Rhagouel

Rhagouel is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Reuel, used in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint). The name derives from the Hebrew elements reaʿ (friend) and ʾel (God), thus meaning "friend of God." In the biblical context, Rhagouel appears as an alternative form of Reuel, a name carried by Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. Jethro, a Midianite priest, is a significant figure in the Book of Exodus, where he provides counsel and shelter to Moses.

Etymology and Meaning

The name Rhagouel shares its root with Reuel, understood in Hebrew as "friend of God." The Septuagint translators rendered the Hebrew name Reuel as Ῥαγουήλ (Rhagouēl), likely reflecting the Greek pronunciation conventions of the time. This form maintains the consonantal structure of the Hebrew while adapting it to Greek morphology. The connection to God (ʾel) underscores the religious significance of the name, which denotes a divine friendship or covenant.

Notable Bearers

In the Old Testament, Reuel (and hence Rhagouel) is identified as Jethro, the priest of Midian who had seven daughters, one of whom, Zipporah, married Moses. Jethro himself means "abundance" in Hebrew, reflecting a different etymology. The use of Reuel for Jethro appears in Exodus 2:18, where he is called Reuel, while Jethro is used in Exodus 3:1. This dual identity may arise from variant textual traditions in the Hebrew Bible.

Outside the biblical text, Rhagouel is seldom used as a given name in modern times. Its Latin equivalents include Raguhel and Rauhel, which appear in certain Old Latin and Vulgate manuscripts. In Judeo-Christian-Islamic legend, the name Raguel (a variant) is attributed to an archangel known in the Book of Enoch as the punisher of the fallen angels and as one of the seven archangels. However, notably, the biblical prophet Enoch does not list Rhagouel among the archangels. This angelic connection may have influenced the name's persistence in apocryphal texts.

Cultural Significance

The name Rhagouel reflects the processes of linguistic and scriptural transmission from Hebrew to Greek and Latin. The Septuagint, produced in the Hellenistic period, often adapted biblical names to Greek phonology and morphology, making them easier for Koine speakers to pronounce. Versions such as Rhagouel emerged as standard renderings. While rare as a given name, Rhagouel appears in historical contexts as a male name in Greek-speaking Jewish communities and in early Christian literature following the Maccabeans.

• Meaning: Friend of God
• Origin: Hebrew (via Greek Old Testament)
• Type: Biblical name, chiefly in the Septuagint
• Usage: Primarily historical/religious, almost absent in modern times
• Related forms: Reuel, Raguel, Raguhel, Rauhel