Isaiah 6:2

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.

Ge 17:3; Ex 3:6; Ex 25:20; Ex 37:9; 1Ki 6:24,27; 1Ki 8:7; 1Ki 19:13; 1Ki 22:19; Job 1:6; Job 4:18; Job 15:15; Ps 18:10; Ps 89:7; Ps 103:20; Ps 104:4; Isa 6:6; Eze 1:4; Eze 1:6,9,24; Eze 1:11; Eze 10:16; Eze 10:21; Da 7:10; Da 9:21; Zec 3:4; Lu 1:10; Heb 1:7; Re 4:8; Re 7:11; Re 8:13; Re 14:6

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.