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Shem HaMephorash - Wikipedia

Shem HaMephorash, meaning 'the explicit name', refers to names of God in Kabbalah, including variations of 4, 12, 22, 42, or 72 letters, with the 72-letter name being particularly significant. Early sources primarily used the term for the four-letter Tetragrammaton, while later interpretations expanded its meaning to include other letter combinations. The document discusses various interpretations and historical contexts of these names, their mystical significance, and their use in Jewish and Christian Kabbalah traditions.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
16 views15 pages

Shem HaMephorash - Wikipedia

Shem HaMephorash, meaning 'the explicit name', refers to names of God in Kabbalah, including variations of 4, 12, 22, 42, or 72 letters, with the 72-letter name being particularly significant. Early sources primarily used the term for the four-letter Tetragrammaton, while later interpretations expanded its meaning to include other letter combinations. The document discusses various interpretations and historical contexts of these names, their mystical significance, and their use in Jewish and Christian Kabbalah traditions.

Uploaded by

isyeva443
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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Shem HaMephorash

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S hem HaMephorash (Hebrew: ‫ ֵׁש ם ַה ְּמ ֹפָר ׁש‬Šēm hamMəfōrāš , also S hem ha-Mephorash), meaning
"t he explicit name", was originally a Tannait ic t erm for t he Tet ragrammat on.[1] In Kabbalah, it may
refer t o a name of God composed of eit her 4, 12, 22, 42, or 72 let t ers (or t riads of let t ers), t he
lat t er version being t he most common.[2]

Early sources, from t he Mishnah t o t he Geonim, only use "Shem haMephorash" t o refer t o t he
four-let t er Tet ragrammat on.[3]

12- and 42-letter names

In addit ion t o t he Shem haMephorash, b. Qiddushin 72a describes a 12-let t er name and a 42-
let t er name.[2] The medievals debat e whet her t he 12-let t er name is a mundane euphemism,[4]
unknown,[5] YHVH-EHYH-ADNY (‫)יהוה אהיה אדני‬,[6] or YHVH-YHVH-YHVH (‫)יהוה יהוה יהוה‬.[7] Wilhelm
Bacher[8] and Adolphe Franck[9] suggest t hat t he 12-let t er name was Chokmah-Tevunah-Da'at
(‫)חכמה תבונה דעת‬, but t he doct rine of t he Sefirot originat ed in t he 13t h cent ury, roughly a
t housand years aft er t he 12-let t er name was first described.[10] A. Haffer suggest s t hat it is ‫אל‬
‫( יהוה אלהינו‬El YHVH Elohenu) from Deut . 6:4.[11]

Wilhelm Bacher[8] and Adolphe Franck[9] suggest t hat t he 42-let t er name was t he full 10 Sefirot ,
but t he Sefirot did not yet exist in Talmudic t imes.[10] J. Goldberger argues t hat t he 42-let t er
name was derived by gemat riya, represent ing eit her ‫ אהיה אהיה‬or ‫אלוה‬.[12] Ignat z St ern wrot e t hat
it represent s t he names list ed by Sifra d'Tziuta Ch. 4,[a][13] winning t he support of Ginsburg,[10] but
t his passage is not even as old as t he Zohar.[14] Robert Eisler derives it from Ex. 34:6.[b][15] A.
Haffer suggest s t hat it is ‫יהוה אחד ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד‬.[11]

According t o Maimonides and Rashi, t he 42-let t er name is unknown,[16][17] but Hayy ben Sherira
says it is t he acronym of t he medieval piyyut Ana b'Koach,[18] and Joshua Tracht enberg argues
t hat Hayy's t radit ion may legit imat ely represent t he Talmudic int ent .[2] By t he st art of t he
Rishonic period, t he t erm "Shem haMephorash" could also be used for t he 42-let t er name and t his
int erpret at ion was ret roject ed int o t he Mishnah,[19] alt hough even Hayy did not claim t o know it s
pronunciat ion. According t o Hayy,

Though the letters of the 42-letter name are known, the pronunciation
has not been [successfully] transmitted. Some say that it begins ‫ַא ְב ִג יַת ץ‬
ʾabgîtaṣ while others say that it begins ‫ ַא ַב ְג ְיַת ץ‬ʾabagyǝtaṣ, and some say
that it concludes ‫ ְׁש קּוִצ ית‬šǝqûṣît while other say that it concludes ‫ַׁש ְק ַוִצ ית‬
šaqwaṣît,[c] and there are many more disputes besides which none can
resolve.

Solomon ibn Adret (1235-1310) records t hat :[20]

Different places have different pronunciations [of the 42-letter name].


