Isaiah 6

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.”

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.”

And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste,

and the LORD removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.

And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.” The holy seed is its stump.

← Previous chapter Next chapter →

Isaiah 6:3

“And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!””

One seraph called to another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory"—the seraphim's liturgical proclamation announces the transcendent holiness and universal presence of God's glory. The tripled repetition of holy emphasizes that holiness is God's fundamental attribute; it is the defining feature of His character and presence. The connection between God's holiness and His universal glory suggests that holiness is not merely transcendent distance but active presence; God's holiness fills all creation. The call-and-response between seraphim suggests this is a cosmic liturgy, continuous praise of God's attributes from the heavenly court. This verse became foundational to Christian liturgical tradition (the Sanctus of the Eucharist) and shapes theological understanding of God's holiness throughout Scripture. The proclamation of holiness followed immediately by assertion of His glory throughout the earth suggests that God's transcendence is compatible with His immanent presence and activity.

Community Reflections

No reflections on this verse yet

Be the first to write a reflection about this verse.

Isaiah 6:3

“And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!””

Community Reflections

No reflections on this verse yet

Be the first to write a reflection about this verse.

Share a reflection