Discovery BoxIsaiah 6:2 
Context6:2 Seraphs 1 stood over him; each one had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, 2 and they used the remaining two to fly.
Isaiah 19:3
Context19:3 The Egyptians will panic, 3
and I will confuse their strategy. 4
They will seek guidance from the idols and from the spirits of the dead,
from the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, and from the magicians. 5
Isaiah 54:17
Context54:17 No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed;
you will refute everyone who tries to accuse you. 6
This is what the Lord will do for his servants –
I will vindicate them,” 7
says the Lord.
1 tn Hebrew שָׂרָף (saraf, “seraph”) literally means “burning one,” perhaps suggesting that these creatures had a fiery appearance (cf. TEV, CEV “flaming creatures”; NCV “heavenly creatures of fire”). Elsewhere in the OT the word “seraph” refers to poisonous snakes (Num 21:6; Deut 8:15; Isa 14:29; 30:6). Perhaps they were called “burning ones” because of their appearance or the effect of their venomous bites, which would cause a victim to burn up with fever. It is possible that the seraphs seen by Isaiah were at least partially serpentine in appearance. Though it might seem strange for a snake-like creature to have wings, two of the texts where “seraphs” are snakes describe them as “flying” (Isa 14:29; 30:6), perhaps referring to their darting movements. See the note at 14:29.
2 sn Some understand “feet” here as a euphemistic reference to the genitals.
3 tn Heb “and the spirit of Egypt will be laid waste in its midst.”
4 tn The verb בָּלַע (bala’, “confuse”) is a homonym of the more common בָּלַע (bala’, “swallow”); see HALOT 135 s.v. I בלע.
5 tn Heb “they will inquire of the idols and of the spirits of the dead and of the ritual pits and of the magicians.” Hebrew אוֹב (’ov, “ritual pit”) refers to a pit used by a magician to conjure up underworld spirits. See the note on “incantations” in 8:19.
6 tn Heb “and every tongue that rises up for judgment with you will prove to be guilty.”
7 tn Heb “this is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication from me.”
