Seraphim are the fiery angelic beings seen by Isaiah in his vision of the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne.
The name is related to the Hebrew word for “burning” or “fiery,” and they appear with six wings, proclaiming the thrice-holy nature of God.
They stand in the immediate presence of God, lead heaven’s worship, and purify the prophet for his calling.
The Seraphim reveal both the overwhelming holiness of God and the grace that prepares unclean people to serve Him.
In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him stood the Seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of the one who called, and the house was filled with smoke. Confronted with this vision, Isaiah cried out that he was lost — a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips. Then one of the Seraphim flew to him with a burning coal from the altar, touched his mouth, and declared that his guilt was taken away and his sin atoned for. Immediately Isaiah was ready to answer the Lord’s call. The Seraphim therefore appear as the attendants of God’s throne who both announce His holiness and mediate the cleansing that makes a sinner fit for service. They are mentioned by name only in this vision, yet their cry of “Holy, holy, holy” echoes through Scripture and is taken up again in the worship of heaven in Revelation.
- Seraphim are distinct angelic beings associated with the immediate presence and holiness of God.
- Their name suggests burning or fire, consistent with their proximity to the divine glory.
- They lead the antiphonal worship that declares God thrice holy.
- Their posture of covering face and feet expresses reverence before the transcendent Lord.
- They participate in the cleansing of Isaiah, showing that even the highest angels serve God’s gracious purposes toward sinners.
- The thrice-holy cry emphasizes the absolute, unsurpassed holiness of the Lord of hosts.
- Their ministry links the holiness of God with the atonement that prepares people for His service.
- Appearance – Six wings: two covering the face, two covering the feet, two for flight.
- Position – Above the throne, in the closest attendance upon the Lord.
- Worship – Continuous, responsive proclamation of God’s triple holiness and worldwide glory.
- Reverence – Covered faces and feet signal profound awe before the Holy One.
- Purifying Ministry – One Seraph brings a live coal from the altar to cleanse Isaiah’s lips.
- Response to Holiness – Their cry shakes the thresholds and fills the house with smoke.
- Unique Mention – Named only in Isaiah 6, yet their worship is reflected in the throne-room scenes of Revelation.
- Isaiah 6:1-7 – “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’ And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’”
- Isaiah 6:8 – “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.’”
- Revelation 4:8 – “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’”
- Psalm 99:1-3, 5, 9 – “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim… Holy is he!… Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!… Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!”
- Exodus 15:11 – “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”
- 1 Samuel 2:2 – “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”
- Revelation 15:4 – “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy.”
- Hebrews 12:28-29 – “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
- Numbers 21:6-8 – The “fiery serpents” (seraphim snakes) in the wilderness (related Hebrew root, though a different usage).
- Isaiah 6:3 – The whole earth is full of His glory — the Seraphim’s declaration of universal divine glory.
The Seraphim stand nearest the throne and never tire of crying “Holy, holy, holy.” Their covered faces and feet teach us the reverence due to the God who is high and lifted up. Their ministry of the burning coal teaches us that the same holy God provides cleansing for unclean lips so that sinners may speak for Him. Isaiah’s vision still confronts every generation: the Lord of hosts is holy beyond measure, the whole earth is full of His glory, and no one can stand in His presence without atonement. Yet the coal from the altar — ultimately fulfilled in the perfect sacrifice of Christ — takes away guilt and prepares the servant for the call. Join the Seraphim in worship. Confess the thrice-holy God. Receive the cleansing only He can give. And when the voice asks, “Whom shall I send?” answer with the prophet, “Here I am. Send me.”
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.