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The 9 Choirs of Angels
Full Hierarchy and Archangels

In short

What are the nine choirs of angels, in order?

From the throne downward: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones (first triad), Dominions, Powers, Virtues (second), Principalities, Archangels, Angels (third). The order is from Pseudo-Dionysius, around the year 500. Archangels rank eighth of nine, not first, which is the single most common mistake made about this hierarchy. Only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named in books held as canonical across Christian traditions; the other six archangels below come from Kabbalistic sources, and this page says which is which.

Each choir governs eight of the 72 guardian angels of the Shem HaMephorash, so the hierarchy also maps onto the calendar: your birth date places you in exactly one choir. Every angel below links to its full sheet.

Two traditions, stitched together later

The nine choirs and the 72 angels are not the same tradition and were never written as one system. The choirs are Christian, arranged by Pseudo-Dionysius in De Coelesti Hierarchia around the late fifth century and made standard when Aquinas adopted them. The 72 names are Kabbalistic, extracted from three verses of Exodus that each carry exactly seventy-two Hebrew letters.

Renaissance Christian Kabbalists distributed the 72 across the 9, eight per choir. That distribution is the youngest layer here, and most pages present it as though it were as old as the choirs themselves. It is not. Where a name below has no scriptural basis, this page says so rather than letting the arrangement imply one.

The Nine Choirs, Highest to Lowest

1

Seraphim

First triad

Governed by Metatron · Aries and Taurus · March 21 – 25 to April 25 – 30

Pure contemplation. The choir traditionally described as burning rather than shining, closest to the source and furthest from human affairs.

In scriptureIsaiah 6 describes six-winged seraphim, the only canonical appearance of the name.
On MetatronMetatron is the one archangel here who appears in no biblical book at all. He comes from the Talmud and the Merkabah texts, where he is the scribe and the transformed Enoch.
Its eight guardian angels
1. Vehuiah2. Jeliel3. Sitael4. Elemiah5. Mahasiah6. Lelahel7. Achaiah8. Cahetel
2

Cherubim

First triad

Governed by Raziel · Taurus and Gemini · May 1 – 5 to June 5 – 9

Knowledge and the guarding of thresholds. Wisdom held rather than wisdom applied.

In scriptureGenesis 3 places cherubim at the gate of Eden. They are guardians in scripture, not infants.
On RazielThe plump winged children painted on Renaissance ceilings are putti, a completely separate artistic convention. Nothing in the source texts describes a cherub that way.
Its eight guardian angels
9. Haziel10. Aladiah11. Lauviah12. Hahaiah13. Iezalel14. Mebahel15. Hariel16. Hekamiah
3

Thrones

First triad

Governed by Tsaphkiel · Gemini and Cancer · June 10 – 14 to July 16 – 20

Divine justice and the weight of judgement. The choir associated with stability and with things that do not move.

In scriptureNamed in Colossians 1:16 among thrones, dominions, principalities and powers.
On TsaphkielTsaphkiel is a Kabbalistic name attached to Binah on the Tree of Life. The choir is scriptural, the archangel assigned to it is not.
Its eight guardian angels
17. Lauviah II18. Caliel19. Leuviah20. Pahaliah21. Nelchael22. Yeiayel23. Melahel24. Haheuiah
4

Dominions

Second triad

Governed by Tsadkiel · Leo and Virgo · July 21 – 25 to August 25 – 29

Regulation. The choir that transmits authority downward and governs the work of the choirs beneath it.

In scriptureAlso from the list in Colossians 1:16.
On TsadkielTsadkiel is attached to Chesed, the sphere of mercy, which is why this choir carries clemency alongside authority.
Its eight guardian angels
25. Nith-Haiah26. Haaiah27. Yerathel28. Seheiah29. Reiyel30. Omael31. Lecabel32. Vasariah
5

Powers

Second triad

Governed by Camael · Virgo and Libra · August 30 – September 3 to October 5 – 9

Confrontation and defence. Traditionally the choir that holds the line against what would disorder creation.