Some pronounce it as fourteen words composed of three letters each,
while others pronounce it as seven words composed of six letters each.
The scholars of this land [Spain] follow the latter method, and such is
the tradition received from Hayy, but I heard that the scholars of
Ashkenaz pronounce it as fourteen three-letter words. There are also
differences between the letters of our version and those of Ashkenaz
[...] as to what you say, that each three-letter word is pronounced
shewa-patah, there is one word pronounced shewa-shuruq, which is
the thirteenth: the shin with a shewa and the waw with a shuruq.[d]

Piyyut im which used t his 42-let t er name as t heir acrost ic were popular among t he Hasidei
Ashkenaz, and many different poems were composed based on different versions of t he name.
The only one of t hese t o survive in Jewish lit urgy is Ana b'Koach.[21]

22-letter name

Cairo Geniza amulet s (Oxford e.107:10, T-S K 1.127) cont ain t he name ‫א ׄ◌ נ ׄ◌ ק ׄ◌ ת ׄ◌ ם ׄ◌ פסתם‬
‫פספסים ודיונסים‬.[22][23] A similar amulet is included in t he back of Sefer Raziel HaMalakh,[2][24]
cont aining ‫אנקתם פסתם פספסים דיונסים‬,[25] which t he comment ary describes as "t he 22-let t er
name." It s origins are unknown, wit h no connect ion t o Hebrew or Aramaic being found, and no
agreement on any part icular Greek or Zoroast rian origin.[2] Nat han Hannover was responsible for
int roducing it int o popular Priest ly Blessing lit urgy, and also composed poems on t he model of
Ana b'Koach using t he 22-let t er name as his acrost ic.[26]

72-letter name

In Judaic Kabbalah

The 72-fold name is highly import ant t o Sefer Raziel HaMalakh.[2][24] It is derived from Exodus
14:19–21,[27][28][2][29] read boust rophedonically[30][31] t o produce 72 names of t hree let t ers. This
met hod was explained by Rashi,[32] (b. Sukkah 45a),[33] as well as in Sefer HaBahir (c.
1150~1200).[34] Kabbalist legends st at e t hat t he 72-fold name was used by Moses t o cross t he
Red Sea, and t hat it could grant lat er holy men t he power t o cast out demons, heal t he sick,
prevent nat ural disast ers, and even kill enemies.[29]

According t o G. Lloyd Jones,

To overcome the problems posed by the doctrine of God's transcendence, the


early Jewish mystics developed an emanation theory in which the alphabet
played an important part. They taught that the universe was divided into ten
angelic spheres each one governed by an intermediary or emanation of the
divine. There were seventy-two inferior angels through whom the
intermediaries could be approached. Contact with this celestial world was
achieved by manipulating the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. [...] This
invocatory technique may be traced through the works of Joseph Gikatilla to the
famous thirteenth-century Kabbalist Abraham Abulafia.[35]

Liber Semamphoras (aka Semamphoras, Semyforas) is t he t it le of a Lat in t ranslat ion of an occult


or magical t ext of Jewish provenance at t ribut ed t o Solomon.[36] It was at t est ed in 1260 by
Roger Bacon,[37] who complained about t he linguist ic corrupt ion t hat had occurred in t ranslat ing
Liber Semamphoras int o Lat in from Hebrew.[38] It is heavily indebt ed t o Sefer HaRazim t hrough
it s Lat in versions, Liber Sepher Razielis idest Liber Secretorum seu Liber Salomonis , and
seemingly replaced t he more explicit ly magical t ext Liber magice in t he Razielis .[39]

In Christian Kabbalah

Johann Reuchlin (1455–1522) considered t hese 72 names, made pronounceable by t he addit ion
of suffixes such as 'El' or 'Yah', t o be t he names of angels, individuat ed product s of God's will.[40]
Reuchlin refers t o and list s t he 72 Angels of t he Shem Hamephorash in his 1517 book De Arte
Cabalistica .[41][42] According t o Bernd Roling,

After deriving a Shem ha-mephorasch of the 72 angelic names from the biblical
verses of Exodus 14,19ff., Reuchlin makes a statement concerning the
metaphysical significance of the names. [...] The names of the angels are
products of the will of God. They are substantially based on the tetragrammaton,
and through this connection they illumine and enhance man's spiritual return to
God. [...] With the insertion of divine names such as 'El' or 'Yah', angelic names
become pronouncable, and God himself (being nature) is the basis of angelic
individuation.[40]
Reuchlin's cosmology in t urn influenced Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa[30] (1486–1535) and At hanasius
Kircher[43] (1602–1680).

