Angel of the Presence
Angel of the Presence
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Angel of the Presence

In some Christian traditions, the Angel of the Presence / Face (lit. "faces", Hebrew: Mal'akh HaPanim, מלאך הפנים‎) or Angel of his presence / face (Hebrew: Mal'akh Panav, מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו‎) refers to an entity variously considered angelic or else identified with God himself.

The phrase occurs in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 63:9), which states that, throughout the history of the Israelites, God has loved and been merciful to that nation and shared in its distresses, saving Israel with "the angel of his presence". The Septuagint translation of the Book of Isaiah explains the term in the most explicit language as a reference to God: "not an ambassador, nor an angel, but the Lord Himself (Greek: αὐτὸς κύριος) saved them".

In the Book of Jubilees, the Angel of the Presence explains to Moses the history of Israel. Jubilees depicts this entity as one of God's special agents and does not provide him with a specific name. In the Testament of Judah, Judah states that he has received blessing from the Angel of the Presence.

In the book of Enoch, four angels that stand before the Lord of Spirits are given as: Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Phanuel. According to some scholars, the Second Book of Enoch identifies Uriel, known in various traditions under the names of Phanuel or Sariel, as the Angel of the Presence or else as one of the Angels of the Presence.

A related term is "angel of his Presence" used just once, in Isaiah 63:9. There it says that throughout the history of Israel, God has loved and been merciful to that nation and shared in its distresses, saving Israel with "the angel of his presence".

Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence (מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו) saved them:

Some theologians believe that the Septuagint translation (ἄγγελος ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸς κύριος) demonstrates that "angel of his presence" is simply a way of referring to God, not a regular or created angel. "Not an elder or an angel, but the Lord Himself saved them..." is a current Septuagint translation.

In the second century BC Book of Tobit, which is regarded as canonical by Catholics and Orthodox Christians, Raphael is described as one of the seven angels who see God's glory: "I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord." In the Pseudepigrapha, in the Book of Jubilees, the Angel of the Presence explains to Moses the history of Israel. Jubilees depicts this entity as one of God's special agents and does not provide him with a specific name. In the Testament of Judah, Judah states that he has received blessing from the Angel of the Presence. The Second Book of Enoch identifies Uriel as the Angel of the Presence or else as one of the Angels of the Presence.

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