Metatron (Hebrew מטטרון or מיטטרון), is the name of an angel in Judaism and some branches of Christianity and Islam. There are no references to him in the Jewish Tanakh (Old Testament), Christian Scriptures (New Testament), or the Quran, though he is mentioned in a few brief passages in the Talmud, the Jewish Oral Law. Metatron appears primarily in medieval Jewish mystical texts and other post-scriptural esoteric and occult sources. In Rabbinic tradition he is the highest of the angels and serves as the celestial scribe, though there is no consensus as to his genesis, nor as to what position he should best be understood to have in the Christian hierarchy of angels, if any.^[1] Length = 39:34 Metatron is a album by Darkwell released during 2004. ... Metatron is the third disc of Bill Laswell and Bucketheads project Praxis, this time the band approach to their first album Transmutation. ... Hebrew redirects here. ... This article is about the supernatural being. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... For the musical collective, see Tanakh (band). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Note: Judaism... This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... The Talmud (Hebrew: ) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history. ... This article is about traditional Jewish Kabbalah. ... This article is about the supernatural being. ... According to medieval Christian theologians, the Angels are organized into several orders, or Angelic Choirs. ...

Some sources claim that Metatron was the one preventing Abraham from the sacrifice of Isaac^{[citation needed]}.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1256x1824, 274 KB) Description: Title: de: Der Engel verhindert die Opferung Isaaks Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 193 × 133 cm Country of origin: de: Niederlande (Holland) Current location (city): de: St. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1256x1824, 274 KB) Description: Title: de: Der Engel verhindert die Opferung Isaaks Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 193 × 133 cm Country of origin: de: Niederlande (Holland) Current location (city): de: St. ... For other uses, see Abraham (name) and Abram (disambiguation). ... Sacrifice of Isaac, a detail from the sarcophagus of the Roman consul Junius Bassus, ca. ...

Origins

The Talmud has a section in which it claims that Elisha ben Abuyah, also called Acher, (אחר, "another", as he was an apostate), entered Paradise and saw Metatron sitting down (an action that in heaven is permitted only to God Himself). Elishah ben Abuyah therefore looked to Metatron as a deity and said heretically, "There are indeed two powers in heaven!" The rabbis explain that Metatron was allowed to sit because of his function as the Heavenly Scribe, writing down the deeds of Israel (Babylonian Talmud, Hagiga 15a). The Talmud (Hebrew: ) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history. ... Elisha Ben Abuyah (spelled variously, including Elisha ben Avuya) was a Jewish heretic born in Jerusalem sometime before 70. ... Apostasy (Greek απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is the formal renunciation of ones religion. ...

"... the Talmud states, it was proved to Elisha that Metatron could not be a second deity by the fact that Metatron received 60 'strokes with fiery rods' to demonstrate that Metatron was not a god, but an angel, and could be punished." -^[2]

In opposition to this apology, Metatron is identified with the term "lesser YHVH", which is the Lesser Tetragrammaton, in a Talmudic version as cited by the Karaite scholar Kirkisani. The word 'Metatron' is numerically equivalent to Shaddai (God) in Hebrew gematria; therefore he is said to have a "Name like his Master." It should be noted, however, that Kirkisani may have misrepresented the Talmud in order to embarrass his Rabbanite opponents with evidence of dualism. On the other hand, extra-talmudic mystical texts (see below regarding Sefer Hekhalot) do speak of a "lesser YHVH," apparently deriving the concept from Exodus 23:21, which mentions an angel of whom God says "My name [understood as YHVH, the usual divine Proper Name] is in him." It has been suggested that Yahweh be merged into this article or section. ... The Talmud (Hebrew: ) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history. ... Karaite Judaism is a Jewish denomination characterized by reliance on the Tanakh as the sole scripture, and rejection of the Oral Law (the Mishnah and the Talmuds) as halakha (Legally Binding, i. ... Jacob Qirqisani (Heb. ... Shaddai was a late Bronze age Amorite city on the banks of the Euphrates river, in northern Syria, as well as the name, or a signifying epithet of a West Semitic deity, whose name was attached by the Hebrews to that of El as one of the names of God... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Jacob Qirqisani (Heb. ... For other uses, see Dualism (disambiguation). ...