In 1686, Andreas Luppius published Semiphoras und Schemhamphoras , a German t ranslat ion of
t he earlier Lat in t ext , Liber Semiphoras (see previous sect ion), which Luppius augment ed heavily
wit h passages from Agrippa's De Occulta Philosophia and ot her sources.[36]

In Hermetic Qabalah and Goetia

Blaise de Vigenère (1523–1596), following Reuchlin,[44] feat ured t he 72 angels in his writ ings.[45]
De Vigenère's mat erial on t he Shemhamphorash was lat er copied and expanded by Thomas Rudd
(1583?–1656),[45][27] who proposed t hat it was a key (but oft en missing) component t o t he
magical pract ices in t he Lesser Key of Solomon,[31] as a balancing force against t he evil spirit s of
t he Ars Goetia [31] or in isolat ion.[46] Skinner and Rankine explain t hat de Vigenère and Rudd
adopt ed t hese t rilit eral words wit h '-el' or '-yah' (bot h Hebrew for "god") added t o t hem as t he
names of t he 72 angels t hat are able t o bind t he 72 evil spirit s also described in The Lesser Key
of Solomon (c. mid-17t h cent ury).[e]

Blaise de Vigenère's manuscript s were also used by Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mat hers (1854–
1918) in his works for t he Hermet ic Order of t he Golden Dawn.[31] Mat hers describes t he descent
of power from Tet ragrammat on t hrough 24 t hrones of t he Elders of t he Apocalypse, each wit h a
crown of t hree rays:

Four is the number of the letters of the Tetragrammaton. Four is also the number
of the letters of the name ADNI which is its representative and key. The latter
name is bound with the former and united thereto, thus IAHDVNHY forming a
name of 8 letters. 8 X 3, the number of the Supernal Triad, yields the 24 thrones
of the Elders of the Apocalypse, each of whom wears on his head a golden crown
of three rays, each ray of which is a name, each name an Absolute Idea and
Ruling Power of the great name YHVH Tetragrammaton.

The number 24 of the thrones multiplied by the 3 rays of the crown which equals
72, the name of God of 72 letters, which is thus mystically shown in the name
YHVH, as under: (Or as the book of Revelation says: "When the living creatures
(the four Kerubim the Letters of the Name) give glory to Him, etc. the four and
twenty elders fall down before Him and cast their crowns before the Throne,
etc." (that is the Crowns, which each bear 3 of the 72 Names, and these 72 names
are written on the leaves of the Tree of Life which were for the healing of the
nations.)
These are also the 72 names of the ladder of Jacob on which the Angels of God
ascended and descended. [...] The 72 Names of the Deity are thus obtained. The
19th, 20th, and 21st verses of the XIV Chapter of the Book of Exodus each consist
of 72 letters...[47]
Reuchlin's angels of the Shem HaMephorash

Angel Biblical verse Demon ruled


[42] [48][49] [50]

(per (per Rudd) (per Rudd)


Reuchlin)

1. Vehuiah Psalms 3:3 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%203:3&version=nrsv) Bael

Psalms 22:19 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2022:19&version=nrs


2. Ielial Agares
v)

3. Sitael Psalms 91:2 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2091:2&version=nrsv) Vassago

4. Elemiah Psalms 6:4 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%206:4&version=nrsv) Gamigin

5. Mahasiah Psalms 34:4 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2034:4&version=nrsv) Marbas

6. Iehahel Psalms 9:11 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%209:11&version=nrsv) Valefar

Psalms 103:8 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20103:8&version=nrs


7. Achaiah Aamon
v)

8. Cahethel Psalms 95:6 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2095:6&version=nrsv) Barbatos

9. Haziel Psalms 25:6 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2025:6&version=nrsv) Paimon

Psalms 33:22 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2033:22&version=nrs


10. Aladiah Buer
v)

Psalms 18:46 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2018:46&version=nrs


11. Laviah Gusion
v)

Matthew 22:44 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Matthew%2022:44&version=nrs


12. Hahaiah Sitri
v)

13. Iezalel Psalms 98:4 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2098:4&version=nrsv) Beleth

14. Mebahel Psalms 9:9 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%209:9&version=nrsv) Leraje

Psalms 94:22 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2094:22&version=nrs


15. Hariel Eligor
v)

16. Hakamiah Psalms 88:1 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2088:1&version=nrsv) Zepar

17. Loviah Psalms 8:9 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%208:9&version=nrsv) Botis

Psalms 35:24 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2035:24&version=nrs


18. Caliel Bathin
v)

19. Levuiah Psalms 40:1 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2040:1&version=nrsv) Saleos

Psalms 120:1–2 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20120:1%E2%80%932


20. Pahaliah Purson
&version=nrsv)

Psalms 31:14 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2031:14&version=nrs


