Akiba ben Joseph (c. 50-135 CE), widely known as Rabbi Akiva, was a leading Jewish scholar, sage, and a foundational figure in the development of rabbinic Judaism. A master of Jewish law and esoteric tradition, he is historically recognized as one of the greatest sages of the Talmudic era. In the study of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah, he is traditionally credited by many esoteric scholars as the compiler or author of the Sefer Yetzirah (The Book of Formation), one of the oldest and most profoundly influential texts of Jewish esoteric philosophy.