The Babylonian Talmud mentions Metatron in two other places: Sanhedrin 38b and Avodah Zarah 3b. Yevamot 16b describes in the Amoraic period the duties of 'prince of the world' being transferred from Michael to Metatron. Saint Michael redirects here. ...

Metatron is also mentioned in the Pseudepigrapha, most prominently in the Hebrew/Merkabah Book of Enoch, also called 3 Enoch or Sefer Hekhalot (Book of [the Heavenly] Palaces). The book describes the link between Enoch son of Jared (great grandfather of Noah) and his transformation into the angel Metatron. His grand title "the lesser YHVH" resurfaces here. Metatron says, "He [the Holy One]… called me, 'The lesser YHVH' in the presence of his whole household in the height, as it is written, 'My name is in him.'" (12:5, Alexander's translation). The narrator of this book, supposedly Rabbi Ishmael, tells how Metatron guided him through Heaven and explained its wonders. Here Metatron is described in two ways: as a primordial angel (9:2–13:2) and as the transformation of Enoch after he was assumed into Heaven.^[3][4] Pseudepigrapha (from the Greek words pseudos = lie and epigrapho = write) is a text or a number of texts whose claimed authorship or authenticity is incorrect. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Redirect page ... Ishmael ben Elisha (90 - 135 CE, commonly known as Rabbi Ishmael) was a Tanna of the first and second centuries (third tannaitic generation). ... Enoch (Hebrew: חֲנוֹךְ; Tiberian: , Standard: ) is a name occurring twice in the generations of Adam. ...

"Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." —Genesis 5:24 NIV.

"This Enoch, whose flesh was turned to flame, his veins to fire, his eye-lashes to flashes of lightning, his eye-balls to flaming torches, and whom God placed on a throne next to the throne of glory, received after this heavenly transformation the name Metatron." - Gershom G. Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (1941/1961) p. 67. Extract of 3 Enoch.

While this identification of Metatron with Enoch is not to be found in the Talmud itself, the connection is assumed by some of the earliest kabbalists. There also seem to be two Metatrons, one spelled with six letters (מטטרון), and one spelled with seven (מיטטרון). The former may be the transformed Enoch, Prince of the Countenance within the divine palace; the latter, the Primordial Metatron, an emanation of the "Cause of Causes," specifically the tenth and last emanation, identified with the earthly Divine Presence.^[5] The Talmud (Hebrew: ) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history. ... This article is about traditional Jewish Kabbalah. ... For a series of Israeli main battle tanks, see Merkava. ... Category:Sephiroth      “Sefirah” redirects here. ... Sephirah, also Sefirah (Hebrew language סְפִירָה Enumeration); plural Sephiroth or Sefiroth סְפִירוֹת. ... Shekhinah (- alternative transliterations Shekinah, Shechinah, Shekina, Shechina, Schechinah, שכינה) is the English spelling of a feminine Hebrew language word that means the dwelling or settling, and is used to denote the dwelling or settling presence of God, especially in the Temple in Jerusalem. ...

The Zohar calls Metatron "the Youth" a title previously used in 3 Enoch, where it appears to mean "servant".^[4] It identifies him as the angel that led the people of Israel through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt (again referring to Exodus 23:21, see above), and describes him as a heavenly priest. The Zohar (Hebrew: זהר Splendor, radiance) is widely considered the most important work of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism. ...

According to Johann Andreas Eisenmenger, Metatron transmits the daily orders of God to the angels Gabriel and Sammael. Metatron is often identified as being the twin brother to Sandalphon, who is said to have been the prophet Elijah. Johann Andreas Eisenmenger: Anti-Jewish author; born in Mannheim 1654; died in Heidelberg Dec. ... This article is about the archangel Gabriel. ... Samael is an important figure in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore, a figure who is accuser, seducer, and destroyer. ... For the angel by this name in Neon Genesis Evangelion, see Angel (Neon Genesis Evangelion)#Sandalphon. ... Elijah, 1638, by José de Ribera This article is about the prophet in the Hebrew Bible. ...

