Isaiah 6:8-9
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights God's seeking for someone to fulfill His mission, asking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" This "us" is incredibly significant; while it can refer to God's majesty, it also subtly points to a plurality within the Godhead, foreshadowing the Trinity. Isaiah's immediate, bold response, "Here I am! Send me," demonstrates a profound readiness to serve, even before knowing the specific, likely challenging, nature of the task.
In the aftermath of a powerful vision of God's holiness and his own sinfulness, Isaiah is cleansed by a seraph. This prepares him to hear God's direct call, a cosmic question echoing through the throne room: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah's immediate, unhesitating response is a volunteer offering, "Here I am! Send me," setting the stage for his difficult prophetic mission to a resistant people.
In a moment of profound encounter with God's holiness, Isaiah hears a divine question. It's not a demand, but an invitation. How do we respond when God calls us to action?
Isaiah's vision is a pivotal moment. After witnessing the immense glory and holiness of God, and after his own cleansing, he hears the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” This isn't an arbitrary question; it's a deliberate call for volunteers.
A Deliberate Question
God isn't lacking willing servants, nor is He unaware of who is capable. This question is posed to reveal a need and to elicit a willing heart. It highlights that God seeks those who, like Isaiah, have been transformed by His presence and are ready to step out in faith.
The Power of 'Here Am I'
Isaiah's immediate and resounding answer, “Here am I! Send me,” is more than just saying 'yes.' It signifies:
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This is the heart of discipleship – being available and responsive to God's call, even when the mission is unclear.
The phrase 'who will go for us?' is striking. Why does God use a plural pronoun when speaking of Himself? This subtle shift points to a profound truth about the nature of God.
The use of the plural pronoun 'us' when God speaks is a recurring theme in Scripture, and Isaiah 6:8 is a prime example. While interpretations have varied throughout history, Christian theology often sees in this a significant, albeit early, hint of the Trinity.
More Than Majesty
Some scholars suggest it's a 'plural of majesty,' used to denote royalty or greatness. However, as many commentators note, ancient kings typically used the singular in their decrees. While 'plural of majesty' is a concept in Hebrew grammar, its application here is debated, with many arguing it doesn't fully explain this specific instance.
A Hint of Divine Community
More compelling is the understanding that this plural pronoun points to a plurality within the Godhead. When God says 'us,' it suggests a divine council, a community of persons within the one God. This aligns with other foundational Old Testament passages:
While the full revelation of the Trinity unfolds in the New Testament, these Old Testament passages, including Isaiah's vision, offer glimpses of the complex, relational nature of God – one God existing in multiple persons.
Understand the original words
Adonay · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, this title refers to God's authority as Master or Owner. It signifies total sovereignty and lordship over creation and the individual.
Isaiah's powerful call to prophecy occurs at a pivotal moment of political and spiritual crisis for Judah, immediately following the death of a long-reigning king and amidst rising international threats. This context underscores the weight and urgency of his divine commission.
c. 786–740 BC
Reign of King Uzziah
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry during the long and prosperous reign of King Uzziah of Judah. This era saw significant expansion and stability for the kingdom.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Death of King Uzziah
The death of King Uzziah marks a period of transition and uncertainty for Judah. This event serves as the immediate backdrop for Isaiah's profound vision.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Vision in the Temple
In the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah experiences a dramatic vision of God's majesty in the temple, leading to his commissioning as a prophet.
c. 740 BC
Prophetic Commission
Following his cleansing, Isaiah hears God asking, 'Whom shall I send?' and volunteers, accepting the difficult task of delivering God's message to a rebellious people.
c. 740–701 BC
Prophetic Ministry of Isaiah
Isaiah serves as a prophet for many years, delivering messages of judgment and hope during a tumultuous period that included the Assyrian threat and eventual deportation of the northern kingdom.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and serving as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Under King Hezekiah, Judah faces a devastating siege by the Assyrian army led by Sennacherib. Isaiah's prophecies provided guidance and reassurance during this crisis.
This passage shows God speaking in the plural ('Let us make man in our image'), echoing the 'us' in Isaiah's commission, hinting at a plurality within the Godhead involved in creation.
1 Samuel 3:10-11The Lord appears to young Samuel and calls him, similar to Isaiah's calling, highlighting God initiating the communication and the servant's responsive 'Here am I'.
Matthew 28:18-19Jesus, after his resurrection, commissions his disciples with all authority, echoing the authority and sending aspect of Isaiah's call, and the universal scope ('all nations').
Acts 9:15-16Ananias is told by the Lord that Paul is a 'chosen instrument' to carry His name before Gentiles and kings, mirroring Isaiah's unexpected and challenging commission and his 'Here am I' response.
Jeremiah 1:6-7Jeremiah expresses his inadequacy upon receiving his prophetic call ('I do not know how to speak'), similar to Isaiah's awareness of his own unworthiness, but God assures him of His presence and purpose.
barnesIsaiah 6:8: "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
The voice of the Lord - Hebrew: "The voice of Yahweh." He had before been addressed by one of the seraphim. Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? - The change of number here, from the singular to the plural, is very remarkable. Jerome, on this place, says that it indicates the 'sacrament' of the Trinity. The Septuagint renders it, 'whom shall I send, and who…
jfbIsaiah 6:8: "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
- I … us—The change of number indicates the Trinity (compare Ge 1:26; 11:7). Though not a sure argument for the doctrine, for the plural may indicate merely majesty, it accords with that truth proved elsewhere.Whom … who—implying that few would be willing to bear the self-denial which the delivering of such an unwelcome message to the Jews would require on the p…
The verse highlights God's seeking for someone to fulfill His mission, asking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" This "us" is incredibly significant; while it can refer to God's majesty, it also subtly points to a plurality within the Godhead, foreshadowing the Trinity. Isaiah's immediate, bold response, "Here I am! Send me," demonstrates a profound readiness to serve, even before knowing the specific, likely challenging, nature of the task.
In the aftermath of a powerful vision of God's holiness and his own sinfulness, Isaiah is cleansed by a seraph. This prepares him to hear God's direct call, a cosmic question echoing through the throne room: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah's immediate, unhesitating response is a volunteer offering, "Here I am! Send me," setting the stage for his difficult prophetic mission to a resistant people.
In the aftermath of a powerful vision of God's holiness and his own sinfulness, Isaiah is cleansed by a seraph. This prepares him to hear God's direct call, a cosmic question echoing through the throne room: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah's immediate, unhesitating response is a volunteer offering, "Here I am! Send me," setting the stage for his difficult prophetic mission to a resistant people.
"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people:
“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do n…" — The verse highlights God's seeking for someone to fulfill His mission, asking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for *us*?" This "us" is incredibly significant; while it can refer to God's majesty,…
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