21. Nelchael Morax
v)

Psalms 121:5 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20121:5&version=nrs


22. Ieiaiel Ipos
v)

Psalms 121:8 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20121:8&version=nrs


23. Melahel Aim
v)
Psalms 33:18 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2033:18&version=nrs
24. Haiviah Naberus
v)

Glasya-
25. Nithhaiah Psalms 9:1 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%209:1&version=nrsv)
Labolas

Psalms 119:145 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20119:145&version=n


26. Haaiah Bune
rsv)

Psalms 140:1 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20140:1&version=nrs


27. Ierathel Ronove
v)

Psalms 71:12 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2071:12&version=nrs


28. Saeehiah Berith
v)

29. Reiaiel Psalms 54:4 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2054:4&version=nrsv) Astaroth

30. Omael Psalms 71:5 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2071:5&version=nrsv) Forneus

Psalms 71:16 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2071:16&version=nrs


31. Lecabel Foras
v)

32. Vasariah Psalms 33:4 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2033:4&version=nrsv) Asmodeus

Psalms 94:11 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2094:11&version=nrs


33. Iehuiah Gaap
v)

Psalms 131:3 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20131:3&version=nrs


34. Lehahiah Furfur
v)

Psalms 116:1 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20116:1&version=nrs


35. Chavakiah Marchosias
v)

36. Manadel Psalms 26:8 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2026:8&version=nrsv) Stolas

37. Haniel Psalms 80:3 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2080:3&version=nrsv) Phenex

38. Haamiah Psalms 91:9 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2091:9&version=nrsv) Halphas

Psalms 30:10 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2030:10&version=nrs


39. Rehael Malphas
v)

Psalms 88:14 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2088:14&version=nrs


40. Ieiazel Raum
v)

Psalms 120:2 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20120:2&version=nrs


41. Hahahel Focalor
v)

Psalms 121:7 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20121:7&version=nrs


42. Michael Vepar
v)

Psalms 88:13 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2088:13&version=nrs


43. Veualiah Sabnock
v)

Psalms 119:108 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20119:108&version=n


44. Ielahiah Shax
rsv)

Psalms 94:18 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2094:18&version=nrs


45. Sealiah Vine
v)

Psalms 145:9 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20145:9&version=nrs


46. Ariel Bifrons
v)
47. Asaliah Psalms 92:5 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2092:5&version=nrsv) Vual

48. Mihael Psalms 98:2 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2098:2&version=nrsv) Haagenti

Psalms 145:3 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20145:3&version=nrs


49. Vehuel Crocell
v)

Psalms 145:8 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20145:8&version=nrs


50. Daniel Furcas
v)

Psalms 104:31 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20104:31&version=nrs


51. Hahasiah Balam
v)

52. Imamiah Psalms 7:17 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%207:17&version=nrsv) Allocer

Psalms 119:75 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20119:75&version=nrs


53. Nanael Caim
v)

Psalms 103:19 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20103:19&version=nrs


54. Nithael Murmur
v)

55. Psalms 102:12 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20102:12&version=nrs


Orobas
Mebahaiah v)

Psalms 145:14 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20145:14&version=nrs


56. Poiel Gremory
v)

57. Psalms 115:11 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20115:11&version=nrs


Ose
Nemamiah v)

58. Ieialel Psalms 6:3 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%206:3&version=nrsv) Auns

Psalms 113:3 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20113:3&version=nrs


59. Harahel Orias
v)

Psalms 145:17 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20145:17&version=nrs


60. Mizrael Vapula
v)

Psalms 113:2 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20113:2&version=nrs


61. Vmabel Zagan
v)

Psalms 119:159 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20119:159&version=n


62. Iahhael Valac
rsv)

Psalms 100:2 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20100:2&version=nrs


63. Anavel Andras
v)

Psalms 33:18 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2033:18&version=nrs


64. Mehiel Flauros
v)

Psalms 90:13 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2090:13&version=nrs


65. Damabiah Andrealphus
v)

Psalms 38:21 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2038:21&version=nrs


66. Mavakel Cimeries
v)

67. Eiael Psalms 37:4 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2037:4&version=nrsv) Amduscias

Psalms 106:1 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20106:1&version=nrs


68. Habuiah Belial
v)

69. Roehel Psalms 16:5 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%2016:5&version=nrsv) Decarabia


70. Yabamiah Genesis 1:1 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Genesis%201:1&version=nrsv) Seere

Psalms 109:30 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20109:30&version=nrs


71. Haiaiel Dantalion
v)

Psalms 116:7 (https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalms%20116:7&version=nrs


72. Mumiah Andromalius
v)

In folklore and literature

Shem HaMephorash figures in t he legend of t he golem, an animat ed ant hropomorphic being in


