Who Is Yaldabaoth? What the Lost Texts Say

In The Secret Book of John

The Secret Book of John calls Yaldabaoth the first ruler and says he draws enormous power from his mother. The text gives this ruler of darkness three names, Yaldabaoth, Sakla and Samael. He appoints seven kings to govern the heavens and five to govern the depths of the abyss.

Yaldabaoth asks the rulers beside him to make a human in God's image and their own likeness. The Mother's power passes out of Yaldabaoth and enters the body shaped after the one who exists from the beginning. Later, the text describes him displaying his ignorance before his angels and driving the humans out of paradise.

In On the Origin of the World

On the Origin of the World calls Yaldabaoth the chief creator and describes him speaking heavens into being for his sons. The ruler remains ignorant of the power of Pistis and sees an image in the water rather than her face. The text says he names himself Yaldabaoth because of a voice, while the perfect ones call him Ariael because of his lion form.

In The Nature of the Rulers

In The Nature of the Rulers, Zoe addresses Yaldabaoth as Sakla and challenges him. Her breath becomes an angel of fire that binds him and throws him down into Tartaros. His son Sabaoth witnesses the angel's might, repents and denounces his father and his mother, matter itself. When Yaldabaoth sees Sabaoth exalted in heaven, his jealousy becomes a thing both male and female.

Where Yaldabaoth appears

What the texts say, in their own words

“Yaldabaoth told the rulers at his side, “Come, we will make a human in God’s image and after our own likeness, so that this human shape can become a light for us.””

The Secret Book of John · Yaldabaoth addresses the rulers beside him about making a human. · Read it in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

“Zoe, the daughter of Pistis Sophia, cried aloud and said to him, ‘You are mistaken, Sakla,’ he whose name is also Yaldabaoth. Zoe blew into his face, and her breath became for her an angel of fire. That angel bound Yaldabaoth and hurled him down into Tartaros, to the floor of the fathomless void.”

The Nature of the Rulers · Zoe challenges Yaldabaoth before her breath becomes an angel that binds him. · Read it in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

“Because of that voice he named himself Yaldabaoth. The perfect ones, however, call him Ariael, since his form is that of a lion.”

On the Origin of the World · The passage connects Yaldabaoth's naming with a voice and describes his lion form. · Read it in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

Preguntas

Who is Yaldabaoth?

Yaldabaoth is the first ruler in The Secret Book of John, an archon who draws power from his mother. On the Origin of the World calls him the chief creator and describes him making heavens for his sons.

What other names does Yaldabaoth have?

The Secret Book of John gives Yaldabaoth two other names, Sakla and Samael. On the Origin of the World says the perfect ones call him Ariael because his form is that of a lion. The Gospel of Judas names him Nebro and says others call him Yaldabaoth.

Who is Yaldabaoth's son Sabaoth?

Sabaoth is Yaldabaoth's son in The Nature of the Rulers, where he repents after witnessing an angel's might. On the Origin of the World describes Sabaoth honoring Pistis with hymns and condemning his father and mother.

Where is Yaldabaoth mentioned in the lost texts?

Yaldabaoth appears in The Secret Book of John, The Nature of the Rulers, On the Origin of the World, The Wisdom of Jesus Christ, The Second Discourse of Great Seth, Three Forms of First Thought and The Gospel of Judas, in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures.