Shemhamphorasch
Encyclopedia
The Shemhamphorasch is a corruption of the Hebrew term , which was used in tannaitic times to refer to the Tetragrammaton
. In early Kabbalah the term was used to designate sometimes a seventy-two Letter name for God, and sometimes a forty two Letter name. Rashi
said Shem ha-Mephorash was used for a forty two letter name, but Maimonides thought Shem ha-Mephorash was used only for the four letter Tetragrammaton.
A 216-letter name for God is found in Jewish Kabbalistic sources (mentioned by Tosafot
as well as by the Kabbalists) as well as in Christian Kabbalah
and in Hermetic Qabalah
, derived from the 72 groups of three letters, each of these triplets being the name of an angel
or intelligence. Spelling variants include Shemhamforash, Shemhamphorae, Shemhamphorash, Shemahamphorasch, Shemhamphoresh, Shem ha-Mephoresh, Shem ha-Mephorash, Shemhamphoresch, shem hamitfaresh
, the 4-letter name of God which should not be pronounced, or said "explicitly"). The name itself is derived from Exodus 14:19-21, three verses each composed of 72 letters; by writing these out in boustrophedon
form so that the second line is reversed, and grouping the letters in columns of threes (see table below), the names of 72 angels or intelligences or 72 Names of God are formed.
The arrangement of Hebrew letters (with Roman alphabet transliterations) is as follows:
tradition, King Solomon is said to have evoked seventy-two demons, confined them in a bronze vessel sealed by magic symbols, and obliged them to work for him (this belief is also derived from the Apocryphal work, "The Testament of Solomon", in which demons were brought to Solomon and he forced them to build Solomon's Temple through the use of magic rings). These demons are catalogued in various magical grimoire
s, most notably in the Lemegeton
, which gives descriptions of their powers, appearance and manner, as well as instructions for controlling them.
Based on the opinions of some who seek to find consistency of this association with the Shemhamphorasch, these demons may be sigils based on the reversing of the three lettered names of the angels. Using the reverse names and sigils, one would be able to call on the various demons for various favors which may result in destructive events. It is from this that it is believed Anton LaVey
, founder of the Church of Satan, obtained the word mentioned in the section on Satanism below.
was made by Eliphas Levi
in his Clefs Majeurs et Clavicules de Salomon, published 20 years after his death in 1875, in which he divides the 72 names into pairs, and attributes each pair to one of the four court cards or ten numbers, or one of the 22 major arcana cards, making a total of 36 pairs.
This was further fleshed out in the Golden Dawn
's Book T, which was renamed Liber 78 by Aleister Crowley
when he published it in his occult periodical The Equinox. In the system promulgated by the Golden Dawn and Crowley, 36 pairs of angels (or "deacons") are each given rulership of a 10-degree segment of the Zodiac
, and to these are mapped the number cards (excluding aces) from the four suits:
In art the Shemhamphorasch can be seen on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
. Michelangelo
's fresco has an architectural design of 24 columns. On each of these columns are two cherubs, which are mirror imaged on the adjoining column totaling 48 cherubs figures. Then on the 12 triangular spandrels flanking the ceiling borders are an additional 24 nude figures (two bronze nude figures per triangular spandrel) also mirroring imaging each other. This totals to 72 cherub figures or the 72 angels of God or names of God. This spread of 48 cherubs and 24 bronze nude figures coincides perfectly with the reading of the three verses in Exodus 14:19-21. Beneath this cycle of angels are 7 prophet
s and 5 Sibylline oracles
, which are patterned after the Zodiac/Calendar year. Beneath that are the 33 ancestors of Christ plus 3 additional symbols denoting the 36 decans
of the Zodiac. It is interesting to note that the Zodiac/Calendar year and the 36 decans coupled with the numerical sequence in the Empyream
(nine central panels) on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel denote the spread of the 56 Minor Arcana
Tarot Cards.
sign letters and emails and conduct rituals with the word 'Shemhamforash', although their version of it is different and contains 72 names of demons, not names of angels or God.
The word "Shemhamforash" is spoken in Church of Satan rituals, often followed by "Hail Satan!", as outlined in The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor LaVey.
, tarot cards, and so on. It is because of the flexibility (and numerical factorability) of the Shemhamphorasch that many ceremonial magicians consider it to be the key of creation of all things and all arts. The names have long been associated with 72 angels, as well as 72 demons (found in the Lemegeton or Lesser Key of Solomon
), who according to the lore and legend of grimoires can create or destroy the organization or disorganization of the elements into the creation of material reality.
(The Emperor and the Golem), "Shemhamphorash" was mentioned as a Hebrew occult word used to wake the Golem
of Rabbi Loew
. The word itself was inscribed on a metal ball that was to be inserted in the Golem's forehead in order to gain control over the Golem.