VM Samael Aun Weor identifies Metatron as the Prophet Enoch, the Angel who provided humanity with the 22 Hebrew letters and the original Tarot, stating that the Angel lives in the superior worlds in the region Aziluth (The Initiatic Path in the Arcana of Tarot and Kabbalah). Samael Aun Weor Samael Aun Weor (March 16, 1917 - December 24, 1977) was a prolific writer, lecturer and teacher of occultism. ... This article is about the general history, iconography, and uses of tarot cards. ...

Etymology

There are numerous possible etymologies for the name Metatron.^[6][7] However, some scholars such as Philip Alexander believe that if the name Metatron originated in Hekhalot-Merkabah texts (such as 3 Enoch) then it may be a made up word like the magic words Adiriron and Dapdapiron.^[8]

Hugo Odeberg,^[9] Adolf Jellinek^[10] and Marcus Jastrow^[11] suggest the name may originate from either "keeper of the watch" מטדא or the noun "to guard, to protect" ממטד. An early derivation of this can be seen in Shimmusha Rabbah, where Enoch is clothed in light and is the guardian of the souls ascending to heaven. Odeberg also suggests that the name Metatron might be taken from the Persian name Mithras.^[9] He lays out a number of parallels between Mithras and Metatron based on their positions in heaven and duties. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Marcus (Mordechai) Jastrow (1829-1903) was a renowned Talmudic language scholar, most famously known for his authorship of the popular and comprehensive A Dictionary of the Targumim, Talmud Babli, Talmud Yerushalmi and Midrashic Literature. ... Farsi redirects here. ... This article or section contains too much jargon and may need simplification or further explanation. ...

Metatron seems to be made up of two Greek words, after and throne, μετὰ θρóνος (meta thronos), taken together as "one who serves behind the throne" or "one who occupies the throne next to the throne of glory". This has been disputed due to the word θρóνος not being used in place of the Hebrew word for throne. The two words do not appear in any known text, leading to the belief of Gershom Scholem in particular to dismiss this idea^[12] with the words "this widely repeated etymology.... has no merit.".^[13]

The word συνθρόνος (synthronos) used as "co-occupant of the divine throne"^[14] however like the above etymology it is not found in any source materials.^[9] It is supported by Saul Lieberman and Peter Schäfer who give further reasons why this might be a viable etymology.^[15][16]

The Latin word Metator (messenger, guide, leader, measurer) had been suggested by Eleazar ben Judah of Worms (c. 1165 - c. 1230), Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, and brought to light again by Hugo Odeberg.^[9] When transliterated into the Hebrew language, we get מטיטור or מיטטור. Gershom Scholem argues that there is no data to justify the conversion of metator to metatron.^[13] Philip Alexander also suggests this as a possible origin of Metatron, stating that the word Metator also occurs in Greek as mitator–a word for an officer in the Roman army who acted as a forerunner. Using this etymology, Alexander suggests the name may have come about as a description of "the angel of the Lord who led the Israelites through the wilderness: acting like a Roman army metator guiding the Israelites on their way".^[17][18] Another possible interpretation is that of Enoch as a metator showing them "how they could escape from the wilderness of this world into the promised land of heaven". Because we see this as a word in Hebrew, Jewish Aramaic, and Greek, Alexander believes this gives even more strength to this etymology. Eleazar ben Judah ben Kalonymus of Worms (Hebrew: אלעזר מוורמס, also Elazar Rokeach or Rokeiach) (c. ... Nahmanides is the common name for Moshe ben Nahman Gerondi; the name is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Ben Nahman, meaning Son of Nahman. He is also commomly known as Ramban, being an acronym of his Hebrew name and title, Rabbi Moshe ben Nahman, and by his Catalan name...

