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Is there an angel named Raphael in the Bible?

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Raphael is not named in the 66 books found in most King James Bible editions. He is named in the Book of Tobit, which Roman Catholic and many Orthodox Christians include in their Bibles, but which Protestant Bibles place outside Scripture or omit. So the answer depends on which Christian Bible collection a person means.

What the KJV contains

If you are reading the standard 66-book King James Bible, you will not find an angel called Raphael. The Bible does name Michael and Gabriel, but it does not give a long list of angel names.

Michael appears in Daniel as a powerful heavenly prince connected with God’s people, and Jude calls him an archangel (Daniel 10:13; Jude 1:9). Gabriel speaks with Daniel and later brings God’s message to Zechariah and Mary (Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:19; Luke 1:26-27). Raphael does not appear by name in these books.

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Jude 1:9 (KJV)

Where Raphael is found

Raphael is a central figure in the Book of Tobit. In that story, he travels with Tobias, helps bring healing to Tobit’s family, and finally identifies himself as one of the angels who stands before God. His name is commonly understood to mean “God heals”.

Tobit was included in the Apocrypha in the original 1611 King James Bible printing, though it is absent from most KJV editions now sold. Roman Catholic and many Eastern Orthodox Christians receive Tobit as Scripture. Most Protestants regard it as valuable ancient Jewish writing, but not as part of the biblical canon.

Why Christians answer differently

This is really a question about the canon, meaning the collection of books a Christian community recognises as Scripture. Christians share the books that name Michael and Gabriel, but they have not all received the same wider collection of Old Testament books.

So a Protestant reading a standard KJV can rightly say that Raphael is not named in their Bible. A Catholic or Orthodox Christian can rightly say that Raphael is named in Tobit. Knowing which Bible edition and tradition is in view makes the difference clear.

Keep the focus where Scripture does

It’s natural to be curious about angels. Scripture shows them serving God’s purposes, bringing his messages, and ministering to those who belong to him (Hebrews 1:14). Yet angels themselves are never the centre of the story.

When John fell before an angel in Revelation, the angel redirected him to worship God (Revelation 22:8-9). That is a helpful guide for this question too. We can explore what the Bible says about Raphael and other angels, while keeping our attention on the God they serve.

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews 1:14 (KJV)

Scripture referenced: Daniel 10:13 (KJV), Jude 1:9 (KJV), Daniel 8:16 (KJV), Luke 1:19 (KJV), Luke 1:26-27 (KJV), Hebrews 1:14 (KJV), Revelation 22:8-9 (KJV)

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