Mastema
Second Temple Period Judaism·Demonology·Ancient Near East (primarily Jewish traditions)·Angel
Mastema is an antagonistic angel primarily featured in the Second Temple Period Jewish text, the Book of Jubilees. He is a personification of the Hebrew word for "hatred" or "hostility" and is notable for his role in tempting humanity and substituting for God in certain malevolent actions within the narrative, though he remains subordinate to the divine. His function is comparable to that of Satan in the Book of Job, acting as a divine servant tasked with testing mortals. Mastema is depicted as the chief of the Nephilim, demons born from the union of fallen angels and human women, and he is granted authority to tempt and corrupt humans.
Key Facts
- ›Mastema is an antagonistic angel depicted in the Book of Jubilees.
- ›His name is a personification of the Hebrew word for "hatred," "hostility," or "persecution."
- ›He requests and is granted hosts of demons to tempt and corrupt humanity.
- ›Mastema substitutes for God in performing actions attributed to Yahweh in the Torah, such as hardening Pharaoh's heart.
- ›He is considered the chief of the Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and human women.
- ›Mastema remains subordinate to God and only acts with divine permission.
Mastemat, Mansemat, Masetema, Mesetema
Hatred, Hostility, Enmity, Persecution, Temptation, Corruption of Humanity
- Requests and Controls Hosts of Demons
- Tempts and Corrupts Humanity
- Substitutes For God In Performing Malevolent Actions
- Initiates Harmful Events
- Empowers Sorcerers
Book of Jubilees, Dead Sea Scrolls
God, Nephilim, Watchers, Belial, Iblis, Abraham, Pharaoh, Moses
Hatred, Hostility, Enmity, Persecution, Evil, Temptation
God
- His Function Is Reflected In Iblis In Islamic Tradition.
- the Phrase "Angel of Mastema" Appears In the Dead Sea Scrolls, Where Its Usage As A Proper Name Is Debated.
About Mastema
Mastema is an antagonistic angelic figure primarily known from the Book of Jubilees, a text from the Second Temple Period of Jewish literature. His name is derived from the Hebrew word "mastemah," which translates to "hatred," "hostility," "enmity," or "persecution." Mastema's significance lies in his role as a personification of these negative concepts and his function as an agent of temptation within the narrative.
Role in the Book of Jubilees
In the Book of Jubilees, Mastema is depicted as the chief of the Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels (the Watchers) and human women. He petitions God for the right to control a portion of these demonic spirits, which God grants, allowing Mastema to tempt and corrupt humanity. His actions often substitute for those attributed to Yahweh in the Torah, such as hardening the Pharaoh's heart or being behind the plagues that befell the Egyptians. Mastema is also credited with sending ravens to devour seeds and initiating the binding of Isaac, though the text emphasizes that he acts only with God's permission and remains subordinate to the divine.
Theological Significance
Mastema's character can be seen as a step in the theological development of the concept of the Devil, portraying an entity that acts as an adversary to humanity but is still under God's ultimate authority. Unlike independent evil forces, Mastema never harms God's faithful servants and typically only succeeds when acting against non-Jewish nations. This portrayal serves to absolve God of direct responsibility for evil actions while still acknowledging their existence for a limited time and purpose.
Later Attestations and Adaptations
The name "Mastema" or the phrase "angel of mastema" also appears in the Dead Sea Scrolls, though its exact interpretation as a proper name versus a descriptive term is sometimes debated. While direct parallels to Mastema in later Jewish traditions are scarce, his role as a subordinate tempter granted authority by God finds echoes in figures like Iblis in the Quran. Mastema has also been reinterpreted and featured in various modern fictional works, including novels, video games, and trading card games, often retaining his demonic or adversarial nature.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mastema?
Mastema is an antagonistic angel appearing in the Book of Jubilees, a text from the Second Temple Period. He embodies the Hebrew word for "hatred" or "hostility" and serves a role in testing humanity.
What is Mastema's role in the Book of Jubilees?
In the Book of Jubilees, Mastema requests permission from God to control demons and tempt humans. He is depicted as substituting for God in certain actions attributed to Yahweh in the Torah, such as hardening Pharaoh's heart or causing the deaths of the firstborn Egyptians.
Is Mastema an independent evil being?
No, Mastema remains subordinate to the Godhead. While he acts as an agent of evil and temptation, his actions are always by God's permission, and he is restrained when necessary. He never harms God's servants.
What are the origins of the concept of Mastema?
Mastema first appears in the literature of the Second Temple Period, specifically in the Book of Jubilees, as a personification of the Hebrew word mastemah. This figure may represent a step in the development of the concept of the Devil as distinct from God.
How is Mastema related to other figures like Satan or Belial?
Mastema's function is similar to Satan in the Book of Job, acting as a servant of God who tests mortals. The figure Belial is also mentioned in Jubilees and is suggested to be identical to Mastema.
Does Mastema appear in later traditions?
While there are no direct parallels to Mastema and Abraham in later Jewish traditions, his function is reflected in figures like Iblis in the Quran. Iblis also requests God's permission to tempt humanity and is subordinate to the divine.
Where else is Mastema mentioned?
The name "Mastema" appears in the Dead Sea Scrolls, such as in the Damascus Document and the Serek ha-Yahad, often in the phrase "angel of mastema" or associated with Belial. He has also been adapted into various works of fiction, including novels, video games, and card games.
Related Demons
Asb'el
Watchers are a class of biblical angels, whose name derives from a root meaning "to be awake." While the Book of Daniel refers to "watchers, holy ones" in a positive light, the apocryphal Books of Enoch extensively detail the fall of rebellious Watchers who descended to Earth, lusted after human women, and taught forbidden knowledge. These fallen beings are notable for their role in the origin of the Nephilim and their subsequent binding until Judgment Day.
Zabaniyya
The Zabaniyya are the "Wardens of Hell" in Islamic tradition, a group of nineteen angels tasked with torturing sinners and carrying away the souls of the wicked. They are also identified as the "Angels of Punishment" and "Guardians of Hell." Despite their fearsome appearance and actions, they are considered ultimately subordinate to God, and their punishments are seen as just within Islamic theology.
Danjal
Danjal, also known as Daniel, is an angel recognized in the Book of Enoch as the seventh of twenty Watcher leaders. He is notable for teaching humanity the "signs of the sun" and his name is interpreted as "God has judged." In later occult traditions, Danjal is identified as one of the 72 holy angels associated with the name of God, Shemhamphorae.