Isaiah6
New Living Translation
1It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.
2Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.
3They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
4Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.
5Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.
7He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”
8Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
9And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
10Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”
11Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?” And he replied, “Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland;
12until the Lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
13If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The vision which Isaiah beheld in the temple. (1-8). The Lord declares the blindness to come upon the Jewish nation, and the destruction which would follow. (9-13).
vv1-8
In this figurative vision, the temple is thrown open to view, even to the most holy place. The prophet, standing outside the temple, sees the Divine Presence seated on the mercy-seat, raised over the ark of the covenant, between the cherubim and seraphim, and the Divine glory filled the whole temple. See God upon his throne. This vision is explained, John 12:41, that Isaiah now saw Christ's glory, and spake of Him, which is a full proof that our Saviour is God. In Christ Jesus, God is seated on a throne of grace; and through him the way into the holiest is laid open. See God's temple, his church on earth, filled with his glory. His train, the skirts of his robes, filled the temple, the whole world, for it is all God's temple. And yet he dwells in every contrite heart. See the blessed attendants by whom his government is served. Above the throne stood the holy angels, called seraphim, which means "burners;" they burn in love to God, and zeal for his glory against sin. The seraphim showing their faces veiled, declares that they are ready to yield obedience to all God's commands, though they do not understand the secret reasons of his counsels, government, or promises. All vain-glory, ambition, ignorance, and pride, would be done away by one view of Christ in his glory. This awful vision of the Divine Majesty overwhelmed the prophet with a sense of his own vileness. We are undone if there is not a Mediator between us and this holy God. A glimpse of heavenly glory is enough to convince us that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Nor is there a man that would dare to speak to the Lord, if he saw the justice, holiness, and majesty of God, without discerning his glorious mercy and grace in Jesus Christ. The live coal may denote the assurance given to the prophet, of pardon, and acceptance in his work, through the atonement of Christ. Nothing is powerful to cleanse and comfort the soul, but what is taken from Christ's satisfaction and intercession. The taking away sin is necessary to our speaking with confidence and comfort, either to God in prayer, or from God in preaching; and those shall have their sin taken away who complain of it as a burden, and see themselves in danger of being undone by it. It is great comfort to those whom God sends, that they go for God, and may therefore speak in his name, assured that he will bear them out.
vv9-13
God sends Isaiah to foretell the ruin of his people. Many hear the sound of God's word, but do not feel the power of it. God sometimes, in righteous judgment, gives men up to blindness of mind, because they will not receive the truth in the love of it. But no humble inquirer after Christ, need to fear this awful doom, which is a spiritual judgment on those who will still hold fast their sins. Let every one pray for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, that he may perceive how precious are the Divine mercies, by which alone we are secured against this dreadful danger. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, like the tenth, holy to him. And blessed be God, he still preserves his church; however professors or visible churches may be lopped off as unfruitful, the holy seed will shoot forth, from whom all the numerous branches of righteousness shall arise.
Key Words
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
עֻזִּיָּה: Uzzijah, the name of five Israelites
מָוֶת: death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אֲדֹנָי: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כִּסֵּא: properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied)
רוּם: to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Isaiah 6John explicitly declares that Isaiah saw Jesus' glory and spoke of Him in this temple vision.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul quotes verses 9-10 in Rome, attributing them to the Holy Ghost concerning Jewish unbelief.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jesus directly quotes verses 9-10 to explain why He speaks to the crowds in parables.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The six-winged living creatures cry day and night, 'Holy, holy, holy,' echoing the seraphim's song.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God declares no man can see Him and live, explaining Isaiah's dread of being undone.
Supported by JFB
Peter's exclamation 'Depart from me; for I am a sinful man' echoes Isaiah's confession of unclean lips.
Supported by JFB
Micaiah's vision of Jehovah sitting on His throne with all the host of heaven standing by.
Supported by JFB
Coals of fire taken from between the cherubim parallel the live coal from Isaiah's altar.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The plural 'who will go for us?' parallels the divine plurality expressed in creation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The 'holy seed' as a remnant parallels Paul's teaching on a remnant according to grace.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The cloud filling the temple at Solomon's dedication parallels the smoke filling the house.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Manoah's terror of death because 'we have seen God' parallels Isaiah's fear.
Supported by JFB
Job's self-abhorrence upon seeing God parallels Isaiah's confession of uncleanness.
Supported by JFB
Records that Isaiah the prophet wrote the acts of Uzziah, confirming his historical contemporary ministry.
Supported by JFB
God putting no trust in his saints parallels the seraphim veiling their faces.
Supported by JFB