Isaiah 6

Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · 742 BC – 739 BC · Divided kingdom · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·

13 verses · 341 words · ~2 min read · ~2 min listen

Isaiahʼs Commission

Matthew 13:10–17; Mark 4:10–12; Acts 28:16–31

¹In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. ²Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³And they were calling out to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts;

all the earth is full of His glory.”

⁴At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.

⁵Then I said:

“Woe is me,

for I am ruined,

because I am a man of unclean lips

dwelling among a people of unclean lips;

for my eyes have seen the King,

the Lord of Hosts.”

⁶Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷And with it he touched my mouth and said:

“Now that this has touched your lips,

your iniquity is removed

and your sin is atoned for.”

⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

“Whom shall I send?

Who will go for Us?”

And I said:

“Here am I. Send me!”

⁹And He replied:

“Go and tell this people,

‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

¹⁰Make the hearts of this people calloused;

deafen their ears and close their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed.”

¹¹Then I asked:

“How long, O Lord?”

And He replied:

“Until the cities lie ruined

and without inhabitant,

until the houses are left unoccupied

and the land is desolate and ravaged,

¹²until the Lord has driven men far away

and the land is utterly forsaken.

¹³And though a tenth remains in the land,

it will be burned again.

As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled,

so the holy seed will be a stump in the land.”

Footnotes (3)

a v1 Or the hem of His robe
b v9 Hebrew; LXX ‘You shall be ever hearing, but never understanding; you shall be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Cited in Matthew 13:14,Mark 4:12,Luke 8:10,and Acts 28:26
c v10 Hebrew; LXX For this peopleʼs heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them. Cited in Matthew 13:15,Mark 4:12,John 12:40,and Acts 28:27

Study notes on this chapter · 2

Prophecy & fulfillmentLinked by the New Testament

Seeing but not perceiving

Isaiah's commission includes hearing that the people will hear but not understand. The gospels and Acts quote it to explain why many did not accept Jesus' message or Paul's preaching.

When: Isaiah's call, c. 740 BC; quoted c. AD 28–62.

Original passageIsaiah 6:9–10

Where the New Testament applies itMatthew 13:13–15John 12:39–41Acts 28:25–27

Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.

Prophecy & fulfillmentLinked by the New Testament

Who has believed our message?

John explains the crowds' unbelief despite Jesus' many signs by quoting Isaiah's question 'Who has believed our message?' and, with it, Isaiah's commission to a hardened people. Paul uses the same verse for Israel's response to the gospel.

When: Isaiah, c. 700–540 BC; John's gospel, c. AD 80–95.

Original passageIsaiah 53:1Isaiah 6:10

Where the New Testament applies itJohn 12:37–41Romans 10:16