The Ishim (אישים, literally 'the fiery ones' or 'the souls of fire'; often translated as 'the Flames' or 'the Spirits of the Fire') are the ninth and lowest choir of angels in the Qabalistic hierarchy of Briah, the world of creation. In the Zoharic tradition, the Ishim are the souls of the righteous (the tzaddikim) that have been elevated to angelic status; they are the angels who are closest to humanity, often serving as guardian angels or messengers between the divine and the mundane.

Position on the Tree of Life

The Ishim correspond to Yesod (the Foundation), the ninth sephirah on the Tree of Life. Yesod is the sphere of the astral light, the moon, and the collective unconscious. As the Yesod choir, the Ishim represent the crystallization of angelic energy into a form that can interface directly with the physical world (Malkuth). They are the 'foundation' angels, linking the invisible forces of the upper sephiroth to the manifest world.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

In the 777 system, Yesod is governed by the Moon (לבנה, Levanah). Thus, the Ishim are lunar angels. Their nature is reflective, receptive, and associated with dreams, the subconscious, and the cycles of time. The lunar correspondence also ties them to the concept of the 'lower paradise' and the throne of the Messiah in some Kabbalistic texts.

Historical Context

The Ishim appear in the Book of Ezekiel (1:13) in descriptions of the Chayot (living creatures), where they are described as 'burning coals of fire' that move among the angels—a fierce, purifying aspect. The Zohar (II:43a) identifies the Ishim with the 'Sons of God' (Beni Elohim) in Genesis 6:2, but in a purified sense: they are the angels sent to instruct humanity, and they are the souls that never sinned. In the Bahir (section 74), they are listed as the order that 'stands before the Holy One, blessed be He,' yet also serve as the angels of judgment in the lower worlds. The Sefer Raziel describes them as the 'Sheriffs of the Gates,' guarding the thresholds between the astral plane and physical reality.

Closing

In table row LXXXVI of Liber 777 (Choirs of Angels in Briah), the Ishim occupy the ninth step (Yesod), following the Beni Elohim (Hod) and preceding the Aralim (Malkuth). They are the bridge between the angelic and human realms, the 'voice of the Shekhinah' in the astral light.