Isaiah 6:2
2 Above [ma`al] it stood [`amad] the seraphims: [saraph]
each one ['echad] had six [shesh] wings; [kanaph] with twain [shanayim] he covered [kacah] his
face, [paniym] and with twain [shanayim] he covered [kacah] his
feet, [regel] and with twain [shanayim] he did fly. [`uwph] KJV-Interlinear
2
Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face,
and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. NASB
In the presence of the
Lord, Jesus Christ, stood several seraphim.
Here is referenced one of
the three categories of angelic beings mentioned in the Bible - Cherubim,
Seraphim, and Living Creatures.
The second category is
mentioned here - Seraphim. The word for Seraph comes from their copper color,
with a meaning of a burning or fiery serpent.
The numbers of the
Seraphim are not mentioned however it is implied that they are many with the
plural ending to the name.
Each Seraph has six
wings. Two cover the face, two cover the feet, and the other two are used for
their mobility.
There are a lot of
speculations in commentaries, as to the meanings of the wings and the positions
that they are in. Some suggesting that they cannot bear to see the glory of the
Lord, or that their feet represent something less than honorable so they have
to be covered, however the angels are higher than mankind at this point in
history and Isaiah, in this vision is seeing the glory of the Lord, and Isaiah
is the lessor creature in this vision.
Their covering is more
representative of an acknowledgment of Gods glory which is far greater than
anyone else's. This is a position of humility and respect more so than a
position of embarrassment. Their glory is covered and not presumed so that only
the glory of the Lord is in view here.
We'll see later on that
Isaiah will offer his services to serve God, but the Seraph will bring a
burning coal to remove the sin in him (Isaiah). So Isaiah's presumption is
quickly squashed until he is cleansed of his sins. But more on that later on in
our study.
Even though they
subordinate themselves to God, they can still maneuver efficiently and
effectively, and swiftly. They are not bound to one spot.
In contrast to the
Seraphim that are mentioned here is Satan who is not mentioned here. Satan
rejected God. Satan being in the Cherubim category, and being the highest of
all the angels, did not subordinate himself to God, viewing himself as equal to
or even greater than God.
Later in history man will
be made greater than the angels and Satan who thought himself as high in the
heavenly pecking order, will discover that despite all of his own glory, he
will become a second class citizen (actually even lower) to the lowly humans on
this planet.
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