Seraphim

Seraphim

Seraphim compose one of the groups of angels in Heaven.  God only referred to Seraphim by name in two Scripture verses in the entire Bible.[1]  Isaiah described them in Isaiah chapter six and verses two, three, six, and seven.[2] The name “seraphim” describes their appearance.  The Hebrew word that the translators of the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) translated “seraphim” was “seraph.”[3]  This word literally means “burning; fiery” and it also refers to mythological creatures possessing the appearance as of the color of copper.  The word “seraph” occurs nine times in the Old Testament.[4]  The word “seraph” in these passages refered to either the poisonous appearance of snakes or to their poisonous “fiery” bite.  Seraphim may possess the appearance of the color of copper or brass considering the mythological creature referred to as the seraph or they may appear as a non-consuming fire with a distinct outline and features.   Isaiah described the Seraphim as possessing six wings.  In the presence of God they use two of their wings to cover their face; they use two wings to cover their feet; and they use two wings to fly.[5]  They also possess an audible voice.  They worship God above the throne saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”[6]

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[1] See: Isaiah 6:2 “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.”

 Isaiah 6:6 “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:”

[2] Isaiah 6:2 & 3 “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:6 & 7 “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.”

[3] James Strong, The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996), 548.  Note: “from 8313; burning, i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical creature (from their copper color):--fiery (serpent), seraph.”

[4] Numbers 21:6” And the LORD sent fiery <saraph> serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.”

 Numbers 21:8 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent <saraph>, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”

 Deuteronomy 8:15 “Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery <saraph> serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;”

 Isaiah 6:2 “Above it stood the seraphims <saraph>: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.”

 Isaiah 6:6 “Then flew one of the seraphims <saraph> unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:”

 Isaiah 14:29 “Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery <saraph> flying serpent <saraph>.”

 Isaiah 30:6 “The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery <saraph> flying serpent <saraph>, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.”

[5] Isaiah 6:2 “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.”

[6] Isaiah 6:3 “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”