Tetragrammaton
The term Tetragrammaton refers to the name of the God of Israel YHWH used in the Hebrew Bible.-Hebrew Bible:...
. In early Kabbalah the term was used to designate sometimes a seventy-two Letter name for God, and sometimes a forty two Letter name. Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
said Shem ha-Mephorash was used for a forty two letter name, but Maimonides thought Shem ha-Mephorash was used only for the four letter Tetragrammaton.
A 216-letter name for God is found in Jewish Kabbalistic sources (mentioned by Tosafot
Tosafot
The Tosafot or Tosafos are medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes...
as well as by the Kabbalists) as well as in Christian Kabbalah
Christian Kabbalah
The Renaissance saw the birth of Christian Kabbalah/Cabbalah , also spelled Cabbala/Cabala...
and in Hermetic Qabalah
Hermetic Qabalah
Hermetic Qabalah is a Western esoteric and mystical tradition...
, derived from the 72 groups of three letters, each of these triplets being the name of an angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
or intelligence. Spelling variants include Shemhamforash, Shemhamphorae, Shemhamphorash, Shemahamphorasch, Shemhamphoresh, Shem ha-Mephoresh, Shem ha-Mephorash, Shemhamphoresch, shem hamitfaresh
History and derivation
Shemhamphorasch is a corruption of Shem ha-Mephorash, (Hebrew: "the explicit name", can be also be translated as "interpreted name". In Hebrew, however, its primary use is in reference to the tetragrammatonTetragrammaton
The term Tetragrammaton refers to the name of the God of Israel YHWH used in the Hebrew Bible.-Hebrew Bible:...
, the 4-letter name of God which should not be pronounced, or said "explicitly"). The name itself is derived from Exodus 14:19-21, three verses each composed of 72 letters; by writing these out in boustrophedon
Boustrophedon
Boustrophedon , is a type of bi-directional text, mostly seen in ancient manuscripts and other inscriptions. Every other line of writing is flipped or reversed, with reversed letters. Rather than going left-to-right as in modern English, or right-to-left as in Arabic and Hebrew, alternate lines in...
form so that the second line is reversed, and grouping the letters in columns of threes (see table below), the names of 72 angels or intelligences or 72 Names of God are formed.
Verses
- And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
- And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness [to them], but it gave light by night [to these]: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
- And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go [back] by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry [land], and the waters were divided.
The arrangement of Hebrew letters (with Roman alphabet transliterations) is as follows:
| Shemhamphorasch: The Divided Name | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| י | ך K | ל L | ה H | ה H | ם M | י I | ה H | ל L | א A | ה H | ך K | א A | ל L | מ M | ע O | ס S | י I | ו V |
| ל L | א A | ק Q | ר R | ב B | ז Z | ה H | א A | ל L | ז Z | ה H | כ K | ל L | ה H | ל L | י I | ל L | ה H | |
| י I | ו V | ם M | י I | ה H | ל L | ע O | ו V | ד D | י I | ת Th | א A | ה H | ש Sh | מ M | ט T | י I | ו V | |
| 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | |
| ה | מ M | ך K | ל L | י I | ו V | ל L | א A | ר R | ש Sh | י I | ה H | נ N | ח Ch | מ M | י I | נ N | פ P | ל L |
| ן N | ו V | ה H | ח Ch | ש Sh | ך K | ו V | י I | א A | ר R | א A | ת Th | ה H | ל L | י I | ל L | ה H | ו V | |
| ד D | ק Q | ח Ch | ו V | ר R | ב B | ם M | י I | ה H | ת Th | א A | ה H | ו V | ה H | י I | ך K | ל L | ו V | |
| 54 | 53 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | |
| ו | ן N | נ N | ע O | ה H | ד D | ו V | מ M | ע O | ע O | ס S | י I | ו V | ם M | ה H | י I | ר R | ח Ch | א A |
| י I | נ N | מ M | ח Ch | נ N | ה H | י I | ש Sh | ר R | א A | ל L | ו V | י I | ה H | י I | ה H | ע O | נ N | |
| ת Th | א A | ם M | ש Sh | י I | ו V | ה H | ל L | י I | ל L | ה H | ל L | כ K | ה H | ז Z | ע O | ם M | י I | |
| 72 | 71 | 70 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 55 | |
| ה | ם M | ה H | י I | ר R | ח Ch | א A | מ M | ד D | מ M | ע O | י I | ו V | ם M | ה H | י I | נ N | פ P | מ M |
| ו V | י I | ב B | א A | ב B | י I | ן N | מ M | ח Ch | נ N | ה H | מ M | צ Tz | ר R | י I | ם M | ו V | ב B | |
| ם M | י I | מ M | ה H | ו V | ע O | ק Q | ב B | י I | ו V | ה H | ב B | ר R | ח Ch | ל L | ם M | י I | ה H | |
- See the Angels and Demons sub-section for the list of names thus derived
Goetia
According to European magicalMagic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
tradition, King Solomon is said to have evoked seventy-two demons, confined them in a bronze vessel sealed by magic symbols, and obliged them to work for him (this belief is also derived from the Apocryphal work, "The Testament of Solomon", in which demons were brought to Solomon and he forced them to build Solomon's Temple through the use of magic rings). These demons are catalogued in various magical grimoire
Grimoire
A grimoire is a textbook of magic. Such books typically include instructions on how to create magical objects like talismans and amulets, how to perform magical spells, charms and divination and also how to summon or invoke supernatural entities such as angels, spirits, and demons...