In scriptureNamed in Ephesians and in Colossians.
On CamaelCamael, also spelled Chamael or Kamael, sits at Geburah, severity. The martial character of this choir comes from that placement rather than from scripture.
Its eight guardian angels
33. Yehuiah34. Lehahiah35. Chavakhiah36. Menadel37. Aniel38. Haamiah39. Rehael40. Ieiazel
6

Virtues

Second triad

Governed by Raphael · Libra and Scorpio · October 10 – 14 to November 14 – 18

Grace, healing and what tradition calls miracles: the visible interventions.

In scriptureThe name appears in early Christian lists rather than directly in canonical text.
On RaphaelRaphael is named in the Book of Tobit, which is canonical for Catholics and Orthodox and deuterocanonical for Protestants. His name is read as God heals, which is why this choir carries medicine.
Its eight guardian angels
41. Hahahel42. Mikael43. Veuliah44. Yelahiah45. Sealiah46. Ariel47. Asaliah48. Mihael
7

Principalities

Third triad

Governed by Haniel · Sagittarius and Capricorn · November 19 – 23 to December 25 – 29

Nations, institutions and collectives rather than individuals. The scale at which this choir works is a group.

In scriptureListed in Romans 8:38 and Colossians 1:16.
On HanielHaniel is Kabbalistic, attached to Netzach and to Venus. This is the choir most often invoked for anything communal.
Its eight guardian angels
49. Vehuel50. Daniel51. Hahasiah52. Imamiah53. Nanael54. Nithael55. Mebahiah56. Poyel
8

Archangels

Third triad

Governed by Michael · Capricorn and Aquarius · December 30 – January 3 to February 3 – 7

Messages that matter. Not the highest choir, despite the name being the most famous one.

In scriptureThe word appears twice in the New Testament, in Jude 9 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
On MichaelThe single most persistent misunderstanding in angelology: archangels are eighth of nine, not first. Michael is called an archangel in Jude and a prince in Daniel 10, and outranks his own choir.
Its eight guardian angels
57. Nemamiah58. Yeialel59. Harahel60. Mitzrael61. Umabel62. Iah-Hel63. Anauel64. Mehiel
9

Angels

Third triad

Governed by Gabriel · Aquarius and Pisces · February 8 – 13 to March 16 – 20

Direct contact with individual people. The choir the entire guardian angel tradition sits in.

In scriptureThe most frequent word for a celestial messenger across both testaments.
On GabrielGabriel delivers the annunciations in Daniel and in Luke. Placing him at the bottom of the hierarchy is not a demotion: this is the choir that actually speaks to people.
Its eight guardian angels
65. Damabiah66. Manakel67. Eyael68. Habuhiah69. Rochel70. Jabamiah71. Haiaiel72. Mumiah

Four Things Usually Stated Wrong

Archangels are eighth of nine

The most famous rank is the second lowest. Archangels are the choir that carries messages to people, which is why they appear in every story and why the word became shorthand for a powerful angel. Michael is the exception people generalise from: Daniel 10 calls him a chief prince, so he is read as outranking the choir that bears his title.

There is no canonical list of seven archangels

The number seven comes from a line in the Book of Tobit about seven who stand before the glory of the Lord, and from the Book of Enoch, which is not canonical for most traditions. Different lists name different sevens. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the stable core; everything after that varies by source, and the six Kabbalistic names in the hierarchy above belong to a different system entirely.

Cherubim are guardians, not infants

Genesis 3 stations them at the gate of Eden with a flaming sword, and Ezekiel 1 gives them four faces each. The winged toddlers are putti, an artistic convention that borrowed the name and kept nothing else. Second of nine, associated with knowledge and thresholds.

The 72 angels are not one per five days by coincidence

Seventy-two names divided into a 360 degree zodiac gives exactly five degrees each, which is why every angel covers roughly five days. That is the same five degree unit as the quinance in astrological tradition, and it is why the birth date attribution works at all. The dates shift by a day at the edges because the Sun does not enter a sign at the same clock time every year.