Jewish folklore t hat was creat ed ent irely from inanimat e mat t er (usually clay). The eart hen figure
was t hen animat ed by placing a piece of parchment wit h t he name of God in it s mout h.[51] Jorge
Luis Borges refers t o t his legend in his poem The Golem and in his essay The Golem. The Shem
haMephorash also appears in Borges's st ories Three versions of Judas and The Circular
Ruins .[52][53]

A cont emporary book on Hermet ic Qabalah which discuss t he subject is Lon Milo DuQuet t e's The
Chicken Qabalah of Rabbi Ben Clifford. [54]

See also

Magic and religion

Notes

a. St ern list s t hese as "‫ "אהיה אשר אהיה יה יהויה אל אלהים יהוה צבאות אל חי אדני‬t o make 42
let t ers. In t he t ext only "‫"אהיה יה יהו אל אלהים [יהוה] צבאות שדי אדני‬.

b. ‫יהוה יהוה אל רחום וחנון ארך אפים ורב חסד ואמת נוצר חסד‬

c. Each manuscript of Hayy's responsum cont ains different proposed pronunciat ions. This
follows MS Oxford heb. d.2.

d. This is compat ible wit h opt ions ment ioned in Hayy, if read t o represent ‫ְיַת ץ‬/ ‫ ֲא ַב ְג‬and ‫ִצ ית‬/‫ְׁש קּו‬.

e. Skinner and Rankine's explanat ion (in Rudd 2007, pp. 71–73) of how t he t rilit erals are
produced corresponds wit h t he explanat ion given in McLaughlin & Eisenst ein n.d., and t he
Hebrew names t hey give in t heir t ables (pp. 366–376, cf. pp. 405–407) also correspond wit h
t he t rilit erals in t he t able given by McLaughlin & Eisenst ein.

References

Citations

1 Bacher (n d )
2. Tracht enberg (1939), pp. 90–98, 288ff.

3. Bacher (n.d.); Ginsburg (1925), p. 182.

4. Maimonides (1904), Part 1 62:2 (ht t ps://www.sefaria.org/Guide_ for_ t he_ Perplexed,_ Part _ 1.
62.2) .

5. "Rashi on Kiddushin 71a:12:4" (ht t ps://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_ on_ Kiddushin.71a.12.4?lang=h


e) . www.sefaria.org. Ret rieved 2024-08-07.

6. "Ben Yehoyada on Kiddushin 71a:2" (ht t ps://www.sefaria.org/Ben_ Yehoyada_ on_ Kiddushin.71


a.2) . www.sefaria.org. Ret rieved 2022-05-17.

7. "Sefer HaBahir 10" (ht t ps://www.sefaria.org/Sefer_ HaBahir.10) . www.sefaria.org. Ret rieved


2022-05-17.

8. Bacher, Wilhelm (1878). Die Agada der babylonischen Amoräer: ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der
Agada und zur Einleitung in den babylonischen Talmud (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id
=NCsVAAAAYAAJ) (in German). K. J. Trübner. p. 18.

9. Franck, Adolphe (1926). The Kabbalah: Or, The Religious Philosophy of the Hebrews (ht t ps://
books.google.com/books?id=1oU2AQAAIAAJ) . Kabbalah Publishing Company. p. 71.

10. Ginsburg (1925), p. 182.

11. ha-Tsofeh mi-erets ha-Gar (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=qsWJs5l0o0YC) (in


Hebrew). L. Blau. 1912.

12. Ben Chananja: Monatsschrift für jüdische Theologie und für jüdisches Leben in Gemeinde,
Synagoge und Schule (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=gAxFAAAAcAAJ&pg=RA2-PA41
1-IA8) (in German). Burger. 1867.

13. Ben-Chananja (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=P3spAAAAYAAJ) (in German). S.


Burger. 1860. p. 261.

14. Webmast er. "Hilufim Terumah SdT 2 176b - 179a" (ht t ps://www.sup.org/zohar/aramaic/varian
t s/?sel=197#link_ foot 7) . www.sup.org. Ret rieved 2024-08-08.

15. Eisler, Robert (1926). "Le myst ère du Schem Hammephorasch" (ht t ps://www.persee.fr/doc/rj
uiv_ 0484-8616_ 1926_ num_ 82_ 163_ 5506) . Revue des études juives . 82 (163): 157–159.
doi:10.3406/rjuiv.1926.5506 (ht t ps://doi.org/10.3406%2Frjuiv.1926.5506) .

