Isaiah 6:6

6 Then one of the creatures flew down to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.

Isaiah 6:6 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 6:6

Then flew one of the seraphim unto me
When the prophet had confessed his sin; for upon that follows the application of pardon; and when the seraph, or minister of the Gospel, had an order from the Lord to publish the doctrine of it: it is God's act alone to forgive sin; it is the work of his ministers to preach forgiveness of sin, and that to sensible sinners; who when they are made sensible of sin, and distressed with it, the Lord takes notice of them, and sends messengers to them, to comfort them, by acquainting them that their iniquity is forgiven; who go on such an errand cheerfully and swiftly; and though they do not know the particular person, yet the Lord directs their ministration to him, and makes it effectual. Having a live coal in his hand:
by which is meant the word of God, comparable to fire, and to a burning coal of fire, ( Jeremiah 23:29 ) for the light and heat which it gives both to saints and sinners, and for its purity and purifying nature: [which] he had taken with the tongs from off the altar;
of burnt offering, where the fire was always burning; which was a type of Christ, and his sacrifice; and this shows what particular doctrine of the word it was the seraph or Gospel minister took, and delivered in this visionary way; it was the doctrine of pardon, founded upon the sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ. To this sense of the words the Targum agrees, which paraphrases them thus,

``and there flew to me one of the ministers, and in his mouth a word which he received from his Shechinah, upon the throne of glory, in the highest heavens, above the altar,''

See ( Revelation 14:6 ) .

Isaiah 6:6 In-Context

4 The sound of their voices made the foundation of the Temple shake, and the Temple itself became filled with smoke.

5 I said, "There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."

6 Then one of the creatures flew down to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.

7 He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, "This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven."

8 Then I heard the Lord say, "Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?" I answered, "I will go! Send me!"