Phanuel is the name given to the fourth

angel In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles inclu ...

who stands before

God In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...

in the '' Book of Enoch'' (ca. 300 BC), after the angels Michael,

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael (; or ; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form, ease of composition, and visual a ...

, and

Gabriel In Abrahamic religions ( Judaism, Christianity and Islam), Gabriel (); Greek: grc, Γαβριήλ, translit=Gabriḗl, label=none; Latin: ''Gabriel''; Coptic: cop, Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ, translit=Gabriêl, label=none; Amharic: am, ገብ ...

. Other spellings of Phanuel ( or פְּנִיאֵל ''Pənūʾēl/Pənīʾēl,'' Tiberian: ''Pănūʾēl/Pănīʾēl'') include Panuel, Paniel, Peniel, Penuel, Fanuel and Feniel. As Panuel his name means "God has turned", but as Paniel his name means "God is my face".

Narrative

Phanuel was one of the four voices Enoch heard praising God.

Interpretations

As an angel, Phanuel is reputedly a member of the four Angels of Presence. In 1st Enoch, he is also listed as an angel of

exorcism Exorcism () is the religious or spiritual practice of evicting demons, jinns, or other malevolent spiritual entities from a person, or an area, that is believed to be possessed. Depending on the spiritual beliefs of the exorcist, this may be ...

(he is heard "expelling Satans"). Phanuel has also been linked with the Angel of Penance mentioned in the

Shepherd of Hermas A shepherd or sheepherder is a person who tends, herds, feeds, or guards flocks of sheep. ''Shepherd'' derives from Old English ''sceaphierde (''sceap'' 'sheep' + ''hierde'' 'herder'). ''Shepherding is one of the world's oldest occupations, i ...

. Some associate Phanuel with Uriel; although some others see this as debatable. Phanuel's duties include bearing up God's throne, ministering Truth, and serving as an angel of judgement. According to The Book of Enoch, Phanuel is the fourth angel "set over repentance and those who hope to inherit eternal life" noch, Chapter 40:9 He is the fourth voice heard noch, Chapter 40:7"fending off the Satans (adversaries or accusers) and forbidding them to come before the Lord of spirits to accuse them who dwell on the earth".

References

Bibliography

* Bunson, Matthew (ed.) (1996). Phanuel ''Angels A to Z'' New York. Three Rivers Press. * Lumpkin, Joseph B (ed.) (2004). ''The Lost Book of Enoch: A Comprehensive Transliteration of the Forgotten Book of the Bible''. Fifth Estate Publishers {{Angels in Abrahamic religions Angels of the Presence Archangels Angels in the Book of Enoch