Raphael

Raphael

The Divine Healer

Tobit 12:15

“I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.”

— Tobit 12:15 (NABRE)

Tobit 5:4

So he went to look for a man who would travel with him to Media, a man familiar with the way. He went outside and found the angel Raphael standing before him, though he did not know that this was an angel of God.

— Tobit 5:4 (NABRE)

Raphael (Hebrew: “God heals”) appears in the Book of Tobit, a deuterocanonical text recognized by Catholic and Orthodox traditions. He disguises himself as a human named Azariah to guide young Tobias on a dangerous journey. Along the way, he instructs Tobias to catch a fish whose organs have healing properties — Tobias later uses them to cure his father’s blindness and to drive away the demon Asmodeus.

Raphael reveals his true identity at the end: “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.” This declaration is one of the few biblical references to a specific number of chief angels. He is associated with healing, protection of travelers, and the binding of demons. In 1 Enoch, he is tasked with binding the fallen angel Azazel and healing the earth.

Further Reading