And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The seraphim are not just randomly shouting praises; they are singing in responsive chorus, a pattern of worship that echoes throughout Scripture, highlighting communal praise. Their repeated "Holy, holy, holy" isn't just emphasis; it's a profound declaration of God's absolute, transcendent holiness, a truth that fills every corner of creation.
And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah has just had a breathtaking vision of God's majesty in the temple. This passage describes the reaction of the heavenly beings, the seraphim, to this divine presence. They cry out in unison, acknowledging God's supreme holiness and the universal presence of His glory, a powerful prelude to Isaiah's own commissioning and the daunting message he will deliver.
Have you ever repeated a word over and over until it felt… bigger? Like 'home, home, home' or 'love, love, love'? The seraphim do this with 'Holy,' but what does it really communicate about God?
The seraphim cry, 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts.' This threefold repetition isn't just poetic emphasis; in Hebrew thought, it signifies the absolute, ultimate, and superlative degree of holiness. Think of it like saying 'great, greater, greatest' or 'good, better, best' – but for holiness, there's no higher degree. It points to God's perfect, unchanging nature, entirely set apart from sin and corruption. This isn't just about God being pure; it's about His entire being being set apart, unique, and utterly perfect. This intense declaration is the foundation of heavenly worship, acknowledging God's supreme and unmatched holiness.
When you look around at the world, what do you see? Do you see hints of God's glory, or is it hidden? The seraphim declare something astounding about God's presence.
Following the declaration of God's supreme holiness, the seraphim proclaim, 'the whole earth is full of his glory!' This statement challenges any idea that God's presence or glory is confined to a specific place, like the temple. Instead, it declares that creation itself is a testament to God's magnificence. His power, wisdom, beauty, and character are displayed everywhere – from the smallest detail to the grandest vista. This isn't just a passive filling; it's an active demonstration. Every aspect of the created order points to the Creator. It means that even in the midst of our daily lives, we are surrounded by the evidence of God's glory.
Understand the original words
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qadosh · Hebrew Adjective
The quality of being set apart, utterly distinct, and morally perfect. It is God's essential nature, signifying His separation from all creation, His purity, and His transcendence.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God, revealed to Moses, signifying His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness to His people. It is the name through which God enters into relationship with His creation.
tseba'ot · Hebrew Noun
A title for God describing Him as the commander of the angelic armies of heaven. It emphasizes His supreme power, authority, and sovereignty over all celestial and terrestrial forces.
kabod · Hebrew Noun
The visible manifestation of God’s presence, attributes, and majesty. It refers to the radiance of His character and power as it is displayed or perceived within the created order.
c. 740 BC— this verse
King Uzziah Dies
The death of Uzziah, a long-reigning and prosperous king, marked a period of uncertainty and transition for Judah. This event serves as the immediate historical backdrop for Isaiah's prophetic call.
c. 740-701 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry
Isaiah receives his commission in the temple and begins his ministry, which spans several decades and involves prophecies concerning both judgment and hope for Judah and surrounding nations.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimitic War
Isaiah advises King Ahaz of Judah not to join an alliance against Assyria, foreseeing disaster for the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Damascus.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its people and scattering them. This event underscores the themes of judgment and exile present in Isaiah's prophecies.
701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. Isaiah delivers prophecies of deliverance, assuring King Hezekiah that the city will be saved.
This passage describes the same angelic hymn, echoing Isaiah's vision and emphasizing God's holiness and eternal sovereignty.
Exodus 15:11This verse from the song of Moses after the Red Sea crossing also declares God's holiness and His powerful glory displayed in His mighty acts.
Psalm 24:1This Psalm directly states that 'The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof,' echoing the seraphim's declaration that the whole earth is full of God's glory.
John 12:41John references this very vision, identifying the Lord Isaiah saw as Christ, and connecting His glory to this prophetic declaration.
Hebrews 12:29This New Testament passage speaks of God as a 'consuming fire,' a concept that resonates with the seraphim's acknowledgment of God's holy and powerful nature.
barnesIsaiah 6:3: "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."
And one cried to another - Hebrew 'This cried to this.' That is, they cried to each other in alternate responses. One cried 'holy;' the second repeated it; then the third; and then they probably united in the grand chorus, 'Full is all the earth of his glory.' This was an ancient mode of singing or recitative among the Hebrews; see Exodus 15:20-21 , where Miriam is r…
clarkeIsaiah 6:3: "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."
Holy, holy, holy - This hymn performed by the seraphim, divided into two choirs, the one singing responsively to the other, which Gregory Nazian., Carm. 18, very elegantly calls Συμφωνον, αντιφωνον, αγγελων στασιν, is formed upon the practice of alternate singing, which prevailed in the Jewish Church from the time of Moses, whose ode at the Red Sea was thus performed…
The seraphim are not just randomly shouting praises; they are singing in responsive chorus, a pattern of worship that echoes throughout Scripture, highlighting communal praise. Their repeated "Holy, holy, holy" isn't just emphasis; it's a profound declaration of God's absolute, transcendent holiness, a truth that fills every corner of creation.
Isaiah has just had a breathtaking vision of God's majesty in the temple. This passage describes the reaction of the heavenly beings, the seraphim, to this divine presence. They cry out in unison, acknowledging God's supreme holiness and the universal presence of His glory, a powerful prelude to Isaiah's own commissioning and the daunting message he will deliver.
Isaiah has just had a breathtaking vision of God's majesty in the temple. This passage describes the reaction of the heavenly beings, the seraphim, to this divine presence. They cry out in unison, acknowledging God's supreme holiness and the universal presence of His glory, a powerful prelude to Isaiah's own commissioning and the daunting message he will deliver.
"And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”" — The seraphim are not just randomly shouting praises; they are singing in responsive chorus, a pattern of worship that echoes throughout Scripture, highlighting communal praise. Their repeated "Holy,…
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Last reviewed October 2026