seraphim
Seraphim are heavenly beings seen in Isaiah’s vision of the Lord’s throne. They attend God’s holiness, worship him, and serve in his presence.
At a Glance
Seraphim are heavenly beings seen in Isaiah’s vision of the Lord’s throne. They attend God’s holiness, worship him, and serve in his presence.
Description
Seraphim are heavenly beings described in Isaiah’s temple vision (Isa. 6:1–7). In that passage they stand in attendance before the Lord, call out "Holy, holy, holy," and one of them is sent to touch Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal as part of his cleansing for prophetic service. The Bible does not provide a full systematic description of seraphim, so interpreters should avoid saying more than the text warrants. At minimum, Scripture presents them as holy heavenly attendants who worship God, magnify his holiness, and serve his purposes in his presence. Their exact relation to other angelic beings is not explained in detail, so the safest conclusion is that they belong to the class of heavenly servants in God’s court.