Isaiah Chapter 6
At a Glance
- Isaiah 6 recounts a dramatic theophany and the commissioning of Isaiah as a prophet.
- Historical & Literary Context.
- Isaiah 6 is the book’s pivotal commissioning narrative, establishing the prophetic vocation that shapes the book’s subsequent messages.
- - Holiness of God and human unworthiness.
- - Purification before mission: readiness through cleansing.
ISAIAH CHAPTER 6
Chapter Overview
Isaiah 6 recounts a dramatic theophany and the commissioning of Isaiah as a prophet. In the year King Uzziah died, the prophet experiences a vision: Yahweh seated on a royal throne, surrounded by seraphim and the temple’s smoke-filled awe. The holiness of God is on full display—“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” The prophet’s response is human frailty: “Woe is me! I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips.” A seraph touches his mouth with a coal from the altar, symbolically purifying him and declaring his sin purged. Then God asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah answers, “Here am I; send me.” The mission that follows is stark: he will speak to a people who hear but do not understand, see but do not perceive. The divine directive is not to repentance and healing in every case but to harden hearts; the people’s eyes and ears are to be desensitized, until judgment leads to desolation. Yet a flicker of hope remains: a “holy seed” will endure, preserving a remnant for God’s purposes.
Historical & Literary Context
Isaiah 6 is the book’s pivotal commissioning narrative, establishing the prophetic vocation that shapes the book’s subsequent messages. It blends intimate temple imagery with cosmic sovereignty, revealing the scope of Isaiah’s ministry: to speak into a people who will resist hearing and seeing. Theologically, it introduces the theme of divine initiative and human response, including the paradox of judgment that leads to spiritual purification and the persistence of a faithful remnant. The chapter’s liturgical features—seraphim, the burning coal, the sanctifying kiss of forgiveness—anchor Isaiah’s calling in the worship life of Israel, while the difficult commission foregrounds the prophetic burden of proclaiming judgment to a stubborn people.
Key Themes
- Holiness of God and human unworthiness
- Purification before mission: readiness through cleansing
- Divine initiative and human response: God’s call and the prophet’s willing “yes”
- Hardening of heart: judgment as a means to reveal and fulfill God’s purposes
- The faithful remnant: hope through a holy seed that endures
Modern Application
Isaiah 6 encourages readers to cultivate a posture of humility before God’s holiness. It offers a model for personal consecration—recognizing one’s own gaps, seeking purification, and being ready to speak even when response may be resistant. The call narrative is also a reminder that leadership in faith often involves challenging audiences who resist light. For contemporary faith communities, the chapter invites recommitment to worship that transforms character and equips people for service. It highlights the need for integrity in speech and action, and for a willingness to engage in difficult conversations about justice, repentance, and renewal. Finally, the remnant motif invites hope: even when many turn away, God preserves a faithful people who remain commit to his purposes.
- Exodus 3:4-6 (divine commissioning)
- Jeremiah 20:9-11 (prophetic resolve amid resistance)
- Luke 24:25-27 (the necessity of suffering and proclamation)
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (treasure in jars of clay)
Recommended Personas
- Isaiah (as the prophetic voice and founder of the vision)
- Jesus (as the fulfillment of the holiness and mission motif)
- Paul (on the dynamics of calling, resistance, and gospel mission)