Metatron

Metatron
メタトロン
SMT2DeSumDCW Artwork from Shin Megami Tensei II Artwork from Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Artwork from Devil Children White Book
Other Name(s)	Shadow of GodPersona 5 Royal
Origin	Judaism
Race(s)	AerialDigital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner BossDevil Children Black Book and Red Book Devil Children White Book DivineDevil Survivor Devil Survivor: Overclocked Devil Survivor 2 Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker HeraldShin Megami Tensei II Shin Megami Tensei if... Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Shin Megami Tensei IV Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse Shin Megami Tensei V Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Shin Megami Tensei: J Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Soul Hackers 2 Shin Megami Tensei Pinball: Judgment Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner Kētai Akuma Densho SeraphShin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax
Alignment(s)	Light-LawShin Megami Tensei II Shin Megami Tensei if... Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Shin Megami Tensei V Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers LawShin Megami Tensei IV Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
Arcana	AeonPersona 3 FES Persona 3 Portable Persona 3 Reload Persona Mobile Online JudgementPersona 4 Persona 4 Golden Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth JusticePersona 5 Persona 5 Royal Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Persona 5 Strikers SunPersona 3
Order(s)	Wind
Voice Actor(s)	Tatsuhisa SuzukiShin Megami Tensei V Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (JA) Patrick SeitzShin Megami Tensei V Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (EN)

Metatron is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Profile

Origin

Metatron is a high-ranking angel in Rabbinic Judaism.

Sanhedrin 38b of the Babylonian Talmud records that a certain Rav Idit said that Metatron is the angel in Exodus 23:21 who is said to have God's name (i.e. YHWH) in him, and Idit said that this is why God said to "come up to YHWH" instead of "come up to me" in Exodus 24:1, as God was referring to Metatron. However, Idit was careful to note that Metatron was not to be worshiped. The name of Metatron derives from the term metator, a loanword from Latin used in the Palestinian dialect of Aramaic. Metator was a position in the Roman army which referred to soldiers who went ahead to survey the land, and Jews in Palestine borrowed this terminology to refer to divine forerunners. As this term was unknown in Babylonian Aramaic, it was reinterpreted as Metatron, the name of an angel.

Ḥagiga 15a of the Babylonian Talmud uses a story involving Metatron as a way to condemn a heresy. Here, Metatron is presented as being given permission to sit and write down the deeds of Israel. The heretic Aḥer saw this and, believing that sitting in heaven was reserved to God, posits that there may be two powers in heaven rather than one. Metatron is then flogged with lashes of fire to show he is a mere angel. Metatron is also known from Babylonian incantation bowls, where he is given titles such as the Prince of the Countenance and the Great Prince of Heaven.

While Metatron as a name had previously only been known amongst Babylonian Jews, the idea of a specific angel named Metatron would be known in Palestine by the 6th or 7th century. The first known mention in Palestine is the Sefer Zerubbavel, which identifies Metatron as another name of Michael. The Tanḥuma mentions Metatron as the Prince of the Countenance whom Moses asks to intercede on his behalf.

Metatron makes his most prominent appearance in the Book of Palaces (3 Enoch), a piece of Jewish hekhalot (palaces) literature. This book describes Enoch's transformation into the angel Metatron after his ascent into heaven, and he is referred to as the "lesser YHWH". This book is a late entry in the hekhalot corpus and the only such work to identify Metatron as Enoch. The identification of Metatron with Enoch may have developed due to Metatron's scribal role in Ḥagiga 15a, as traditions of Enoch as a heavenly scribe already existed. This identification can later be found in Palestinian texts such as the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan and Alphabet of Rabbi Akiva.

Design

In Shin Megami Tensei II and most other entries, Metatron is a metallic, robotic humanoid whose silver body is adorned with intricate golden patterning. He has golden hair and green eyes with cross pupils, large blade-like wings, and he wears a white robe bearing a holy cross. Due to him originally being a human, Metatron is depicted as either Enoch as a cyborg or Enoch piloting a mecha robot.

