Isaiah 6:2

Translations

Modern

Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

Traditional

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

Literal

Seraphim stood above Him, with six wings for each—six wings—with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

Latin

Seraphim stabant super illud: sex alæ uni, et sex alæ alteri; duabus velabant faciem ejus, et duabus velabant pedes ejus, et duabus volabant.

Original

Hebrew

English

Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

Notes

Isaiah 6:2

The mighty seraphim are heavenly beings not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture (though similar living creatures appear in Revelation 4:6–9; 15:8). The Hebrew term seraphim may be related to a word that means “to burn.” This suggests an association with fire. Their name may point to their shining or fiery nature.

In Isaiah’s vision, each seraph had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces. This showed reverence and humility. Even these powerful heavenly beings did not look directly at God’s glory.

Isaiah 6:1–13

Isaiah’s great vision of the Lord as King on his throne was a turning point in his life. This vision shaped his work as a prophet.

Scholars understand the historical setting of this event in two main ways:

Some see Isaiah 6 as Isaiah's original call to ministry. This would mean Isaiah 1–5 and 7–12 belong to the time of King Ahaz. Ahaz began to rule after King Uzziah died(Isaiah 6:1).
If this is correct, Isaiah’s call did not appear at the beginning of the book for literary reasons. Perhaps the author placed the call in chapter 6 to end chapters 1–5 and introduce chapters 7–12.
Isaiah’s personal cleansing and commissioning show what the whole nation needed. The people also needed to turn back to God if they were to fulfill their calling to be God’s light to the world.
Others believe that chapters 1–12 follow a chronological order (in the order events happened).
In this view, chapter 6 does not describe Isaiah’s first call. Instead, it describes a recommissioning. This means God sent Isaiah again to serve in a new way.
This new stage of ministry took place during the time of Ahaz. During this period, people would reject Isaiah’s message.
Supporters of this interpretation refer to Isaiah 2:7–9; 3:16–24; and 5:8–14. They argue that these sections describe a time of wealth, military strength, pride, and luxury. These conditions fit the reign of Uzziah but not the reign of Ahaz.

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah Salvation in Isaiah The Holy One of Israel The New Order Visions

Events

Prophecies of Isaiahc. 759 BC

Related verses

Revelation 4:8
And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Ezekiel 1:11
Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.
Psalm 104:4
He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.
Psalm 103:20
Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
Isaiah 6:6
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
1 Kings 6:24
One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So the full wingspan was ten cubits.
Zechariah 3:4
So the angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.”
Psalm 18:10
He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
1 Kings 6:27
And he placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple. Since their wings were spread out, the wing of the first cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the second cherub touched the other wall, and in the middle of the room their wingtips touched.
Exodus 37:9
And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.
Job 15:15
If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
Ezekiel 1:24
When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Isaiah 6:2

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