s, most notably in the Lemegeton
The Lesser Key of Solomon
The Lesser Key of Solomon or Clavicula Salomonis , is an anonymous 17th-century grimoire, and one of the most popular books of demonology...
, which gives descriptions of their powers, appearance and manner, as well as instructions for controlling them.
Based on the opinions of some who seek to find consistency of this association with the Shemhamphorasch, these demons may be sigils based on the reversing of the three lettered names of the angels. Using the reverse names and sigils, one would be able to call on the various demons for various favors which may result in destructive events. It is from this that it is believed Anton LaVey
Anton LaVey
Anton Szandor LaVey , born Howard Stanton Levey, was the founder of the Church of Satan as well as a writer, occultist, and musician...
, founder of the Church of Satan, obtained the word mentioned in the section on Satanism below.
Occult tarot
The earliest known connection between the Shemhamphorasch and the TarotTarot
The tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...
was made by Eliphas Levi
Eliphas Levi
Eliphas Lévi, born Alphonse Louis Constant , was a French occult author and purported magician."Eliphas Lévi," the name under which he published his books, was his attempt to translate or transliterate his given names "Alphonse Louis" into Hebrew although he was not Jewish.His second wife was...
in his Clefs Majeurs et Clavicules de Salomon, published 20 years after his death in 1875, in which he divides the 72 names into pairs, and attributes each pair to one of the four court cards or ten numbers, or one of the 22 major arcana cards, making a total of 36 pairs.
This was further fleshed out in the Golden Dawn
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was a magical order active in Great Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which practiced theurgy and spiritual development...
's Book T, which was renamed Liber 78 by Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
when he published it in his occult periodical The Equinox. In the system promulgated by the Golden Dawn and Crowley, 36 pairs of angels (or "deacons") are each given rulership of a 10-degree segment of the Zodiac
Zodiac
In astronomy, the zodiac is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude which are centred upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year...
, and to these are mapped the number cards (excluding aces) from the four suits:
In art the Shemhamphorasch can be seen on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio...
. Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
's fresco has an architectural design of 24 columns. On each of these columns are two cherubs, which are mirror imaged on the adjoining column totaling 48 cherubs figures. Then on the 12 triangular spandrels flanking the ceiling borders are an additional 24 nude figures (two bronze nude figures per triangular spandrel) also mirroring imaging each other. This totals to 72 cherub figures or the 72 angels of God or names of God. This spread of 48 cherubs and 24 bronze nude figures coincides perfectly with the reading of the three verses in Exodus 14:19-21. Beneath this cycle of angels are 7 prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
s and 5 Sibylline oracles
Sibyl
The word Sibyl comes from the Greek word σίβυλλα sibylla, meaning prophetess. The earliest oracular seeresses known as the sibyls of antiquity, "who admittedly are known only through legend" prophesied at certain holy sites, under the divine influence of a deity, originally— at Delphi and...
, which are patterned after the Zodiac/Calendar year. Beneath that are the 33 ancestors of Christ plus 3 additional symbols denoting the 36 decans
Decans
The Decans are 36 groups of stars which rise consecutively on the horizon throughout each earth rotation...
of the Zodiac. It is interesting to note that the Zodiac/Calendar year and the 36 decans coupled with the numerical sequence in the Empyream
Empyrean
Empyrean, from the Medieval Latin empyreus, an adaptation of the Ancient Greek ἔμπυρος empyrus "in or on the fire ", properly Empyrean Heaven, is the place in the highest heaven, which in ancient cosmologies was supposed to be occupied by the element of fire .-Use in literature:The Empyrean was...
(nine central panels) on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel denote the spread of the 56 Minor Arcana
Minor Arcana
|thumb|[[King of Swords]] card from a Minor Arcana deckThe Minor Arcana of occult or divinatory tarot refers to the portion of a Tarot deck that consists of 56 cards. The Minor Arcana are roughly similar to the cards found in a common deck of playing cards...
