The word ‘seraph’ or ‘saraph’ is generally used of ‘fiery’ serpents,
Numb. xxi. 6, 8, Dent. viii. 15, Isai. xiv. 29, xx. 6: in Isaiah without
a separate word for ‘serpent,’ but with the epithet ‘flying’ attached;
so here, ‘they did fly’: perhaps, as Delitzsch, Cheyne, of a hovering
motion. The verb means ‘to burn,’ Lev. iv. 12, x. 6, Josh. vii. 25
Isai. i. 7, &c. Nowhere else are seraphim mentioned as angelic
or attendants on God; cherubim and seraphim not being associated
in the Bible. Here the seraphim have apparently some semblance
of human form; there is no hint of anything serpent-like. Their fiery
motion may be the reason for the name: cf. the ‘living creatures’ in
Ezek. i. and x., especially i. 13: Dan. vii. 9, 10 Rev. iv. 3, and Ps. civ.
4, quoted Heb. i. 7. A connection has been sought between the seraphim
and the flashing lightning, as between the cherubim and the
storm-clouds: but of this the Bible shows no trace. ἱστήκεισαν] Heb. has participle, as regularly in describing a state
of continuous action. κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ] Probably ‘around Him’ rather than ‘around it,’ the
throne, in Greek; as Heb. has ‘above,’ or ‘from above Him,’ a regular
way of describing attendants on one seated: Gen. xviii. 8, Exod. xviii.
13, I Kings xxii. 19. (??)ξ πτέρυγος τῷ ἑνί, καὶ 3. πτ. τῷ ht] Heb. ‘six wings, six wings to
’ Cf. Rev. iv. 8. ply] Only here and xli. 7 in Isaiah: never in Jeremiah: rare in
the mac. generally, except Job (Wisdom and 2—4 Μaccabees): six
times in Genesis, four times in Exodus.