seraphim

Seraphim are a class of celestial beings mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and later Christian theological literature. The term derives from the Hebrew word saraph, meaning “fiery” or “burning,” with the plural saraphim used in Isaiah 6. In the Isaiah passage, the seraphim surround the throne of God and act as heavenly attendants.

Description in Isaiah 6 includes a distinctive image: each seraph has six wings—two covering the face, two covering the feet, and two for flying. They utter perpetual praise, calling one to another, “holy, holy, holy” as they revolve around the throne. A live coal taken from the altar is touched to the lips of the prophet, symbolizing purification before a prophetic vocation or divine service.

In Christian tradition, seraphim are commonly treated as the highest order of angels within the traditional ninefold hierarchy, close to the divine throne. Medieval and scholastic writers, following Dionysius the Areopagite, emphasized their fiery purity and ardent devotion as emblematic of worship and sanctification. They are often distinguished from cherubim, who have different symbolic roles such as guarding mysteries or the entrance to paradise.

Beyond Isaiah, there is relatively little elaboration on seraphim in Jewish scripture, and in Islam the term seraphim does not figure in canonical angelology. In modern religious usage, seraphim appear primarily in Christian art and literature as symbols of divine light, purity, and ardent worship, rather than as a detailed, independently documented part of angelology.