In the Devil Children series, Metatron boasts a muscular, pale yellow figure and yellow wings, kneeling on a large sword which melts into a pool of shadows. He wears a blue and red mask, a white robe with red embroidery, a belt, red bangles and ankles, and sandals.

Gameplay

For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Metatron.

Compendium

Compendium Entries
Shin Megami Tensei II (A-Mode DDS)	出身地：イスラエル 天使階級上位一位の熾天使。天界の書記であり、契約の天使。神の座る玉座に最も近い場所に立つ者とされ、天使の中で最も偉大な天使と言われる。「神の顔の君」「契約の天使」「天使の王」「万物の創造主」「小ヤーウェ」など多数の呼称を持つ神の代理人。モーゼがエジプトを脱出する際、火や雲の柱となって守り、導いた。その姿は、非常に長身で、六枚の翼のかわりに三十六枚の翼、そして無数の眼を持つといわれる。非常に残忍な面もあり、自分に背く人間を嬉々として何百人も串刺しにして、苦悶のうちに死なせてしまうという。 Translation: Place of origin: Israel The seraph of the highest rank in the angelic hierarchy. The scribe of heaven and angel of contracts. Considered the one who stands closest to the throne where God sits, and said to be the greatest of all angels. He is the Agent of God, with many titles such as the Prince of the Countenance, Angel of Contracts, King of Angels, Lord of Creation, and the Lesser YHWH. When Moses left Egypt, he protected and guided him by becoming the pillars of fire and cloud. He is said to be extremely tall, with 36 wings instead of the usual 6, and innumerable eyes. He has a highly merciless side, and is said to have even gleefully impaled hundreds of people who defied him, killing them agonizingly.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax	One of the most important angels in the heirarchy[sic], yet the most mysterious. He is the scribe and advocate of heaven.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster	One of the most important angels in the hierarchy, yet the most mysterious. He is the scribe and advocate of heaven.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey	The greatest and most mysterious of the angels. He has many names, such as the Voice of God and Angel of Contracts. In contrast to his duty to maintain the world, he is said to have a merciless side toward humanity.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux
Shin Megami Tensei IV	The greatest and most mysterious of the angels. He has many names, such as the Voice of God and Angel of Contracts. In contrast to his duty to maintain the world, he is said to have a merciless side toward humanity.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse	The greatest and most mysterious of the angels. He has many names, such as the Voice of God and Angel of Contracts. In contrast to his duty to maintain the world, he is said to have a merciless side toward humanity.
Shin Megami Tensei V	One of the most important angels in the hierarchy yet the most mysterious. He is the scribe and advocate of heaven.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (Akuma Zensho; PSP)	出身地：イスラエル ユダヤ伝承で、最も偉大とされる天使。「契約の天使」「神の顔の君」など、数多くの異名を持つ。 「神の代理人」としての役割を担っていたとされる、極めて大きな力を持った天使で、その名前も「玉座にはべる者」という意味の言葉に由来するとされる。また、天使の中でも最も大きな体をもつとされた。 メタトロンは非常に残虐な面を持っていたとも伝えられる。自分に背く人間を何百人も串刺しにしては、苦悶のうちに死なせたという。 Translation: Place of origin: Israel The greatest angel in Jewish lore. Has many other names, such as Angel of Contracts and Prince of the Countenance. He is said to have carried the role of "Agent of God", he is an angel with extreme power, and his name is also said to be derived from a word meaning "servant to the throne". In addition, he was believed to have the largest body among angels. It is equally said that Metatron has a highly merciless side. He is said to have even gleefully impaled hundreds of people who defied him, killing them agonizingly.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (3DS)	The greatest and most mysterious of the angels. He has many names, such as the Voice of God and Angel of Contracts. In contrast to his duty to maintain the world, he is said to have a merciless side toward humanity.
Soul Hackers 2	One of the greatest and most mysterious of the angels. Tasked with being the scribe and advocate of heaven, he has many names, such as the Voice of God and Angel of Contracts. In contrast to his duty to maintain the world, he is said to have a merciless side toward humanity.
