Isaiah 6 1

Isaiah 6:1 kjv

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:1 nkjv

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:1 niv

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:1 esv

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:1 nlt

It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

Isaiah 6 verses

Isaiah 6 1 Meaning

This verse profoundly introduces Isaiah's prophetic call by describing his transcendent vision of the Lord God. It recounts that "in the year that King Uzziah died," Isaiah beheld the Sovereign Lord (Adonai) seated upon a majestic throne, emphasizing His supreme and unwavering authority. The extraordinary detail that "the train of His robe filled the temple" powerfully conveys the overwhelming immensity of God's glory and holiness, asserting His eternal kingship even amidst a period of earthly political transition and uncertainty for Judah.

Isaiah 6 1 Context

The vision recorded in Isaiah 6:1 is precisely dated, anchoring it to a specific historical moment: the death of King Uzziah of Judah. Uzziah's reign (approx. 792-740 BC) lasted an impressive 52 years and brought significant stability, prosperity, and military strength to the southern kingdom of Judah, as chronicled in 2 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 26. His death, therefore, represented a significant national crisis and a moment of deep uncertainty for the people, potentially leading to anxiety about leadership and the nation's future. In this vacuum of earthly power and security, God sovereignly reveals His unchanging and eternal kingship to Isaiah.

Within the book of Isaiah, this verse serves as the immediate precursor to Isaiah's divine call and commission as a prophet (Isa 6:2-8). The vision establishes God's absolute holiness and majesty as the foundation for the entire prophetic message of judgment, purification, and ultimate restoration that Isaiah is to deliver to Judah and Jerusalem. It underscores that true authority and hope rest not in human kings, but in the eternally enthroned Lord.

Isaiah 6 1 Word analysis

• In the year that King Uzziah died:

  • "In the year" (בִּשְׁנַת - bishnat): A precise chronological marker, emphasizing the specific historical context for the vision. It signifies a pivotal transition, highlighting God's revelation amidst earthly change.
  • "King Uzziah" (הַמֶּלֶךְ עֻזִּיָּהוּ - hammelekh ʻUziyyahu): Uzziah means "My strength is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is my strength." Irony here, as this king, initially strengthened by God, became proud and defied the Lord by attempting to burn incense in the temple, leading to him being struck with leprosy until his death (2 Chr 26:16-21). His demise marked the end of an era of significant stability, prompting fears of chaos, yet it is precisely when God reveals His unwavering reign.

• I saw the Lord:

  • "I saw" (וָאֶרְאֶה - va'ereh): Indicates a profound, divinely orchestrated vision, not merely physical sight. It's an internal, spiritual perception, marking the beginning of a direct, life-altering encounter with God that transformed Isaiah into a prophet.
  • "the Lord" (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai): This title for God, typically translated as "Lord," stresses His absolute sovereignty, mastery, and ownership. It signifies His undisputed authority and supremacy over all creation, distinct from YHWH (Yahweh), the covenant name of God. In a time of human king's death, emphasizing Adonai reinforces divine kingship.

• sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up;

  • "sitting upon a throne" (יוֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא - yoshev ʻal-kisseh): This posture signifies established authority, kingship, and stable rule. Unlike the temporary reign of human kings like Uzziah, God's reign is eternal, unshaken, and fully in control, maintaining order and justice. The throne is a universal symbol of dominion.
  • "high and lifted up" (רָם וְנִשָּׂא - ram v'nissah): These two Hebrew words powerfully describe God's exaltedness, transcendence, and supremacy. He is infinitely above all created things, powers, and earthly monarchs. This phrase echoes in Isa 52:13 describing the "suffering servant," hinting at God's mysterious ways of being exalted.

• and the train of His robe filled the temple.

  • "the train of His robe" (וְשׁוּלָיו - v'shulayiv): Refers to the flowing hem or bottom edge of a regal garment. It symbolizes the immeasurable vastness of God's glory, majesty, and kingly authority. A king's long train indicated his dignity and rank. Here, it is so extensive it cannot be fully contained.
  • "filled the temple" (מְלֵא הַהֵיכָל - melei ha'heykhal): The "temple" here refers to the heykhâl, the sanctuary or nave, not just the innermost Holy of Holies (debîr). The fact that even the train of His robe filled the entire vastness of the earthly temple speaks of God's overwhelming, manifest presence, boundless glory, and complete holiness, far exceeding the confined space, just as the glory filled the tabernacle and Solomon's temple (Ex 40:34-35; 1 Kgs 8:10-11). It conveys an inescapable divine presence that leaves no room for anything else.

Isaiah 6 1 Bonus section

The precise dating of Isaiah's vision to "the year that King Uzziah died" serves a critical theological function beyond mere chronology. It directly contrasts the transient reign of a prominent human king with the eternal, unchanging kingship of Yahweh. Uzziah, who started well but ended in sin (pride) and ritual impurity (leprosy, 2 Chr 26:16-21), symbolized the inherent limitations and failures of even the best human leadership. In stark opposition, the vision presents God enthroned, "high and lifted up," a symbol of enduring stability and absolute control despite earthly shifts. This emphasis highlights that true security and authority rest solely with God, providing a powerful reassurance and redirecting Judah's focus during a national crisis. The imagery also profoundly influenced the developing concept of God's throne room and majesty, which reappears in later prophetic and apocalyptic literature, notably in Ezekiel and Revelation. Furthermore, John 12:41 directly interprets Isaiah's vision in this chapter as seeing "His [Jesus'] glory," suggesting a Christological layer to this majestic encounter with the King.

Isaiah 6 1 Commentary

Isaiah 6:1 provides the foundational backdrop for Isaiah's prophetic call and his subsequent ministry. By precisely dating the vision to "the year that King Uzziah died," the passage immediately confronts the vacuum left by the passing of a powerful and long-reigning monarch. For the people of Judah, Uzziah's death signified not just the loss of a king but potentially the end of an era of stability, ushering in anxiety and political uncertainty. Yet, it is precisely at this vulnerable moment that God chooses to reveal Himself to Isaiah, shifting the focus from reliance on human power to the unchanging reality of His divine sovereignty.

The core of the vision is God's manifest kingship: "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up." The "Lord" (Adonai) emphasizes His absolute authority and mastership, a deliberate choice of title when divine power and kingship are paramount. His posture of "sitting upon a throne" conveys steadfast, unshakeable rule, contrasting sharply with the mortality of human kings. The descriptor "high and lifted up" powerfully communicates God's transcendence and supreme exaltation over all earthly realms and rulers, signifying His unmatched glory, majesty, and unapproachable holiness. This language reappears in Isaiah 52:13, where it refers to the exalting of the suffering Servant (Christ), hinting at a deeper messianic layer.

The awe-inspiring imagery of "the train of His robe filled the temple" accentuates the overwhelming immensity of God's glory and holiness. The mere "hem" of His garment, symbolizing His magnificent presence, is enough to entirely fill the vastness of the Jerusalem Temple. This is not a partial appearance but an all-consuming, pervasive demonstration of God's presence and unapproachable splendor, evoking profound reverence and a sense of one's own insignificance in the face of such holiness. This vision fundamentally establishes God's sovereign rule, transcendent glory, and the sacredness of His presence as the immovable foundation for all Isaiah's future messages of both judgment and hope for Judah.