Isaiah 6:1-2
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The vision begins not with a grand pronouncement, but with a stark marker of earthly loss – King Uzziah's death. This isn't just a date; it's the contrast that throws into sharp relief the eternal, unshakeable sovereignty of God, whose "train" (or the hem of His robe) fills the entirety of the temple, revealing Him as the ultimate King beyond any human ruler.
This vision marks the pivotal moment Isaiah is called to be a prophet. It occurs in the year King Uzziah, a long-reigning and seemingly prosperous ruler, dies—a significant national event that likely prompts reflection on leadership and divine favor. This vision, appearing at a time of national uncertainty, serves as Isaiah's consecration, revealing the awesome majesty of God and commissioning him for his difficult prophetic task.
When a powerful king dies, it often leaves a void. Isaiah's vision begins precisely at such a moment, but it redirects his focus entirely.
King Uzziah had been a long-reigning, prosperous, and influential monarch in Judah. His death marked the end of an era and likely created a sense of uncertainty. However, Isaiah doesn't dwell on the earthly power vacuum. Instead, the moment Uzziah, a symbol of earthly power and stability, passes away, Isaiah sees a far greater reality: the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. This wasn't just any throne; it was one of supreme authority and majesty, far removed from human limitations. The imagery emphasizes a radical shift in perspective – from the transient power of kings to the eternal sovereignty of God.
Isaiah's vision of God isn't a simple portrait; it's an overwhelming display of divine presence that fills everything.
The phrase 'high and lifted up' immediately conveys God's transcendence and exaltation above all creation. But the vision intensifies this with the striking image: 'the train of His robe filled the temple.' This isn't just a large garment; it represents the immense, pervasive glory and presence of God that overflows the very confines of the sacred space. It suggests that God's majesty is so vast it cannot be contained, extending beyond the holy of holies, beyond the temple walls, and filling the entire spiritual realm that the temple represented. It's a powerful visual to impress upon Isaiah (and us) the sheer scale and overwhelming nature of God's holiness and presence.
Understand the original words
melek · Hebrew Noun
A sovereign ruler or monarch, often used in scripture to denote both earthly human kings and, ultimately, the supreme authority of God. It signifies one who exercises dominion, judgment, and protection over a people.
Adonai · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew word 'Adonai,' signifying the Master, Lord, or Sovereign. It is a title of absolute authority and ownership, expressing the relationship of a servant to his supreme Master.
kisse' · Hebrew Noun
A physical or metaphorical place of authority and judgment. In Scripture, it represents the dwelling place of God’s sovereignty and the seat from which He governs the cosmos.
heykal · Hebrew Noun
The death of King Uzziah, a ruler who embodied both the glory and the deep-seated sin of Judah, served as the catalyst for Isaiah's transformative vision and prophetic call. It was in the shadow of a failed human king that Isaiah saw the ultimate King, high and lifted up, setting the stage for his lifelong ministry.
c. 750 BC
King Uzziah's prosperous reign
King Uzziah of Judah reigned for 52 years, a period marked by significant military success, economic prosperity, and expansion of the kingdom. His reign was one of the longest and most successful in Judah's history.
c. 740 BC
Uzziah stricken with leprosy
King Uzziah, in an act of defiance and presumption, entered the Temple to offer incense, an act reserved for priests. God struck him with leprosy as punishment, forcing him into isolation and effectively ending his public reign.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Death of King Uzziah
King Uzziah died, likely around this year, after a long reign that had seen Judah rise to prominence but concluded with divine judgment upon its king. His death marked the end of an era.
c. 740 BC - 739 BC
Jotham co-regent and sole ruler
Uzziah's son, Jotham, began his co-regency and then ruled as sole king following Uzziah's death. This period likely saw continued prosperity but also growing internal and external pressures.
John explicitly states that Isaiah saw Christ's glory in this vision, clarifying that the 'Lord' Isaiah saw was not just the divine majesty but specifically the pre-incarnate Son of God.
Ezekiel 1:26-28This passage also describes a prophet's overwhelming vision of God's glory on a throne, emphasizing the awe-inspiring nature of divine presence and the immediate response of fear and reverence from the seer, similar to Isaiah's experience.
Daniel 7:9-10Daniel's vision of God on a fiery throne attended by heavenly beings mirrors Isaiah's experience of divine majesty and the surrounding angelic hosts, highlighting the ancient and powerful imagery of God's sovereignty.
Exodus 33:18-23This passage shows Moses' request to see God's glory and God's response of revealing His goodness and presence, but not His full face, which resonates with Isaiah's vision of God's overwhelming glory through His 'train' rather than a distinct form.
Revelation 4:2-3The description of God on His throne in Revelation, surrounded by elders and living creatures, echoes Isaiah's vision of divine sovereignty and the heavenly court, showing a consistent biblical portrayal of God's majestic presence.
barnesIsaiah 6:1: "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple."
In the year - This naturally denotes a period after the death of Uzziah, though in the same year. The mention of the time was evidently made when the prophecy was composed, and it is to be presumed that the death of Uzziah had occurred at the time when the prophet saw this vision. If so, it is clear that this was not the first of his prophecies, for he…
pooleIsaiah 6:1: "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple."
The glory of the Lord, Isaiah 6:1-4 . Isaiah is terrified, Isaiah 6:5 ; is confirmed for his message, Isaiah 6:6-8 . The people’s obstinacy unto desolation, Isaiah 6:9-12 . A remnant shall be saved, Isaiah 6:13 . I saw in a vision or ecstasy. The Lord; either, 1. God the Son, who frequently appeared to the patriarchs and prophets, and that sometimes in…
The vision begins not with a grand pronouncement, but with a stark marker of earthly loss – King Uzziah's death. This isn't just a date; it's the contrast that throws into sharp relief the eternal, unshakeable sovereignty of God, whose "train" (or the hem of His robe) fills the entirety of the temple, revealing Him as the ultimate King beyond any human ruler.
This vision marks the pivotal moment Isaiah is called to be a prophet. It occurs in the year King Uzziah, a long-reigning and seemingly prosperous ruler, dies—a significant national event that likely prompts reflection on leadership and divine favor. This vision, appearing at a time of national uncertainty, serves as Isaiah's consecration, revealing the awesome majesty of God and commissioning him for his difficult prophetic task.
This vision marks the pivotal moment Isaiah is called to be a prophet. It occurs in the year King Uzziah, a long-reigning and seemingly prosperous ruler, dies—a significant national event that likely prompts reflection on leadership and divine favor. This vision, appearing at a time of national uncertainty, serves as Isaiah's consecration, revealing the awesome majesty of God and commissioning him for his difficult prophetic task.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 6:1-2 is available in the Sola app.
The dwelling place of God’s presence on earth, originally the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. It is the sacred space where God meets His people and where His holiness dwells among them.
seraphim · Hebrew Noun
Celestial beings attendant to the throne of God, whose name means 'burning ones.' They are characterized by their intense devotion, service, and role in declaring God's holiness.
c. 739 BC onwards
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry
Isaiah receives his profound vision of God's glory in the Temple and is commissioned as a prophet. His ministry would span several decades, witnessing the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, and confronting the looming threats of Assyria.
"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covere…" — The vision begins not with a grand pronouncement, but with a stark marker of earthly loss – King Uzziah's death. This isn't just a date; it's the contrast that throws into sharp relief the eternal, u…
