The Meaning of Isaiah 6:2 Explained

Isaiah 6:2

KJV: 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.

YLT: Seraphs are standing above it: six wings hath each one; with two each covereth its face, and with two each covereth its feet, and with two each flieth.

Darby: Seraphim were standing above him: each had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he flew.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Isaiah 6:2 Mean?

Study Notes

seraphims
Heb. Burners. The word occurs only here. The Seraphim are, in many respects, in contrast with the Cherubim, though both are expressive of the divine holiness, which demands that the sinner shall have access to divine presence only through a sacrifice which really vindicates the righteousness of God.
See Scofield " Romans 3:25 " See Scofield " Romans 3:26 " and that the saint shall be cleansed before serving. Genesis 3:22-24 illustrates the first; Isaiah 6:1-8 the second. The Cherubim may be said to have to do with the altar, the Seraphim with the laver. See Scofield " Psalms 51:7 " See Scofield " John 13:10 ". The Seraphim appear to be actual angelic beings.
living creatures
The "living creatures" are identical with the Cherubim. The subject is somewhat obscure, but from the position of the Cherubim at the gate of Eden, upon the cover of the ark of the covenant, and in Revelation 4, it is clearly gathered that they have to do with vindication of the holiness of God as against the presumptuous pride of sinful man who, despite his sin, would "put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life" Genesis 3:22-24 . Upon the ark of the covenant, of one substance with the mercy-seat, they saw the sprinkled blood which, in type, spake of the perfect maintenance of the divine righteousness by the sacrifice of Christ Exodus 25:17-20 . (See Scofield " Romans 3:24 ") . See Scofield " Romans 3:25 ". See Scofield " Romans 3:26 ". The living creatures (or Cherubim) appear to be actual beings of the angelic order. Cf. See Scofield " Isaiah 6:2 ". The Cherubim or living creatures are not identical with the Seraphim. Isaiah 6:2-7 . They appear to have to do with the holiness of God as outraged by sin; the Seraphim with uncleanness in the people of God. The passage in Ezekiel is highly figurative, but the effect was the revelation to the prophet of the Shekinah glory of the Lord. Such revelations are connected invariably with new blessing and service. Cf.; Exodus 3:2-10 ; Isaiah 6:1-10 ; Daniel 10:5-14 ; Revelation 1:12-19 .
Redemption
Redemption, "to deliver by paying a price." The N.T. doctrine. The N.T. records the fulfilment of the O.T. types and prophecies of redemption through the sacrifice of Christ. The completed truth is set forth in the three words which are translated redemption
(1) agorazo, "to purchase in the market." The underlying thought is of a slave-market. The subjects of redemption are "sold under sin" Romans 7:14 but are, moreover, under sentence of death; Ezekiel 18:4 ,; John 3:18 ; John 3:19 ; Romans 3:19 ; Galatians 3:10 , and the purchase price is the blood of the Redeemer who dies in their stead; Galatians 3:13 ; 2 Corinthians 5:21 ; Matthew 20:28 ,; Mark 10:45 ; 1 Timothy 2:6 ; 1 Peter 1:18 .
(2) exagorazo, "to buy out of the market." The redeemed are never again to be exposed to sale;
(3) lutroo, "to loose," "to set free by paying a price" John 8:32 ; Galatians 4:4 ; Galatians 4:5 ; Galatians 4:31 ; Galatians 5:13 ; Romans 8:21 . Redemption is by sacrifice and by power (See Scofield " Exodus 14:30 ") Christ paid the price, the Holy Spirit makes deliverance actual in experience Romans 8:2 .
(See Scofield " Isaiah 59:20 ") . See Scofield " Romans 1:16 ".
grace Grace (in salvation), Romans 4:4-16 ; Romans 3:24 . (See Scofield " John 1:17 ") .

Verse Meaning

Fiery angels attended the Lord. "Seraphim," a transliteration of the Hebrew word, probably means "burning ones." (cf. Numbers 21:6). This is the only reference to seraphim as angelic beings in Scripture. Usually this Hebrew word describes snakes (cf. Numbers 21:6; Deuteronomy 8:15; Isaiah 14:29; Isaiah 30:6). What John saw may have been dragon-like creatures. They covered their faces, as we do when we are in the presence of something extremely brilliant, to hide and protect themselves from the superlative glory of God. They covered their feet for the same reason and perhaps as an indication that they renounced going anywhere on their own. One writer suggested that the feet may be euphemisms for the genital areas (cf. Isaiah 7:20; Exodus 4:25). In this case the creatures may have been expressing modesty. [1] They used their third pair of wings to fly, namely, to carry out the orders of their sovereign.

Context Summary

Isaiah 6:1-13 - A Call To Heroic Service
Kings die; Jesus lives. See John 12:41. We are here reminded of Acts 22:17-18. How great the contrast between the worship of these seraphim in the Unseen-Holy and man's perfunctory rites! Six wings-two for meditation, two for humility, and two for service. Service should take only a third of our energy. One cried unto another-one inspired spirit will awaken others. The threefold repetition of the word holy, implies the Trinity. If door-posts tremble, much more should the hearts of sinful men! Isaiah, in the previous chapter, had uttered six woes against others, but his seventh and sorest woe is against himself. The sinner, like the leper, cries, Unclean! Leviticus 13:45. The seraph did not wait to be told; he knew that there was only one cure for such need as the prophet's, Isaiah 6:9-13. When men refuse God's offered grace, every refusal hardens. It is either "the savour of death unto death" or of "life unto life," 2 Corinthians 2:16. The life of the oak and the terebinth only seems to become extinct in winter; there is revival in the spring. Is it winter with you? Pray for the springtime! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 6

1  Isaiah, in a vision of the Lord in his glory
5  Being terrified, has apprehensions removed
8  He offers himself, and is sent to show the obstinacy of the people
13  A remnant shall be saved

What do the individual words in Isaiah 6:2 mean?

Seraphim stood Above it six wings had [each] one with two he covered his face and with two his feet he flew
שְׂרָפִ֨ים עֹמְדִ֤ים ׀ מִמַּ֙עַל֙ ל֔וֹ שֵׁ֧שׁ כְּנָפַ֛יִם לְאֶחָ֑ד בִּשְׁתַּ֣יִם ׀ יְכַסֶּ֣ה פָנָ֗יו וּבִשְׁתַּ֛יִם רַגְלָ֖יו יְעוֹפֵֽף

שְׂרָפִ֨ים  Seraphim 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׂרָף  
Sense: serpent, fiery serpent.
עֹמְדִ֤ים ׀  stood 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
מִמַּ֙עַל֙  Above 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
שֵׁ֧שׁ  six 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: שֵׁשׁ  
Sense: six.
כְּנָפַ֛יִם  wings 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: כָּנָף  
Sense: wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt.
לְאֶחָ֑ד  had  [each]  one 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
בִּשְׁתַּ֣יִם ׀  with  two 
Parse: Preposition-b, Number, fd
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
יְכַסֶּ֣ה  he  covered 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּסָה  
Sense: to cover, conceal, hide.
פָנָ֗יו  his  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וּבִשְׁתַּ֛יִם  and  with  two 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Number, fd
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
רַגְלָ֖יו  his  feet 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
יְעוֹפֵֽף  he  flew 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עוּף 
Sense: to fly, fly about, fly away.