I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Above it stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With Twain he covered his face,

and with Twain he covered his feet, and with Twain he did fly. Second Nephi chapter 16 verses

1 through 2 and Isaiah chapter 6 verses 1 through 2.

Hey listeners, this is Nick from Book of Mormon Central and today's podcast addresses the

question, why did Isaiah refer to the heavenly hosts as seraphim?

In many ways, Isaiah's vision of God on his throne is representative of biblical throne theophanes,

which often include members of the Divine Council or heavenly hosts surrounding the throne

and singing praises to God.

Isaiah's language is unique, however, in identifying the angelic beings surrounding God's

throne as seraphim, the plural form of the Hebrew word seraph.

Many scholars of the Hebrew language and the ancient Near Eastern world have explored what this

word might mean and the nature of these heavenly beings. Several scholars have noted that seraph

is related to a Hebrew verbal root that means to burn and thus may refer to the fiery appearance or nature

of the angelic hosts. For instance, Donald W. Perry explains, based on the Hebrew root, seraph,

to burn, the term seraph may be translated, burning one, or bright shining one, referring to

the seraph's glorious condition and location near the Lord's

throne. Similarly, William B. Nelson said that the seraphim were probably so called because

they shone brightly like fire. Joseph Smith correctly understood this aspect of these beings when,

as part of the Kirtland Temple dedication, he prayed, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining

seraphs around thy throne. Some scholars have also noted that the term seraph is used elsewhere

in the Old Testament, including other passages of Isaiah, to refer to fiery serpents, such as those that

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