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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 6:1-4

The vision which Isaiah saw when he was, as is said of Samuel, established to be a prophet of the Lord (1 Sam. 3:20), was intended, 1. To confirm his faith, that he might himself be abundantly satisfied of the truth of those things which should afterwards be made known to him. This God opened the communications of himself to him; but such visions needed not to be afterwards repeated upon every revelation. Thus God appeared at first as a God of glory to Abraham (Acts 7:2), and to Moses, Exod.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 6:2

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 form in which they stood; by whom are meant, not the Son and Spirit, as some of the ancients thought, who imagined the Father to be the Person sitting on the... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:1-4

SECTION III . ISAIAH 'S VISION OF GOD UPON HIS THRONE ( Isaiah 6:1-13 .). THE VISION OF GOD SEEN BY ISAIAH . It is thought by some that this vision, and its sequel, constitute the original call of Isaiah to the prophetical office, and in order of time precede all the other contents of the book. But the position of the "vision" in the book is strongly against this view. Prophets who relate their original call naturally place it in the forefront of their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:1-4

The vision of God. Sight is a thing of degrees. The healthy eye sees with infinite shades of distinctness and indistinctness, according to the amount of light which is vouchsafed it. The diseased eye has an equal variety of gradation in its powers of seeing, owing to the variations in its own condition. And it is with our spiritual as with our natural sight. The vision which men have of God varies infinitely with varying circumstances—from extreme dimness up to perfect distinctness. Amid... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:1-4

Symbolic impressions of the Divine holiness. This is the only vision recorded in Isaiah's prophecy. It did not come at the beginning of his labors, but as an inauguration to a higher degree of the prophetic office. From the tone of the latter part of the chapter, it is evident that he had found out the rebelliousness and obstinacy of the people, and perhaps had become, like Elijah, greatly distressed and discouraged; needing, therefore, such a reviving and encouragement as this vision was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:1-13

The prophet's call and consecration. There are turning-points in life which give a meaning to the whole of its after-course. A light may be given to the 'mind at such moments by which it may have to steer its course for years. In moments of despondency the man of God will fall back on memory, and encourage himself by the recollection that, having once received and followed Divine guidance, that guidance will not desert him in the future. Such was this moment in the history of Isaiah. Life... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:2

Above it stood the seraphims ; rather, above him were standing seraphim . The "seraphim" are introduced, not as well known, with the article, but without it, as unknown. The word means "fiery ones," and is supposed to denote the burning love of the blessed spirits spoken of. They appeared to the prophet as standing above the King as he sat upon his throne—"standing" to show their readiness to minister; but why "above him" is not so clear. Perhaps, simply, as those that stand are "above"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 6:2-4

A sermon from the seraphim. Taking the seraphim of this prophetic vision as symbols of the "highest creaturely intelligences," we gather from the text— I. THAT THE LOWLIEST REVERENCE BECOMES THE HIGHEST CREATED BEINGS . "With twain [of his wings] he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feel." Of the six wings each seraph possessed , four were used to indicate their sense of unworthiness in the near presence of God; two only were in readiness for active... 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

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