Shinanim (שִׁנְאֲנִים) is a Hebrew term meaning "the second ones" or "the repeated ones," derived from the root sh-n-h (to repeat, to double). In Kabbalistic angelology, it designates a specific choir of angels operating in the world of Briah (the world of creation). The name suggests a secondary or reflected emanation, perhaps indicating their role as a mediating force between higher and lower divine expressions.

Position on the Tree of Life

Shinanim is assigned to the fourth sephirah, Chesed (Mercy), on the Tree of Life. This placement aligns them with the expansive, loving, and structuring energy of Chesed, which is the first of the sephiroth below the abyss and the primary channel of divine grace into the lower worlds.

Astrological and planetary correspondence

In the system of Liber 777, Chesed corresponds to the sphere of Jupiter and the astrological sign of Sagittarius. The Shinanim thus carry the expansive, benevolent, and philosophical qualities of Jupiter, acting as the angelic agents that transmit Jovian mercy and abundance into the created order.

Historical context

The term Shinanim appears in Kabbalistic literature, most notably in the Zohar and in later works of Jewish angelology. In the Zohar (e.g., Zohar II, 43a), it is used to describe a class of angels that sing praises to God in a "second" or repeated manner, echoing the divine glory. The Sefer Yetzirah and its commentaries also reference Shinanim in the context of the angelic hierarchy of Briah, where they are associated with the divine attribute of Chesed and the letter Dalet (door), symbolizing the opening of mercy. Medieval Kabbalists like Moses Cordovero and Isaac Luria further systematized these correspondences, placing Shinanim as the fourth choir in the Briatic order, following the Kerubim (Binah) and preceding the Tharshishim (Geburah).

In the broader context of Western esotericism, Shinanim was adopted by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which integrated these Hebrew angelic names into its ritual and meditative practices. The Golden Dawn assigned Shinanim to the Briatic world of Chesed, emphasizing their role as the "builders" or "architects" of the divine plan, working under the influence of Jupiter to bring form and structure to the creative flow.

In Liber 777, Shinanim appears as the angelic choir of Briah corresponding to the sephirah Chesed (scale step 4). This placement underscores their function as the active, merciful agents of divine expansion and order within the created universe.