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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:1

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 saw his visions ‘in the days of Uzziah;’ Isaiah 1:1. The Chaldee, however, reads this: ‘in the year when Uzziah was smitten with the leprosy;’... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:2

Above it - Either above the throne, or above him. The Septuagint renders it, ‘Round about him’ - κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ kuklō autou. The Chaldee, ‘The holy ministers stood on high in his presence.’The seraphims - The verb שׂרף s'âraph, from which this word is derived, is uniformly translated “to burn,” and is used frequently; see “Taylor.” The noun שׂרף s'ârâph denotes, according to Bochart, the “chersydros,” a serpent that lives in lakes and moist places; but when those places are dried up, it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:3

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 represented as going before in the dance with a timbrel, and the other females as following her, and “answering,” or responding to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:4

And the posts of the door - Margin, ‘Thresholds.’ There is some difficulty in the Hebrew here, but the meaning of the expression is sufficiently apparent. It means that there was a tremour, or concussion, as if by awe, or by the sound attending the cry. It is evidently a poetic expression.The house - The temple.Was filled with smoke - There is here, doubtless, a reference to “the cloud” that is so often mentioned in the Old Testament as the visible symbol of the Divinity; see the note at Isaiah... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:5

Wo is me! - That is, I am filled with overwhelming convictions of my own unworthiness, with alarm that I have seen Yahweh.For I am undone - Margin, ‘Cut off.’ Chaldee, ‘I have sinned.’ Septuagint, ‘I am miserable, I am pierced through.’ Syriac, ‘I am struck dumb.’ The Hebrew word may sometimes have this meaning, but it also means “to be destroyed, to be ruined, to perish;” see Hosea 10:15; Zephaniah 1:2; Hosea 4:6; Isaiah 15:1. This is probably the meaning here, ‘I shall be ruined, or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:6

Then flew - Isaiah is represented as standing out of the temple; the seraphim as in it.Having a live coal - The Vulgate renders this, ‘A stone.’ This is, probably, the original meaning of the word; see 1 Kings 19:6. It at first denoted a hot stone which was used to roast meat upon. It may also mean a coal, from its resemblance to such a stone.From off the altar - The altar of burnt-offering. This stood in the court of the priests, in front of the temple; see the notes at Matthew 21:12. The fire... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:7

And he laid it upon my mouth - Margin, ‘And he caused it to touch my mouth.’ This is the more correct rendering. It was a slight, momentary touch, sufficient merely to be a “sign or token” that he was cleansed.Thine iniquity is taken away - That is, whatever obstacle there existed to your communicating the message of God to this people, arising from your own consciousness of unworthiness, is taken away. You are commissioned to bear that message, and your own consciousness of guilt should not be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:8

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 will go to this people?’ The Chaldee, ‘whom shall I send to prophesy, and who will go to teach?’ The Syriac, ‘whom shall I send, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:9

And he said ... - The expressions which follow are those which denote hardness of heart and blindness of mind. They would hear the words of the prophet, but they would not understand him. They were so obstinately bent on iniquity that they would neither believe nor regard him. This shows the spirit with which ministers must deliver the message of God. It is their business to deliver the message, though they should know that it will neither be understood nor believed.Hear ye indeed - Hebrew ‘In... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 6:10

Make the heart - The word “heart” here is used in the sense of the “mind” - to denote all their mental powers. It is commonly used in this sense in the Scriptures.Fat - Gross, heavy, dull, stupid. That is, go and proclaim such “truth” to them as shall have this effect - as shall irritate, provoke, enrage them; truth, whose delivery shall be attended, in their gross and corrupt hearts, with this blinding and infatuating influence the effect would be produced by the corrupt state of their hearts,... read more

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