Isaiah Becomes a Prophet
6 In the year that King Uzziah died [C 740 bc], I saw the Lord sitting on a ·very high [L high and exalted] throne. ·His long [L The train/trailing part of his] robe filled the Temple. 2 ·Heavenly creatures of fire [L Seraphim; C the word means “burning ones” and points to purity, power, or judgment] ·stood above [or attended] him [Rev. 4:6–9]. Each creature had six wings: It used two wings to cover its face [C as a shield from God’s awesome glory], two wings to cover its ·feet [or body; C indicating humility; “feet” can be a euphemism for genitals], and two wings for flying. 3 Each creature was calling to the others:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
His glory fills the whole earth.”
4 ·Their calling [The sound/noise from each one’s voice] caused the ·frame around the door [doorposts; threshold foundations] to shake, as the Temple filled with smoke.
5 I said, “·Oh, no [L Woe to me]! I ·will be destroyed [am ruined/doomed]. I am ·not pure [L a man with unclean lips; C that is, spiritually unworthy], and I live among people ·who are not pure [L with unclean lips], but I have seen the King, the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].”
6 One of the ·heavenly creatures [L Seraphim; v. 2] flew to me with a hot coal [L in his hand] he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 ·The creature [L He/It] touched my mouth with the hot coal and said, “·Look [T Behold], your ·guilt [iniquity] is taken away, because this hot coal has touched your lips. Your sin is ·taken away [forgiven; covered; atoned for].”
8 Then I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom ·can [will] I send [C to speak for God to Israel]? Who will go for us [C referring to God and his heavenly court, or possibly to the Trinity]?”
So I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
9 Then the Lord said, “Go and tell this to the people:
‘You will ·listen and listen [keep on hearing; or listen intently], but you will not ·understand [comprehend].
You will ·look and look [keep on seeing; or look intently], but you will not ·learn [perceive; comprehend].’
10 Make the ·minds [heart; C the center of mind, will, and emotions in Hebrew thought] of these people ·dumb [dull; calloused; hardened].
·Shut [Plug; L Make heavy] their ears. ·Cover [Blind] their eyes.
Otherwise, they might ·really understand
what they see with their eyes [L see with their eyes]
and hear with their ears.
They might really understand in their ·minds [hearts]
and ·come back to me [turn; repent] and be healed [Matt. 13:14–15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:26–27; C God seals Israel’s rejection of him and uses it to accomplish his purpose].”
11 Then I asked, “Lord, ·how long should I do this [or how long will this rejection last; L how long]?”
He answered,
“Until the cities ·are destroyed [lie in ruins; are laid waste]
and ·the people are gone [uninhabited],
until there are no people left in the houses,
until the land is ·destroyed [ruined; laid waste] and ·left empty [desolate].
12 ·The Lord will send [or …until the Lord has sent] the people far away [C into exile],
and the [L midst of the] land will be ·left empty [utterly/completely abandoned].
13 Even if only one-tenth of the people are left in the land,
it will be ·destroyed [or burned] again.
These people will be like ·an oak tree [L a terebinth or an oak]
whose stump is left when the tree is chopped down.
·The people who remain will be like a stump that will sprout again [L The holy seed is its stump].”