Other ideas include μετρονa (metrona, "a measure").^[19] Charles Mopsik believes that the name Metatron may be related to the sentence from Genesis 5:24 "Enoch walked with God then he was no more, because God took him."^[20] The Greek version of the Hebrew word "to take" is μετετεθη (it was transferred).^[21] רון meaning RON is a standard addition to מטטרון metatron and other angelic names in the Jewish faith. So Mopsik believes if we concentrate on מטט MTT he believes it appears to be a transliteration from the Greek μετετεθη.

In the entry entitled "Paradigmata" in his study, "'The Written' as the Vocation of Conceiving Jewishly", John W McGinley gives an accounting of how this name functions in the Bavli's version of "four entered pardes."^[22] This account maintains that "Ishmael ben Elisha" is a Rebbinically sanctioned cognomen for Elisha ben Abbuyah (the "Akher" of the Bavli's account). This hypothesis explains why the generators of the "chambers" portion of the Heikhalot literature make "Ishmael ben Elisha" the major protagonist of their writings even though this Rabbi Ishmael was not directly mentioned in the Bavli's account (in the Gemara to tractate Khaggigah) of "The Work of the Chariot."

Solomon Judah Leib Rapport in Igrot Shir suggests that Meta Tron is a combination of two Greek words which mean to "change" and "pass away" referring to Chanoch who "changed" into an angel and "passed away" from the world. Image from The Jewish Encyclopedia Portrait of Solomon Judah Löb Rapoport. ...

Metatron's Cube

Metatron's Cube (an incomplete version that does not contain valid coordinates for the dodecahedron or icosahedron)

The Fruit of Life (a component of the Flower of Life) has thirteen circles. If each circle's center is considered a "node", and each node is connected to each other node with a single line, a total of seventy-eight lines are created. Within this cube, many other shapes can be found, including two-dimensionally flattened versions of the five Platonic solids. The true Metatron's Cube will include all five Platonic solids in such a way that the solids, existing in volumetric 3D space, have had their z-coordinates set to zero but their x- and y-coordinates retained, such that they are orthogonally flattened. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Flower of Life (click image for links to further images). ... The Flower of Life (click image for links to further images). ... A Platonic solid is a convex polyhedron whose faces all use the same regular polygon and such that the same number of faces meet at all its vertices. ... In geometry, an orthogonal projection of a k-dimensional object onto a d-dimensional hyperplane (d < k) is obtained by intersections of (k − d)- dimensional hyperplanes drawn through the points of an object orthogonally to the d-hyperplane. ...

In early kabbalist scriptures, Metatron supposedly forms the cube from his soul. This cube can later be seen in Christian art, where it appears on his chest or floating behind him. Metatron's cube is also considered a holy glyph, and was often drawn around an object or person to ward off demons and satanic powers. This idea is also present in alchemy, in which the cube was favoured as a containment circle or creation circle. The tree of life Kabbalah (קבלה Reception, Standard Hebrew Qabbala, Tiberian Hebrew Qabbālāh; also written variously as Cabala, Cabalah, Cabbala, Cabbalah, Kabala, Kabalah, Kabbala, Qabala, Qabalah) is a religious philosophical system claiming an insight into divine nature. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... variant glyphs representing the character a (allographs of a) in the Zapfino typeface. ... The demon Satan In folklore, mythology, and religion, a demon is a supernatural being that is generally described as an evil spirit, but is also depicted to be good in some instances. ... This article is about the concept of Satan. ... For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ...

