Rahab (demon)

Rahab (demon)

In Jewish folklore, Rahab is the name of a sea-demon, a dragon of the waters, the " [demonic] angel of the sea". [Babylonian Talmud, tractate "Baba Bathra 74b"]

Etymology and traditional usage of "Rahab"

Rahab is mentioned in the Talmud and the Old Testament, and its etymology is given as "noise", "tumult" and "arrogance".fact|date=August 2007

This name originally designated the primordial abyss, the water-dragon of darkness and chaos, and so comparable to Leviathan and Tiamat. Rahab later became a particular demon, inhabitant of the sea, especially associated with the Red Sea, in this case sometimes associated with Leviathan.fact|date=August 2007

This name was also applied to Egypt, and the destruction of the Pharaoh after the Exodus of the Israelites from that country, was compared with the slaying of Rahab, perhaps a late corruption of Rahab slaying the Pharaoh (the Red Sea drowning his troops) (Isaiah 51:9-10).

In Hebrew tradition

Rahab is or was the angel of insolence and pride, responsible for shaking the waters and producing big waves; he is also responsible for the roaring of the sea.fact|date=August 2007 According to some sources, he was the guardian angel of Egypt, a position often designated to other angels such as Belial, Mastema, Samael and Uzza.fact|date=August 2007 Rahab represents Chaos in ancient texts such as the Bible.

In Psalm 89:9-10 God's triumph over Rahab is made clear. The Psalmist praises God saying, "You rule the raging of the sea and still the surging of its waves. You have crushed Rahab of the deep with a deadly wound."

The difference between Rahab and Tannin is unclear in Jewish literature.fact|date=August 2007

Video game references

There have been several video game characters that have been named "Rahab" and have had characteristics of an underwater monster. In ' for the Playstation, Rahab is one of Kain's vampire generals that evolved over millennia into a large swimming monster. ' for the Nintendo DS features an underwater boss named Rahab. In and in , a weapon called Rahab's Frost (Rahab's Sword in Aria of Sorrow), which is "a dagger made from the fang of the water dragon Rahab" is found. Rahab is also the final boss and main villain of the arcade shooter, "The Ocean Hunter".

ee also

*Leviathan
*Lotan
*Tannin (demon)

References

*Day, John. 1985. "God's Conflict with the Dragon and the Sea." Cambridge, Mass.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521256003.

External links

* [http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=70&letter=R&search=Rahab Jewish Encyclopedia: Rahab]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Rahab (Kushiel's Legacy) — In Jacqueline Carey s Kushiel s Legacy series, Rahab is the angel of Pride and Insolence, called the Lord of the Deep by D Angeline sailors and the Prince of the Deep by Yeshuites. He is conceptually related to the demon of Jewish folklore.Rahab… …   Wikipedia

  • Rahab (Legacy Of Kain) — Personnages de Legacy of Kain Les personnages de Legacy of Kain sont des personnages fictifs issus de la série de jeux vidéo Legacy of Kain. Sommaire 1 Personnages principaux 2 Apparus dans Blood Omen 3 Apparus dans Soul Reaver …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Rahab (Legacy of Kain) — Personnages de Legacy of Kain Les personnages de Legacy of Kain sont des personnages fictifs issus de la série de jeux vidéo Legacy of Kain. Sommaire 1 Personnages principaux 2 Apparus dans Blood Omen 3 Apparus dans Soul Reaver …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Rahab (legacy of kain) — Personnages de Legacy of Kain Les personnages de Legacy of Kain sont des personnages fictifs issus de la série de jeux vidéo Legacy of Kain. Sommaire 1 Personnages principaux 2 Apparus dans Blood Omen 3 Apparus dans Soul Reaver …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Rahab — n. Rahab the harlot, woman who aided the spies sent by Joshua (Bibilical); name of a sea demon; dragon of the waters who shakes the water and makes huge waves (Jewish folklore) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Tannin (demon) — In Jewish folklore Tannin is the name of a demon. Sometimes he is compared with Rahab, who is especially associated with the Red Sea. Some scholars associated Tannin with Tiamat, as it happened with asaszarim.It is unclear in Jewish literature… …   Wikipedia

  • angel and demon — ▪ religion Introduction demon also spelled  daemon   respectively, any benevolent or malevolent spiritual being that mediates between the transcendent and temporal realms.       Throughout the history of religions (myth), varying kinds and… …   Universalium

  • Lotan — or Lawtan is the seven headed sea serpent or dragon of Ugaritic myths (Etymologically = the serpent of Law/Lot). He is either a pet of the god Yaw or an aspect of Yaw himself, who was also known as Yam (sea) or Nahar (river); the cosmic ocean of… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Legacy of Kain characters — Contents 1 Main characters 1.1 Kain 1.2 Raziel 2 Blood Omen 2.1 Anarcrothe the Alchemist …   Wikipedia

  • biblical literature — Introduction       four bodies of written works: the Old Testament writings according to the Hebrew canon; intertestamental works, including the Old Testament Apocrypha; the New Testament writings; and the New Testament Apocrypha.       The Old… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”