16. Maimonides (1904), Part 1 62:3 (ht t ps://www.sefaria.org/Guide_ for_ t he_ Perplexed,_ Part _ 1.
62.3) .

17. "Rashi on Kiddushin 71a:12:4" (ht t ps://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_ on_ Kiddushin.71a.12.4?lang=h


e) . www.sefaria.org. Ret rieved 2024-08-07.
18. Hayy ben Sherira, "‫ קונטרס‬,‫תשובה אל יוסף בן ברכיה ותלמידי יעקב בן נסים בעניין שמות והשבעות‬
‫"''הדר עם הנכרי בחצר‬, p. 2 (ht t ps://maagarim.hebrew-academy.org.il/Pages/PMain.aspx?mishi
bbur=500010&page=2) This responsum is #1110 on T. Groner's list of verified Hayy
composit ions (ht t ps://www.jst or.org/st able/24152539) . See not es of B. M. Lewin, Otzar
haGeonim vol. IV:2 (ht t ps://hebrewbooks.org/38269) , p. 23.

19. Rashi (ht t ps://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_ on_ Sanhedrin.60a.7.1?lang=bi) , Ibn Ezra (ht t ps://ww
w.sefaria.org/Ibn_ Ezra_ on_ Genesis%2C_ Int roduct ion.25?lang=he) , et c. See Hayy's
responsum of previous not e and cf. Eshkol (https://hebrewbooks.org/9047) vol. II p. 97 and
Albeck's not es, and t he parallels not ed t here and in Ibn Ghayyat 's Shaarei Simcha vol. I (ht t p
s://www.hebrewbooks.org/9030) p. 62.

20. ‫שו"ת הרשב"א חלק א סימן רכ‬

21. ‫ משה‬,‫ ;חלמיש‬Hallamish, Moshe (2015). "Anna Be-Kho'ah / ‫( "על הפיוט אנא בכח‬ht t ps://www.jst
or.org/st able/24235662) . Daat: A Journal of Jewish Philosophy & Kabbalah / ‫עת‬-‫ כתב‬: ‫דעת‬
75–55 :)78( ‫לפילוסופיה יהודית וקבלה‬. ISSN 0334-2336 (ht t ps://search.worldcat .org/issn/033
4-2336) . JSTOR 24235662 (ht t ps://www.jst or.org/st able/24235662) .

22. Schäfer, Pet er; Shaked, Shaul (1994). Magische Texte aus der Kairoer Geniza (ht t ps://books.
google.com/books?id=q6S1zwEACAAJ) (in German). Mohr Siebeck. ISBN 978-3-16-
146272-6.

23. Naveh, Joseph; Shaked, Shaul (2023-08-28). Amulets and Magic Bowls: Aramaic
Incantations of Late Antiquity (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=At j7EAAAQBAJ) .
BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-67214-7.

24. Savedow (2000), p. 18.

25. Tracht enberg (1939), p. 93.

26. Berliner, Abraham; ‫‏כתבים נבחרים‬.)1969( ‫ אברהם‏ברלינר‬/ (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id


=DlEOAQAAIAAJ) (in Hebrew). ‫מוסד הרב קוק‬.

27. Asprem (2012), p. 33.

28. Melt on (2001), p. 1399.

29. Burt on & Grandy (2004), p. 69.

30. Cavendish (1967), p. 119.

31. Rudd (2007), pp. 14, 39–44, 67–73.

32. McLaughlin & Eisenst ein (n.d.).

33. Guggenheimer (1998), p. 300.

34. Kaplan (1989), p. 42.


35. Jones (1993), p. 21.

36. But ler (1998), p. 158.

37. Boudet (2002), p. 864.

38. Véronèse (2012), pp. 60–61.

39. Page (2012), p. 82.

40. Roling (2002), p. 261.

41. Izmirlieva (2008), p. 195, n. 57.

42. Reuchlin & Goodman (1993), p. 273.

43. Hanegraaf (2006), p. 625.

44. Ballard (2007), p. 137.

45. Skinner & Rankine (2010), pp. 39–40.

46. Rudd (2006), pp. 43–50.

47. Mat hers (2021).

48. Rudd (2007), pp. 408–412.

49. Skinner (2006), pp. 41–48.

50. Rudd (2007), pp. 366–376.

51. Scholem (1974), pp. 200–201.

52. Boldy (2013), p. 89.

53. Alazraki (1988), p. 22.

54. DuQuet t e (2001).

Works cited

Alazraki, Jaime (1988). Borges and the Kabbalah: And Other Essays on His Fiction and Poetry.
Cambridge Universit y Press. ISBN 978-0-521-30684-3.

Asprem, Egil (2012). Arguing with Angels: Enochian Magic and Modern Occulture. Albany: St at e
Universit y of New York Press. ISBN 978-1-4384-4192-4.

