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)
The seraphim covering their feet, not just their faces, highlights a profound humility. It signifies not just awe before God's majesty, but also a consciousness of their own inherent limitations and a desire to conceal their earthly, even if holy, nature from the Divine gaze. This act of covering their feet, therefore, speaks volumes about their complete submission and their awareness of the vast distance between the creature and the Creator.
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)
Isaiah is presented with a breathtaking vision of God's majestic holiness in the temple, surrounded by divine beings. This experience immediately reveals his own unworthiness and the sinfulness of his people. Following this, one of the heavenly beings purifies Isaiah with a burning coal from the altar, preparing him for his prophetic commission to a stubborn and rebellious nation.
Imagine standing in the presence of absolute holiness. What would you do? The seraphim, powerful heavenly beings, reveal a surprising response that teaches us about true reverence.
In Isaiah's vision, the seraphim are described with six wings. Two cover their faces, two cover their feet, and two are for flying. This isn't just about their appearance; it's a profound statement about their response to God's overwhelming holiness.
Awe and Adoration
These actions aren't born from shame or sin, as they are holy beings. Instead, they stem from an intense awareness of God's absolute holiness and their own place in relation to Him. It teaches us that true worship involves recognizing God's greatness and our own humble position before Him.
The name 'seraphim' itself carries a powerful meaning. What does this fiery designation tell us about their role and nature in God's heavenly court?
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The very name 'seraphim' is derived from a Hebrew word that means 'to burn' or 'fiery one.' This imagery is potent and speaks to several aspects of these heavenly beings:
Burning Zeal and Purity
These beings are described as 'burning ones,' embodying both God's consuming holiness and their own fervent dedication to His purposes.
Six wings might seem elaborate, but each pair serves a crucial purpose. What do these different uses of their wings reveal about the nature of angelic ministry?
The description of the seraphim's six wings isn't arbitrary; it paints a vivid picture of their active and devoted service to God. Each set of wings signifies a different aspect of their readiness and purpose:
The Threefold Ministry
This tripartite use of wings highlights that angelic ministry is a balanced expression of deep reverence and active obedience. They are fully devoted to God’s presence and equally prepared to act at His behest. This model calls us to integrate worship with action in our own lives.
Understand the original words
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.
Isaiah's vision occurs during a period of intense geopolitical pressure on Judah, with the looming threat of Assyrian expansion. This context amplifies the divine authority and urgency of his prophetic message.
c. 740 BC
Reign of King Uzziah ends
King Uzziah, a long-reigning and generally prosperous Judean monarch, died. His death marked a period of political transition and perhaps spiritual uncertainty for the kingdom.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Vision in the Temple
Isaiah experiences a profound vision of God's majesty in the temple, encountering the seraphim. This event marks the definitive commissioning of Isaiah as a prophet.
c. 734 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War begins
The kingdoms of Aram (Syria) and Israel (Northern Kingdom) attempt to force Judah into an anti-Assyrian alliance, leading to a siege of Jerusalem.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Samaria, falls to the Neo-Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of the ten northern tribes.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Neo-Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem, though the city is ultimately spared.
Like the seraphim in Isaiah's vision, these angelic beings are described with multiple wings, signifying their readiness and ability to move swiftly in God's service.
Revelation 4:8The four living creatures around God's throne also have six wings and cry 'Holy, holy, holy,' echoing the seraphim's devotion and the overwhelming holiness of God.
1 Kings 19:13When Elijah encountered God's presence, he also covered his face with his mantle, demonstrating a similar profound reverence and awe in the face of divine holiness.
Exodus 3:6Moses, upon seeing God in the burning bush, hid his face, showing that even great figures of faith recognize their inadequacy and overwhelming fear before God's presence.
Leviticus 16:12-13The high priest's entering the Most Holy Place with incense specifically to veil the altar from God's sight illustrates a priestly act mirroring the seraphim's covering their faces in reverence before God's overwhelming presence.
gillIsaiah 6:2: "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."
Above it stood the seraphims,.... Not above the temple, nor above the throne, much less above him that sat upon it, but either "by him", on the right hand and on the left, as Aben Ezra; or "near him", as Kimchi and Ben Melech; or "before him", as the Targum; or "round about him", as the Septuagint; all which denote the ministering for…
clarkeIsaiah 6:2: "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."
Above it stood the seraphim - שרפים seraphim, from שרף seraph, to burn. He saw says Kimchi, the angels as flames of fire, that the depravity of that generation might be exhibited, which was worthy of being totally burnt up. He covered his feet "He covereth his feet" - By the feet the Hebrews mean all the lower parts of the body. But t…
The seraphim covering their feet, not just their faces, highlights a profound humility. It signifies not just awe before God's majesty, but also a consciousness of their own inherent limitations and a desire to conceal their earthly, even if holy, nature from the Divine gaze. This act of covering their feet, therefore, speaks volumes about their complete submission and their awareness of the vast distance between the creature and the Creator.
Isaiah is presented with a breathtaking vision of God's majestic holiness in the temple, surrounded by divine beings. This experience immediately reveals his own unworthiness and the sinfulness of his people. Following this, one of the heavenly beings purifies Isaiah with a burning coal from the altar, preparing him for his prophetic commission to a stubborn and rebellious nation.
Isaiah is presented with a breathtaking vision of God's majestic holiness in the temple, surrounded by divine beings. This experience immediately reveals his own unworthiness and the sinfulness of his people. Following this, one of the heavenly beings purifies Isaiah with a burning coal from the altar, preparing him for his prophetic commission to a stubborn and rebellious nation.
"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." — The seraphim covering their feet, not just their faces, highlights a profound humility. It signifies not just awe before God's majesty, but also a consciousness of their own inherent limitations and…
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Last reviewed October 2026