10. Ten Levels of Angels

Yesodei HaTorah 2:7 The groups of angels are called by different names, which reflect their positions. These include:

1) Chayos HaKodesh (holy beings), the highest rank; 2) Ofanim (wheels); 3) Erelim (valiant ones); 4) Chashmalim (electric ones); 5) Seraphim (fiery ones); 6) Malachim (messengers); 7) Elohim (the mighty ones); 8) B’nei Elohim (sons of the mighty); 9) Keruvim (cherubim); 10) Ishim (human-like).

These ten names reflect the ten different levels that angels occupy. There is no level above Chayos except for God Himself, which is why the prophets describe them as being under the throne of God’s glory. The lowest level is called Ishim (human-like). These are the angels who communicate with prophets and who are seen by them in visions. They are called Ishim because they are the category of angel that is closest to the human intellect.

Yesodei HaTorah 2:8 All these types of angel are alive. They recognize G-d very intensely, each in a manner commensurate with its level. Even the highest level, however, is incapable of grasping God’s true nature, as its intellect – like ours - is limited. Each category of angel does understand God’s nature more fully than those on lower levels. Even the lowest level, the Ishim, knows God in a fashion superior to anything of which man is capable but none of these levels can know God the way He knows Himself.