Bacher, Wilhelm (n.d.). "Shem Ha-Meforash" (ht t ps://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/art icles/135


42-shem-ha-meforash) . Jewish Encyclopedia . The Koppelman Foundat ion. Ret rieved
2013-07-22.

Ballard, M. (2007). De Cicéron à Benjamin: Traducteurs, traductions, réflexions (in French).


France: Presses Universit aires du Sept ent rion. ISBN 978-2-85939-985-6.
Boldy, St even (2013). A Companion to Jorge Luis Borges . Unit ed Kingdom: Tamesis. ISBN 978-
1-85566-266-7.

Boudet , Jean-Pat rice (2002). "Magie t héurgique, angélologie et vision béat ifique dans le Liber
sacrat ussive jurat us at t ribué à Honorius de Thèbes". Mélanges de l'école française de Rome (in
French). 114 (2): 851–890. doi:10.3406/mefr.2002.9254 (ht t ps://doi.org/10.3406%2Fmefr.2002.
9254) .

Burt on, Dan; Grandy, David (2004). Magic, Mystery, and Science: The Occult in Western
Civilization . Indiana Universit y Press. ISBN 978-0-253-21656-4.

But ler, Eliza Marian (1998) [1949]. Ritual Magic . Pennsylvania St at e Universit y Press. ISBN 978-
0-271-01846-1.

Cavendish, Richard (1967). The Black Arts . Penguin Group. ISBN 978-0-399-50035-0.

DuQuet t e, Lon Milo (2001). The Chicken Qabalah of Rabbi Ben Clifford. Weiser Books.
ISBN 978-1-57863-215-2.

Ginsburg, Christ ian David (1925). The Kabbalah: Its Doctrines, Development, and Literature: An
Essay. Longman, Green, Longman, Robert s, & Green.

Guggenheimer, Heinrich (1998). The Scholar's Haggadah: Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Oriental
Versions . Jason Aronson. ISBN 978-1-4617-1012-7.

Hanegraaf, Wout er J., ed. (2006). Dictionary of Gnosis & Western Esotericism. Leiden: Brill.
ISBN 978-90-04-15231-1.

Izmirlieva, Valent ina (2008). All the Names of the Lord: Lists, Mysticism, and Magic . Universit y
of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-38872-4.

Jones, G. Lloyd (1993). "Int roduct ion". On the Art of the Kabbalah (De Arte Cabalistica).
Universit y of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-8946-8.

Kaplan, Aryeh (1989). The Bahir: Illumination. Unit ed St at es: Red Wheel Weiser. ISBN 978-0-
87728-618-9.

Maimonides, Moses (1904). The Guide for the Perplexed (ht t ps://sacred-t ext s.com/jud/gfp/) .
Translat ed by M. Friedländer (2nd ed.). London: Rout ledge & Kegan Paul – via Sacred-
t ext s.com.

Mat hers, Samuel Liddell MacGregor (2021). "Golden Dawn Lect ures: Shem HaMephorash and
The Seals of t he Shem HaMephorash" (ht t ps://www.t arrdaniel.com/document s/Thelemagick/g
d/publicat ion/english/Schemhamphorash.ht ml) – via G∴D∴ Library.

McLaughlin, J. F.; Eisenst ein, Judah David (n.d.). "Names of God" (ht t ps://www.jewishencyclopedi
a.com/art icles/6727-god-names-of#anchor12) . Jewish Encyclopedia . The Koppelman
Foundat ion. Ret rieved 2021-07-04.
Melt on, J. Gordon, ed. (2001). "Shemhamphorash". Encyclopedia of Occultism and
Parapsychology. Vol. M–Z (5t h ed.). Gale Group. p. 1399. ISBN 978-0-8103-9489-6.

Page, Sophie (2012). "Uplift ing Souls: The Liber de essent ia spirit uum and t he Liber Razielis". In
Fanger, Claire (ed.). Invoking Angels: Theurgic Ideas and Practices, Thirteenth to Sixteenth
Centuries . Universit y Park: Pennsylvania St at e Universit y Press. pp. 79ff. ISBN 978-0-271-
05143-7.

Reuchlin, Johannes; Goodman, Mart in (1993). On the Art of the Kabbalah (De Arte Cabalistica).
Universit y of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-8946-8.

Roling, Bernd (2002). "The Complet e Nat ure of Christ : Sources and St ruct ures of a
Christ ological Theurgy in t he Works of Johannes Reuchlin" (ht t ps://pure.rug.nl/ws/port alfiles/p
ort al/8320555/c12.pdf) (PDF). In Bremmer, Jan N.; Veenst ra, Jan R. (eds.). The
Metamorphosis of Magic from Late Antiquity to the Early Modern Period. Leuven: Peet ers.
pp. 231–66. ISBN 978-90-429-1227-4 – via Universit y of Groningen.

