Isaiah 6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 6:2

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 the people of the East generally wearing long robes, reaching to the ground, and covering the lower parts of the body down to the feet, it may... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 6:3

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, (see Exodus 15:20 , Exodus 15:21 ;), to that of Ezra, under whom the priests and Levites sung alternately, "O praise... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 6:5

Wo is me! for I am undone - נדמיתי nidmeythi , I am become dumb. There is something exceedingly affecting in this complaint. I am a man of unclean lips; I cannot say, Holy, holy, holy! which the seraphs exclaim. They are holy; I am not so: they see God, and live; I have seen him, and must die, because I am unholy. Only the pure in heart shall see God; and they only can live in his presence for ever, Reader, lay this to heart; and instead of boasting of thy excellence, and trusting in thy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 6:6

A live coal - The word of prophecy, which was put into the mouth of the prophet. From off the altar - That is, from the altar of burnt-offerings, before the door of the temple, on which the fire that came down at first from heaven ( Leviticus 9:24 ; 2 Chronicles 7:1 ;) was perpetually burning. It was never to be extinguished, Leviticus 6:12 , Leviticus 6:13 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 6:9

And he said - לי li , to me, two MSS. and the Syriac. Thirteen MSS. have ראה raah , in the regular form. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 6:10

Make the heart of this people fat "Gross" - The prophet speaks of the event, the fact as it would actually happen, not of God's purpose and act by his ministry. The prophets are in other places said to perform the thing which they only foretell: - "Lo! I have given thee a charge this day Over the nations, and over the kingdoms; To pluck up, and to pull down; To destroy, and to demolish; To build, and to plant." Jeremiah 1:10 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 6:11

Be utterly desolate "Be left" - For תשאה tishaeh , the Septuagint and Vulgate read תשאר tishshaer . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 6:13

A tenth - This passage, though somewhat obscure, and variously explained by various interpreters, has, I think, been made so clear by the accomplishment of the prophecy, that there remains little room to doubt of the sense of it. When Nebuchadnezzar had carried away the greater and better part of the people into captivity, there was yet a tenth remaining in the land, the poorer sort left to be vinedressers and husbandmen, under Gedaliah, 2 Kings 25:12 , 2 Kings 25:22 , and the dispersed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:1

In the year that King Uzziah died. The year B.C. 759, probably. We cannot determine from the phrase used whether the vision was seen before or after Uzziah's death. I saw also ; rather, then it was that I saw (comp. Exodus 16:6 ). The Lord. Not "Jehovah," as in Isaiah 6:3 and Isaiah 6:5 , but " Adonay ," for greater reverence. Sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. The imagery is, of course, taken from the practice of earthly kings. Elaborate thrones were affected by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:1

The vision of God. "I saw … the Lord," writes the prophet. These simple, strong words suggest to us— I. THE VISION WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE . " NO man hath seen God at any time," our Lord declares; and his declaration is sustained by the philosophic truth that he who is a Divine Spirit must be invisible to mortal eye. So far as our apprehension by sense is concerned, God must remain, to every human being, "the King eternal, immortal, invisible ." Himself, in his own essential... read more

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