Though not explicitly referenced in scripture, some of the earliest sources on Sandalphon refer to him as the prophetElijah transfigured and risen to angelic status. Other sources describe him as the "twin brother" of Metatron, whose human origin as Enoch was similar to the human origin of Sandalphon.
Meaning of name
The name Sandalphon, which may be related to the Hebrewsandek, godfather, may also be derived from the Greek prefix sym-/syn-, meaning "together", and adelphos, meaning "brother"; thus approximately meaning "co-brother", since the modern Greek word for "co-worker", synadelfos, has these roots as seen in the Book of Revelation, chapter 19, verse 10. This probably refers to Sandalphon's relationship to Metatron, though this derivation shows uncertain Semitic influences.
Descriptions and functions
Physical descriptions of Sandalphon vary depending on the source. He is uniformly depicted as extremely tall—he exceeds Hadraniel in height by a 500-year foot journey. During Moses' visit to the Third Heaven, he is said to have glimpsed Sandalphon and called him the "tall angel", though this legend dates to much later than the time of the Torah. The Babylonian TalmudHagigah 13b says Sandalphon's head reaches Heaven, which is also said of Israfil and of the Greek monster Typhon, with whom Sandalphon seems to have similar mythological roots. He is also described as being a member of the śārim, and a Hazzan. In the Greater Key of Solomon, Sandalphon is designated "the left-hand feminine cherub of the Ark of the Covenant". In the liturgy for Sukkot, he is credited with gathering the prayers of the faithful, making a garland of such prayers, and then "adjuring them to ascend as an orb to the supreme King of Kings". In the Zohar he is "chief of the Seventh Heaven". As Michael does, he carries on a ceaseless battle with Samael, angel of evil. The ancient sages also referred to him by the name Ofan, a reference to the "wheel within the wheel" from Ezekiel's vision of the heavenly chariot in the Book of Ezekielchapter 1. Sandalphon is also said to be instrumental in bringing about the differentiation of sex in the embryo. Ibn Hazm mentions Sandalphon as an angel "who serves the crown". He discusses that Jews, although regarding Metatron as an angel, would celebrate Metatron as a lesser god 10 days each year, probably a reference to Rosh Hashanah in connection with Merkabah mysticism that Metatron took part on the creation of the world. In Kabbalah, Sandalphon is the angel who represents the sefirahMalkuth and overlaps the angel Metatron. He is said to appear before the feminine presence of the Shekhinah and to receive human prayers and send them to God.