The simplest means of constructing Metatron's Cube is to begin with a cube flattened along a space diagonal, such that it becomes a 2D figure, equivalent to a regular hexagon divided via its own diagonals into six equilateral triangles. The vertices of this 2D figure are then connected with additional lines. Several steps later, the full Metatron's Cube figure is formed.^[23] This method requires dividing vertices according to the golden ratio. There is also a method of construction from the Flower of Life.^[24] The cube resembles the fourth dimensional analog of the cube, or the Tesseract.
An isometric drawing of a cube. ... In a magic cube, the four space diagonals are the lines that go from a corner of the cube, through the center of the cube , to the opposite corner. ... Not to be confused with Golden mean (philosophy), the felicitous middle between two extremes, Golden numbers, an indicator of years in astronomy and calendar studies, or the Golden Rule. ... The Flower of Life (click image for links to further images). ... For other uses, see Tesseract (disambiguation). ...

In popular culture

Alan Rickman as the Metatron in Kevin Smith's Dogma.

• In the Kevin Smith film Dogma, Metatron is played by Alan Rickman. Metatron (also "the Metatron") acts as the Voice of God.
• In Philip Pullman's fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, Metatron is the Regent of Heaven, and seeks to supplant the Authority, destroy Lord Asriel and his army, and kill the heroine Lyra Belacqua.
• In the RPG In Nomine Metatron was killed by Lucifer during the rebellion of angels.
• In his analysis of the film Donnie Darko, Lawrence Person suggests that the character of Frank is actually Metatron.^[25]
• Progressive Rock band The Mars Volta have a song entitled "Metatron" on their fourth album, The Bedlam in Goliath

Image File history File links Alan_Rickman_as_Metatron. ... Image File history File links Alan_Rickman_as_Metatron. ... Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (born February 21, 1946) is an acclaimed, award-winning English film, television and stage actor. ... This article is about the American screenwriter, film director, actor and comic book writer. ... Dogma is a 1999 comedy film, written and directed by Kevin Smith, who stars in the film along with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo, and Alanis Morissette. ... This article is about the American screenwriter, film director, actor and comic book writer. ... Dogma is a 1999 comedy film, written and directed by Kevin Smith, who stars in the film along with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo, and Alanis Morissette. ... Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (born February 21, 1946) is an acclaimed, award-winning English film, television and stage actor. ... Philip Pullman CBE (born October 19, 1946) is a British writer. ... The trilogy (U.K versions), in order of succession from left to right. ... Lord Asriel is a major character in Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials series. ... Lyra Belacqua (also known as Lyra Silvertongue) is the heroine of Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials trilogy. ... Alternate meaning: In Nomine (role-playing game) In Nomine was a title given to a number of English pieces of music in the 16th and 17th centuries based on the plainsong Gloria tibi Trinitas and on a section of John Taverners mass itself based on that theme. ... This article is about the star or fallen angel. ... Combatants Rebel angels Loyalist angels Commanders Lucifer Michael the Archangel Strength 133,306,668 266,613,336 Casualties N/A Immortal N/A Immortal According to Christian mythology, the War of Heaven was a defining moment in the universe, when the archangel[1] Lucifer led a third of the Angels... Donnie Darko is a 2001 drama/psychological thriller/science fiction film written and directed by Richard Kelly. ... Lawrence Person is a science fiction writer and editor of SF critical magazine Nova Express. ... The Mars Volta is an American rock group founded by Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Isaiah Ikey Owens and Jeremy Michael Ward in 2001. ... Singles from The Bedlam in Goliath Released: November 19, 2007 The Bedlam in Goliath is the fourth full-length studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta. ...

See also

• List of alternate names for Metatron
• Adam Kadmon
• Enoch
• James Hurtak
• Theophany

Metatron has been known by a number of different names, including (but not limited to) the following. ... In the religious writings of Kabbalah, Adam Kadmon is a phrase meaning Primordial Man, or Primal Man, comparable to the Anthropos of Gnosticism and Manichaeism. ... Look up Enoch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Look up theophany in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

References

External links

• The Etymology of the Name "Metatron"
• Metatron as the Deity: Lesser YHWH
• Metatron as the Mediator
• Metatron as the Prince of the World
• Metatron as God's Shiur Qomah
• Metatron as the Youth
• Metatron as the Expert in Secrets
• Metatron as the Scribe
• Reb Chaim HaQoton: Metatron
• Poetry inspired by Metatron