Rudd, Thomas (2006). McLean, Adam (ed.). A Treatise on Angel Magick. Weiser Books.
ISBN 978-1-57863-375-3.

Rudd, Thomas (2007). Skinner, St ephen; Rankine, David (eds.). The Goetia of Dr Rudd. Golden
Hoard Press. ISBN 978-0-9547639-2-3.

Savedow, St eve, ed. (2000). Sepher Rezial Hemelach: The Book of the Angel Rezial. Translat ed
by St eve Savedow. Weiser Books. ISBN 978-1-60925-318-9.

Scholem, Gershom (1974). Kabbalah. Israel: Quadrangle/New York Times Book Company.
ISBN 978-0-8129-0352-2.

Skinner, St ephen (2006). The Complete Magician's Tables . Golden Hoard Press. ISBN 978-0-
9547639-7-8.

Skinner, St ephen; Rankine, David (2010). The Goetia of Dr Rudd: The Angels & Demons of Liber
Malorum Spirituum Seu Goetia Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis: with a Study of the
Techniques of Evocation in the Context of the Angel Magic Tradition of the Seventeenth
Century. Llewellyn Publicat ions. ISBN 978-0-7387-2355-6.

Tracht enberg, Joshua (1939). Jewish Magic and Superstition (ht t p://sacred-t ext s.com/jud/jm
s/index.ht m) . Behrman's Jewish Book House – via The Int ernet Sacred Text Archive.

Véronèse, Julien (2012). "Magic, Theurgy, and Spirit ualit y in t he Medieval Rit ual of t he Ars
notoria ". In Fanger, Claire (ed.). Invoking Angels: Theurgic Ideas and Practices, Thirteenth to
Sixteenth Centuries . Translat ed by Claire Fanger. Universit y Park: Pennsylvania St at e Universit y
Press. pp. 37–78. ISBN 978-0-271-05143-7.
Further reading

Agrippa, Heinrich Cornelius. Three Books of Occult Philosophy. Book 3, part II, chapt er 25 (ht t
p://www.esot ericarchives.com/agrippa/agripp3b.ht m#chap25) feat ures t he sevent y t wo
angels of t he "Schemhamphorae." This was lat er copied by Francis Barret t in his book The
Magus, in Chapt er 21 (ht t p://www.sacred-t ext s.com/grim/magus/ma224.ht m) .

Anon (1880). Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses . This pseudepigraphal work feat ures an
appendix t it led "Semiphoras and Schemhamphoras" (ht t p://www.esot ericarchives.com/moses/
67moses2.ht m#appendix3) .

Avery, Maximus Tyrannus (2020). Book of the Hidden Name: Magick of the Shem HaMephorash
Angels . Empyrus Publishing. ISBN 978-0-578-76540-2.

Crowley, Aleist er. Liber 78: A description of the cards of the Tarot (ht t ps://www.sacred-t ext s.co
m/ot o/lib78.ht m) . A comment ary on t he Tarot , Shemhamphorash, and Goet ia.

Fanger, Claire, ed. (2012). Invoking Angels: Theurgic Ideas and Practices, Thirteenth to Sixteenth
Centuries . Universit y Park: Pennsylvania St at e Universit y Press. ISBN 978-0-271-05143-7.

Lenain, Lazare (1823). La Science Cabalistique (ht t ps://books.google.com/books?id=ZqgpxTZ


43HkC) . Refers t o and expands upon Kircher's t reat ment of t he 72-fold name (t ying each
angel t o a different language's word for God), part icularly in Chapt er III (ht t ps://books.google.c
om/books?id=ZqgpxTZ43HkC&pg=PA20) .

Meegan, William (2006). "The Sist ine Chapel: A St udy in Celest ial Cart ography" (ht t ps://web.arc
hive.org/web/20060716051045/ht t p://www.rosecroixjournal.org/issues/2006/New%20Folder/
vol3_ 45_ 128_ meegan.pdf) (PDF). The Rose Croix Journal. 3: 45–128. Archived from t he
original (ht t p://www.rosecroixjournal.org/issues/2006/New%20Folder/vol3_ 45_ 128_ meegan.p
df) (PDF) on 2006-07-16. Discusses a possible relat ionship bet ween Michelangelo's fresco in
t he Sist ine Chapel and t he Shemhamphorash.

Wilkinson, R. J. (2015). Tetragrammaton: Western Christians and the Hebrew Name of God:
From the Beginnings to the Seventeenth Century. Net herlands: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-28817-1.

External links

The dict ionary definit ion of shem hamephorash at Wikt ionary

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