Amethyst, sugilite, charoite, fluorite

Who is Zadkiel?

Zadkiel is an angel of mercy. His name comes from the Hebrew tzedek (justice, righteousness) and El (God): "justice of God". He is also known as Tzadkiel, Zedekiel or Hesediel, the last meaning "kindness of God". He is not mentioned in the Bible: his figure comes from the Kabbalah and above all from the scholarly angelology of the Renaissance, before being taken up by esoteric systems in the 20th century. This page is part of our guide to the archangels.

What the sources say

Source	Status	What it says about Zadkiel
Jewish and Christian Kabbalah	Mystical tradition	On the Tree of Sefirot, the fourth sphere is Chesed (kindness, grace). It is linked to Zadkiel, sometimes called Hesediel.
Renaissance angelology	Scholarly	He is linked to the planet Jupiter, the planet of expansion and generosity in astrology. The names of the angel of Jupiter vary between authors (Zachariel in Trithemius, Sachiel in the Heptameron).
Accounts of Abraham (Genesis 22)	Biblical text for the episode, late tradition for the name	Genesis speaks of an "angel of the Lord" who stays Abraham's hand, without naming him. Some traditions identify him as Zadkiel, others as Michael, others as a different angel. Many readers simply see it as a divine manifestation.

Zadkiel is therefore a figure born from a meeting of Jewish mysticism, medieval astrology and Christian imagination. The major Churches do not recognise him.

Iconography

He is often shown with a dagger, a knife or a blade in his hand, in reference to the episode of Abraham and Isaac. He appears on a few stained-glass windows in Anglican churches, among the seven archangels. In today's esoteric art, he is shown wrapped in violet flames, sometimes with a book or a chalice.

This image may be surprising: a dagger for the angel of mercy. The meaning follows the story: the raised weapon does not fall, compassion stops the gesture.

Symbolism: kindness that transforms

Zadkiel is associated with benevolence, forgiveness, tolerance, memory and transformation. Chesed, the sphere he dwells in, symbolises generosity that gives without counting the cost; Jupiter adds the idea of expansion.

In contemporary use, he is thought of when it comes to letting go of a grudge, forgiving oneself for a mistake, or turning a difficult experience into a lesson. These are symbols: they invite reflection, without any guaranteed result.

Feast, day and colour

Zadkiel has no feast recognised by the major Churches. Some calendars link him to 29 September, the feast of the archangels. As for the day: in the scholarly tradition, Jupiter corresponds to Thursday.

The colour violet is linked to the modern system of coloured rays. The violet ray and the "violet flame", associated with Saint Germain (an 18th-century figure who became an "Ascended Master"), were popularised in the 20th century by movements inspired by Theosophy. Zadkiel is presented there as the archangel of this ray, linked to transmutation and freedom. This whole set is recent and does not appear in any traditional religion.

What comes from tradition and what is modern

Ancient mysticism and astrology: angel of Chesed and of Jupiter.
Biblical account: the angel who holds back Abraham, whom some call Zadkiel.
Modern systems: violet, the violet flame, the stones. In many systems they are linked to the crown chakra, because violet is the colour most often assigned to that chakra.

Stones associated in modern traditions

Violet stones are chosen for their colour. Recent convention:

Amethyst: violet quartz, which fades in sunlight.
Sugilite: intense violet, rare and expensive; many objects sold are imitations or dyed materials.
Charoite: swirling violet silicate, mined in Siberia.
Fluorite: fragile, in varied colours including violet.

Read each stone's page to learn about care and the most common imitations.

Respectful practice

A violet or white candle, placed in a stable holder on a non-flammable surface. Never leave it unattended.
A forgiveness journal: write down a grudge or a mistake, then a sentence beginning with "Today, I choose to...". Forgiving does not oblige you towards anyone else; it is personal work.
A meditation: imagine a violet light surrounding a heavy thought and softening it. No result is promised.
If you are a believer: pray with the words of your tradition. The Churches do not recognise Zadkiel; please respect their position.

Frequently asked questions

What does Zadkiel mean?

From the Hebrew Tzedek-El, "justice of God". The name Hesediel means "kindness of God".

Is Zadkiel in the Bible?

No. He comes from the Kabbalah and scholarly angelology. Some traditions identify him with the angel who stays Abraham, but the biblical text does not name him.

What is the violet flame?

A concept from the teachings of the Ascended Masters (20th century) that evokes transformation. It is not a traditional religious teaching.

What is Zadkiel's colour?

Violet, in modern ray systems. Ancient texts do not give him a colour.

Which stones are associated with Zadkiel?

Amethyst, sugilite, charoite, fluorite. A modern convention, not a traditional one.