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon	The highest angel in Judeo-Christian lore, charges with maintaining the integrity of the world. He also has a violent streak, and ordered a mass slaughter of those who turned their faces from God.
Persona 3	One of the most important angels in the hierarchy, yet the most mysterious. He is the scribe and advocate of Heaven.
Persona 3 FES
Persona 3 Portable
Persona 3 Reload	The greatest angel in Judeo-Christian legend. He is known as the Voice of God or the Angel of Contracts. Despite his duty to maintain the world's order, he shows no mercy towards humanity.
Persona 4	One of the most important angels in the hierarchy, yet the most mysterious. He is the scribe and advocate of Heaven.
Persona 4 Golden
Persona 5	The greatest angel in Judeo-Christian legend. He is known as the Voice of God or the Angel of Contracts. Despite his duty to maintain the world's order, he shows no mercy towards humanity.
Persona 5 Royal
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth	One of the most important angels in the hierarchy, yet the most mysterious, he is the scribe and advocate of Heaven.
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth	One of the most important angels in the hierarchy, yet the most mysterious. He is the scribe and advocate of Heaven.
Persona 5 Strikers	The greatest angel in Judeo-Christian legend. He is known as the Voice of God or the Angel of Contracts. Despite his duty to maintain the world's order, he shows no mercy towards humanity.
Persona 5 Tactica	The greatest angel in Judeo-Christian legend. He is known as the Voice of God or the Angel of Contracts. Despite his duty to maintain order in the world, he shows no mercy towards humanity.
Devil Children Black Book and Red Book	GBC: カミのことばを　きろくする　しんじつを　つたえるテンシ　テンシのなかでは　もっともおおきい PS: 神の言葉を　記録する　真実を伝える天使　天使の中では　最も大きい Translation: A truth-telling angel who chronicles the Word of God. He is the largest of the angels.
Devil Children White Book	カミのことばを　きろくする　しんじつを　つたえるテンシ　テンシのなかでは　もっともおおきい Translation: A truth-telling angel who chronicles the Word of God. He is the largest of the angels.
Devil Survivor: Overclocked	The greatest and most mysterious of the angels. He has many names, such as the Voice of God and the Angel of Contracts. His name is said to originate from the "one who serves behind the throne," and he acts as God's representative. He has immense power, and his body is the largest amongst the angels. In contrast to his duty to maintain the world, he is said to have a merciless side and has slaughtered hundreds of humans who disobeyed him.
Devil Survivor 2	The greatest and most mysterious of the angels. He has many names, such as the Voice of God and the Angel of Contracts. His name is said to originate from the "one who serves behind the throne," and he acts as God's representative. He has immense power, and his body is the largest amongst the angels. In contrast to his duty to maintain the world, he is said to have a merciless side and has slaughtered hundreds of humans who disobeyed him.
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker
Kētai Akuma Densho	世界を維持する役目を担う天使。数多い天使の中で、最も偉大だと言われる。 出身地：イスラエル メタトロンは、天界の書記であるとされる大天使で、神の座る王座に最も近い場所に立つ者だと言われている。また、「神の代理人」とも言われ、神と人間の間を取り持つという重要な任務を与えられた天使でもある。神と人間の間に行われる「契約」という行為は、このメタトロンが創り出したと言われ、人間の祈りを神の元へ運ぶのも、彼の役目だと言う。彼はまた、物質世界を支えている存在にして、最も偉大な天使であるとも言われる。 Translation: The angel who carries the duty of maintaining the world. Said to be the greatest among the many angels. Place of origin: Israel Metatron is an archangel thought to be the scribe of heaven, and is said to be the one who stands closest to the throne God sits upon. In addition, he is also called the "Agent of God", and is the angel given the important role of mediating between God and humans. It is said that the act of forming a "covenant" between God and humans was devised by Metatron, and it is said that his role is to carry humans' prayers to God. Furthermore, he is said to be the existence which holds up the material world, and the greatest angel.

