The Grigori — the “Watchers” — are among the most fateful beings in Hebrew apocalyptic tradition: a class of angels sent down to watch over the earth and humankind who, ensnared by desire, broke their celestial trust, descended to take mortal wives, and loosed corruption and ruin upon the world. Their fall is the original sin of the angels, told at length in the Book of Enoch.
The Angels Who Watched
The name comes from the Greek egregoroi, “those who are awake” or “watchful ones,” rendering the Aramaic ‘irin. The Grigori were a high order of angels appointed to observe and guard the earth in its early days, never to interfere, only to watch. Two hundred of them, the Book of Enoch relates, descended upon Mount Hermon under the leadership of [semyaza], and there they bound themselves by a mutual oath to a forbidden purpose.
The Sin of the Watchers
Looking upon the daughters of men and finding them beautiful, the Watchers took human wives in defiance of their nature and station. From these unions were born the [nephilim], monstrous giants who devoured the produce of the earth and then turned to devouring humankind itself. Worse, the fallen Watchers taught humanity forbidden knowledge: [azazel] revealed the making of swords and armor and the arts of cosmetics and seduction; others taught sorcery, astrology, the cutting of roots, and the reading of the heavens. The earth was filled with violence, bloodshed, and corruption.
Judgment and the Flood
The cry of the afflicted earth rose to heaven, and the loyal archangels — [archangel-michael], Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel — interceded. God decreed judgment: the giants were set against one another to destroy themselves, the Watchers were bound in the valleys of the earth and in darkness until the final judgment, and the great Flood was sent to cleanse the corrupted world. The Grigori thus stand as the archetype of the fallen angel — beings of light who, given the freedom to watch, chose instead to grasp, and so brought the first ruin upon creation. Their story shaped all later lore of fallen angels and demons.