Is there an angel named Ariel in the Bible?
Is There an Angel Named Ariel in the Bible?
A Baptist Theological Evaluation
(All Scripture quoted from the New King James Version – NKJV)
I. Are Any Angels Named Ariel in the Canonical Bible?
No. The name Ariel is never used as the name of an angel in the inspired, canonical Scriptures. The only two angels named in the Bible are:
Michael, the archangel and warrior (Daniel 10:13; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7)
Gabriel, the messenger of God (Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:19, 26)
Any other angelic names—such as Raphael, Uriel, or Ariel—come from non-canonical texts, including the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Gnostic writings, and mystical Jewish traditions (such as the Kabbalah).
II. Ariel in Non-Biblical and Mystical Writings
In Kabbalistic and Gnostic sources, Ariel is sometimes portrayed as:
An angel of nature
A punisher of demons
A guardian of the elements or wild animals
A spirit associated with judgment or retribution
In the Gnostic text Pistis Sophia, Ariel is linked to the punishment of the wicked. In the occult and New Age traditions, Ariel is often falsely identified as an angel of healing, nature, or the earth. This has no basis in Scripture.
In literature, such as John Milton’s Paradise Lost or Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Ariel is used as a fictional or symbolic spirit, further blending fact with fantasy.
III. Ariel in the Bible: What Does It Actually Refer To?
The term Ariel appears in the Bible in four different, non-angelic contexts:
1. Ariel as a Personal Name
Ezra 8:16 (NKJV):
“Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leaders...”
In this verse, Ariel is a Levite, a human leader summoned by Ezra to aid in temple service. There is no indication that he is or becomes an angel.
2. Ariel as a Symbolic Title for Jerusalem
Isaiah 29:1–2 (NKJV):
“Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; let feasts come around.
Yet I will distress Ariel...”
Here, Ariel is used symbolically for Jerusalem—possibly meaning “Lion of God” or referring to the altar hearth (place of sacrifice) in the temple. The passage concerns judgment and deliverance, not angels.
3. Ariel as a Title for Warriors or Champions
2 Samuel 23:20 (NKJV):
“Benaiah... had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.”
The phrase “lion-like heroes” is translated from the Hebrew ’ari’el, but some versions treat this as a proper name, others as a description (champions or mighty men). This is a military metaphor, not an angelic reference.
4. Ariel as an Altar Hearth
Ezekiel 43:15 (NKJV):
“The altar hearth is four cubits high; from the altar hearth four horns extend upward.”
In this passage, Ariel refers to the altar hearth, the place where sacrifices were burned. This is ceremonial imagery, not a name for a person or angel.
IV. Why the Angel Ariel Should Be Rejected in Christian Theology
From a biblical and Baptist perspective, any angelic name not found in Scripture must be viewed with skepticism or outright rejected if it contradicts revealed truth:
1 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV):
“But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”Colossians 2:18–19 (NKJV):
“Let no one cheat you... taking delight in false humility and worship of angels... not holding fast to the Head…”2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV):
“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…”
There is no need to look beyond the Bible for “secret” angels, powers, or spiritual names. Such curiosity often leads into mysticism, occultism, or Gnosticism, all of which are dangerous and unbiblical.
V. Conclusion: Who or What Is Ariel?
From a biblical and Baptist viewpoint:
Ariel is not an angel in the Bible.
Ariel appears as a man’s name, a poetic name for Jerusalem, and a symbolic word for strength or sacrifice.
References to “Ariel” as an angel come from mystical, apocryphal, or occult texts—not from the Word of God.
Only Gabriel and Michael are named angels in Scripture.
Jesus Christ alone is our mediator, strength, and source of revelation.
1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV):
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
John 17:17 (NKJV):
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