Game Appearances

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax

In the Labyrinth of Amala's Fifth Kalpa, before reaching the elevator that will take him to the Old Man in a Wheelchair, the Demi-fiend is stopped by Metatron, who is disappointed to find that he did not heed his warning from an earlier kalpa not to proceed further into the Labyrinth. Wishing to stop Lucifer's plan of creating a new demon in its tracks, he declares by God's Will he will destroy him and attacks the party.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

Main section: YHVH § Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

On a New Game+ playthrough, a strike team member can be found inspecting the door in Sector Grus that was guarded by a Power on a new game playthrough. Once the Protagonist obtains the Unlock E app, the crewman will acknowledge him and tell him of a treasure that lies beyond the door. As a demon guards the treasure, he asks the Protagonist to explore the area with him, and accepting the request will initiate the EX mission "The mother goddess' gravestone". Eventually, at the end of the area, the two encounter Alilat, who speaks of a seal and attacks them to prevent the aforementioned seal from being undone. After Alilat is defeated, the strike team member reveals his true identity as an aspect of God and absorbs the power of the broken seal, transforming him into Metatron. Metatron expounds on his current condition, explaining that God had grown weak and so was torn apart by the mother goddesses, who sealed His dispersed power across the Schwarzwelt. Metatron senses another part of himself sealed deep in the sector, so he once again asks for the Protagonist's assistance on the matter regardless of his alignment.

Accepting his request starts the "False god in chains" EX Mission, where Metatron and the Protagonist go down an elevator that leads to a room with God's sealed power. Before they enter it, a disembodied female voice pleads with the Protagonist not to go any further, but Metatron tells him to disregard it. Using Enemy Search C to make power manifest itself, the sealed power takes the form of the Demiurge and starts indiscriminately attacking everything. Once it is defeated, Metatron attempts to fuse with it to regain his true form.

End of spoilers.

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner

After the Embryon defeat Feng Huang, Long, Baihu, Gui Xian, and Orochi, and obtain the Red Ring off the body of the woman who succumbed to the injuries Orochi inflicted onto her, they can return to Ajna and encounter a newbie. The newbie recognizes the Red Ring as having belonged to his girlfriend, and falsely assuming that the party devoured her, angrily transforms into his Atma Avatar, Metatron, and attacks the party. Throughout the fight, the newbie's Metatron persona begins to override his human personality until nothing is left of his original consciousness. Upon his death he drops the Seraph Quill.

Devil Survivor

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Trivia

• In Devil Survivor, Metatron's boss racial skill "Lesser YHVH" is a reference to one of his titles in Jewish literature, such as 3 Enoch 12:5. This may also be referenced in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, when Metatron refers to himself as "the visage of a lesser deity".

Nomenclature

MetatronEnemy-only

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
English	Metatron
Japanese	メタトロン Metatoron	Metatron
Simplified Chinese	梅塔特隆 Méitǎtèlóng	Metatron
Traditional Chinese	梅塔特隆 Méitǎtèlóng	Metatron
French	Métatron
German	Metatron
Italian	Metatron
Korean	메타트론 Metateuron	Metatron
Polish	Metatron
Brazilian Portuguese	Metatron
Russian	Метатрон Metatron	Metatron
Peninsular Spanish	Metatrón
Turkish	Metatron

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
English	Shadow of GodPersona 5 Royal
Japanese	神の深き影Persona 5 Royal Kami no Fukaki Kage	Deep Shadow of God
Simplified Chinese	神的黑暗暗影Persona 5 Royal Shén de Hēi'àn Ànyǐng	Dark Shadow of God
Traditional Chinese	神的黑暗陰影Persona 5 Royal Shén de Hēi'àn Yīnyǐng	Dark Shadow of God
French	Ombre de DieuPersona 5 Royal	Shadow of God
German	Göttlicher SchattenPersona 5 Royal	Godly Shadow
Italian	Ombra di DioPersona 5 Royal	Shadow of God
Korean	신神의 깊은 그림자Persona 5 Royal Sin-ui Gipeun Geurimja	Deep Shadow of God
Peninsular Spanish	Sombra de DiosPersona 5 Royal	Shadow of God

Gallery

See Gallery

References

General

• "Metatron is Not Enoch: Reevaluating the Evolution of an Archangel", Yakir Paz. Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman Period, 50(1), pp. 52-100. Published February 13, 2019 by Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/15700631-12501239

Specific