Abdiel
Encyclopedia
Abdiel is a biblical name which has been used as the name for a number of fictional characters and as a given name
for several notable people. Abdiel is cognate
to the Arabic language
name Abdullah
, which shares the same meaning.
Abdiel is mentioned a single time in the Bible, in 1 Chronicles 5:15:
Astrology shows us that those who bear the name of Abdiel have a unique personality that is characterized as arrogant, serious, loving, with great anger stored and most importantly, be mysterious.
Abdiel appearing in Milton's
Paradise Lost
(1667), specifically in Book V and Book VI. Two passages from Book V serve to establish Abdiel's character:
Abdiel denounces Satan
after hearing him incite revolt among the angels, and abandons Lucifer
to bring the news of his defection to God
. However, when he arrives, he finds that preparations are already underway for battle. In the ensuing fight, Abdiel smites Satan
, Ariel
, Ramiel
, and Arioch
, presumably among others. In Asimov's Annotated Paradise Lost, Isaac Asimov
theorized that Abdiel was in fact a representation of Milton himself. Likewise, in Cyder, Ambrose Philips
refers to Milton as "that other bard" and contrasts Milton to his character Abdiel.
In the film Paradise Lost, to be released in 2012, Abdiel is set to be played by Djimon Hounsou
.
The character name Abdiel has also been used:
.
The name is very common in Panama
.
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
for several notable people. Abdiel is cognate
Cognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
to the Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
name Abdullah
Abdullah (name)
Abdullah or Abdallah is the primary transliteration of the Arabic given name, , built from the Arabic words Abd and Allah . The first letter a in al-Ilah in its native pronunciation is often unstressed and commonly transliterated by u, a stressed a is often used as well, although any vowel can also...
, which shares the same meaning.
Abdiel is mentioned a single time in the Bible, in 1 Chronicles 5:15:
Astrology shows us that those who bear the name of Abdiel have a unique personality that is characterized as arrogant, serious, loving, with great anger stored and most importantly, be mysterious.
Fictional characters
Chief among fictional characters bearing the name Abdiel is the seraphSeraph
A seraph is a type of celestial being in Judaism and Christianity...
Abdiel appearing in Milton's
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
(1667), specifically in Book V and Book VI. Two passages from Book V serve to establish Abdiel's character:
Abdiel denounces Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
after hearing him incite revolt among the angels, and abandons Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
to bring the news of his defection to God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. However, when he arrives, he finds that preparations are already underway for battle. In the ensuing fight, Abdiel smites Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
, Ariel
Ariel (angel)
Ariel is an archangel found primarily in Jewish and Christian mysticism and Apocrypha. Generally presented as an authority over the Earth and its elements, Ariel has also been called an angel of healing, wrath & creation....
, Ramiel
Ramiel
Râmîêl is a fallen Watcher in the apocryphal Book of Enoch, one of 20 leaders, mentioned sixth. Ramiel means "thunder of God" from the Hebrew elements ra'am and El, "God". Remiel is one of the archangels of the Christian and Islamic traditions, the Hebrew name meaning "Mercy of God" or "Compassion...
, and Arioch
Arioch
Arioch is a Hebrew name that means "fierce lion". It originally appears in the Book of Genesis chapter 14 as the name of the "King of Ellasar", part of the confederation of kings who did battle with the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and with Abraham in the Battle of the Vale of Siddim...
, presumably among others. In Asimov's Annotated Paradise Lost, Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
theorized that Abdiel was in fact a representation of Milton himself. Likewise, in Cyder, Ambrose Philips
Ambrose Philips
-Life:He was born in Shropshire of a Leicestershire family. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and St John's College, Cambridge, of which he became a fellow in 1699. He seems to have lived chiefly at Cambridge until he resigned his fellowship in 1708, and his pastorals were probably written in...
refers to Milton as "that other bard" and contrasts Milton to his character Abdiel.
In the film Paradise Lost, to be released in 2012, Abdiel is set to be played by Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Diaw Hounsou is a Beninese actor and model. As an actor, Hounsou has been nominated for two Academy Awards.-Early life:Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in 1964, to lbertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He emigrated to Lyon in France at the age of thirteen with his brother, Edmond....
.
The character name Abdiel has also been used:
- by Madeleine L'EngleMadeleine L'EngleMadeleine L'Engle was an American writer best known for her young-adult fiction, particularly the Newbery Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time...
in Many WatersMany WatersMany Waters is a 1986 novel by Madeleine L'Engle, part of the author's Time Quartet . The title is taken from the Song of Solomon 8:7: "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it...
as one among the seraphim - by Margaret WeisMargaret WeisMargaret Edith Weis is a fantasy novelist who, along with Tracy Hickman, is one of the original creators of the Dragonlance game world and has written numerous novels and short stories set in fantastic worlds.-Early life:Margaret Weis was born in 1948 in Independence, Missouri, and later attended...
in the Star of the GuardiansStar of the GuardiansStar of the Guardians is a series of fantasy novels by Margaret Weis. The series consists of four volumes:# The Lost King# King's Test# King's Sacrifice# Ghost Legion...
trilogy as a villain - by Anatole FranceAnatole FranceAnatole France , born François-Anatole Thibault, , was a French poet, journalist, and novelist. He was born in Paris, and died in Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire. He was a successful novelist, with several best-sellers. Ironic and skeptical, he was considered in his day the ideal French man of letters...
in Revolt of the Angels as the "angelic name" of the character Arcade, the guardian angel bent on causing the revolt that gives the novel its title - by Steven BrustSteven BrustSteven Karl Zoltán Brust is an American fantasy and science fiction author of Hungarian descent. He was a member of the writers' group The Scribblies, which included Emma Bull, Pamela Dean, Will Shetterly, Nate Bucklin, Kara Dalkey, and Patricia Wrede; he also belongs to the Pre-Joycean...
in To Reign in HellTo Reign in HellTo Reign in Hell is a 1984 fantasy novel by American writer Steven Brust. It deals with the revolt of angels in Heaven from a point of view that casts Satan as a sympathetic protagonist...
as the angel who catalyzes the dispute between Yaweh and Satan which would eventually result in the revolt in Heaven - by Kage BakerKage BakerKage Baker was an American science fiction and fantasy writer.- Biography :Baker was born in Hollywood, California and lived there and in Pismo Beach most of her life. Before becoming a professional writer she spent many years in theater, including teaching Elizabethan English as a second language...
in The Graveyard GameThe Graveyard GameThe Graveyard Game is the fourth installment in the series of science fiction time travel novels by Kage Baker concerning the exploits of The Company.-Plot introduction:...
as an immortal who maintains certain secret machinery
Given name
Abdiel has also been used as a human given nameGiven name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
.
- Two Puerto Ricans share the name "Abdiel Colberg", one a professional rollerbladerAbdiel Colberg (rollerblader)Abdiel Colberg , is the only Hispanic professional rollerblader to have his own pro-skate brand.-Early years:Colberg was born and raised in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. There he received his primary and secondary education. According to Colberg his parents were instrumental in developing...
born in 1983, the other a film director and television producerAbdiel Colberg (director)Abdiel Colberg is a Puerto Rican television producer and movie director. Among the movies which he directed and co-wrote is Los Dias de Doris , a drama starring Cordelia González, Braulio Castillo, Jr., Raul Davila and Alba Raquel Barros.-Early years:Colberg was born in the town of Mayagüez,...
. - Abdiel CrossmanAbdiel CrossmanAbdiel Daily Crossman was mayor of New Orleans from April 6, 1846 to March 26, 1854, having served four consecutive terms....
was mayor of New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, in 1846–1854.
The name is very common in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
.