Tarot Cards.
| Card | Rulership | Angels | Card | Rulership | Angels | Card | Rulership | Angels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Wands | 0°–10° | Vaho'el Doni'el |
5 Wands | 0°–10° | Vehuiah Yeli'el |
8 Wands | 0°–10° | Nethahiah Ha'a'iah |
| 3 Wands | 10°–20° | Hachashiah Aumemiah |
6 Wands | 10°–20° | Sita'el "Aulemiah |
9 Wands | 10°–20° | Yeletha'el Sha'ahiah |
| 4 Wands | 20°–30° | Nen'a'el Neitha'el |
7 Wands | 20°–30° | Mahashiah Lelaha'el |
10 Wands | 20°–30° | Riyiel Auma'el |
| 5 Pentacles | 0°–10° | Mabehiah Poi'el |
8 Pentacles | 0°–10° | 'Aka'iah Kahatha'el |
2 Pentacles | 0°–10° | Lekaba'el Vesheriah |
| 6 Pentacles | 10°–20° | Nememiah Yeila'el |
9 Pentacles | 10°–20° | Hezi'el Eladiah |
3 Pentacles | 10°–20° | Yechoiah Lehachiah |
| 7 Pentacles | 20°–30° | Haracha'el Metzera'el |
10 Pentacles | 20°–30° | L'aviah Hahauiah |
4 Pentacles | 20°–30° | Kaveqiah Menada'el |
| 8 Swords | 0°–10° | Vameka'el Yehah'el |
2 Swords | 0°–10° | Yezela'el Mebha'el |
5 Swords | 0°–10° | 'Ani'el Cha"umiah |
| 9 Swords | 10°–20° | Aunu'el Machi'el |
3 Swords | 10°–20° | Heri'el Haqemiah |
6 Swords | 10°–20° | Reha"u'el Yeiza'el |
| 10 Swords | 20°–30° | Damebiah Menaqa'el |
4 Swords | 20°–30° | La'uiah Keli'el |
7 Swords | 20°–30° | Hahah'el Mika'el |
| 2 Cups | 0°–10° | 'Aia"u'el Cheboiah |
5 Cups | 0°–10° | Levoiah Paheliah |
8 Cups | 0°–10° | Vevaliah Yelahiah |
| 3 Cups | 10°–20° | Ra'ah'el Yebemiah |
6 Cups | 10°–20° | Nelaka'el Yiai'el |
9 Cups | 10°–20° | Sa'eliah "Auri'el |
| 4 Cups | 20°–30° | Haiai'el Moumiah |
7 Cups | 20°–30° | Melah'el Chahoah |
10 Cups | 20°–30° | "Aushaliah Miah'el |
Satanism
Members who belong to the Church of SatanChurch of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
sign letters and emails and conduct rituals with the word 'Shemhamforash', although their version of it is different and contains 72 names of demons, not names of angels or God.
The word "Shemhamforash" is spoken in Church of Satan rituals, often followed by "Hail Satan!", as outlined in The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor LaVey.
Angels and demons
Kabbalists and hermeticists have proposed correspondences between the 72 names of the Shemhamphorasch and a wide variety of other things, such as the PsalmsPsalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
, tarot cards, and so on. It is because of the flexibility (and numerical factorability) of the Shemhamphorasch that many ceremonial magicians consider it to be the key of creation of all things and all arts. The names have long been associated with 72 angels, as well as 72 demons (found in the Lemegeton or Lesser Key of Solomon
The Lesser Key of Solomon
The Lesser Key of Solomon or Clavicula Salomonis , is an anonymous 17th-century grimoire, and one of the most popular books of demonology...
), who according to the lore and legend of grimoires can create or destroy the organization or disorganization of the elements into the creation of material reality.
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Popular culture
In the classic Czech movie Císařův pekař a pekařův císařCísaruv pekar a pekaruv císar
The Emperor and the Golem is a two-part Czech historical comedy film produced in 1951. It was originally directed by Jiří Krejčík, but after disputes with Jan Werich, Jiří Krejčík was replaced by Martin Frič. In addition to the two-part version, a 112-minute long one-part international version was...
(The Emperor and the Golem), "Shemhamphorash" was mentioned as a Hebrew occult word used to wake the Golem
Golem
In Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated anthropomorphic being, created entirely from inanimate matter. The word was used to mean an amorphous, unformed material in Psalms and medieval writing....
of Rabbi Loew
Judah Loew ben Bezalel
Judah Loew ben Bezalel, alt. Loewe, Löwe, or Levai, widely known to scholars of Judaism as the Maharal of Prague, or simply The MaHaRaL, the Hebrew acronym of "Moreinu ha-Rav Loew," was an important Talmudic scholar, Jewish mystic, and philosopher who served as a leading rabbi in the city of...
. The word itself was inscribed on a metal ball that was to be inserted in the Golem's forehead in order to gain control over the Golem.