Quick Comparison

The nine angelic choirs with rank, archangel, zodiac range and birth dates
RankChoirArchangelSignsBirth dates
1SeraphimMetatronAries, TaurusMarch 21 – 25 to April 25 – 30
2CherubimRazielTaurus, GeminiMay 1 – 5 to June 5 – 9
3ThronesTsaphkielGemini, CancerJune 10 – 14 to July 16 – 20
4DominionsTsadkielLeo, VirgoJuly 21 – 25 to August 25 – 29
5PowersCamaelVirgo, LibraAugust 30 – September 3 to October 5 – 9
6VirtuesRaphaelLibra, ScorpioOctober 10 – 14 to November 14 – 18
7PrincipalitiesHanielSagittarius, CapricornNovember 19 – 23 to December 25 – 29
8ArchangelsMichaelCapricorn, AquariusDecember 30 – January 3 to February 3 – 7
9AngelsGabrielAquarius, PiscesFebruary 8 – 13 to March 16 – 20

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 9 choirs of angels in order?↓
From highest to lowest: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, then Dominions, Powers, Virtues, then Principalities, Archangels, Angels. They are grouped into three triads of three. The order comes from De Coelesti Hierarchia, written around the late fifth or early sixth century by the author known as Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, and it became the standard Christian arrangement after Thomas Aquinas adopted it.
Are archangels the highest rank of angel?↓
No, and this is the most common error about angelic hierarchy. Archangels are eighth of nine, second from the bottom. The name is the most familiar one because archangels are the ones who deliver messages to people, so they appear in the stories, but the choir itself is low in the arrangement. Michael is a separate case: Jude 9 calls him an archangel while Daniel 10 calls him one of the chief princes, so he is conventionally understood to outrank the choir he names.
How many archangels are there, and which are named in the Bible?↓
Only three are named in the books shared across Christian canons: Michael and Gabriel in Daniel, and Raphael in the Book of Tobit, which Catholics and Orthodox hold as canonical and Protestants place among the deuterocanonical books. Uriel appears in 2 Esdras and in the Book of Enoch. The remaining names in this hierarchy, Metatron, Raziel, Tsaphkiel, Tsadkiel, Camael and Haniel, come from Kabbalistic and mystical sources rather than from scripture. The frequently repeated figure of seven archangels comes from the Book of Tobit and from Enoch, not from a canonical list.
What is the difference between the 9 choirs and the 72 guardian angels?↓
They are two separate traditions that were merged later. The nine choirs are Christian, from Pseudo-Dionysius. The 72 angels come from the Shem HaMephorash, a Kabbalistic reading of Exodus 14:19 to 21, three verses of seventy-two Hebrew letters each, read in alternating directions to extract seventy-two three-letter names, each given the suffix El or Iah. Christian Kabbalists of the Renaissance distributed those 72 names across the 9 choirs, eight per choir. That distribution is a synthesis, not a source, and this page states which layer each fact belongs to.
How do I find which choir my guardian angel belongs to?↓
Each of the 72 angels governs five degrees of the zodiac, which works out to roughly five days of the year, so your birth date points to one angel and therefore to one choir. Anyone born between 21 March and 30 April falls under a Seraph, and the sequence runs forward through the year from there. The birth date calculator on this site returns the angel, and the choir follows from the table below.
Are cherubs the chubby winged babies from paintings?↓
No. Those are putti, a Renaissance artistic convention with no textual basis. In Genesis 3 cherubim guard the way to the tree of life with a flaming sword, and in Ezekiel 1 they are four-faced and unsettling. The choir ranks second of nine and is associated with knowledge and with guarding thresholds. The visual confusion is roughly five centuries old and shows no sign of resolving.
Do angels have a gender?↓
Not in the source texts. Angelic names carry grammatical gender in Hebrew, and translation into gendered languages forces a pronoun that the original did not require, which is how the convention of he became standard. Traditional angelology treats these as beings without bodies, so the question does not arise the way it does for humans. Where this page uses a pronoun, it is following the convention of the sources rather than making a claim.

Go Further

Find Your Angel →All 72, by birth dateAngel Numbers →The 12 you actually seeKabbalah →Where the 72 names come from

Written by Thibaut Campana. Founder of Mystic Manga, 30+ years of esoteric practice. About the author

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