שְׂרָפִ֨ים עֹמְדִ֤ים מִמַּ֨עַל֙ לֹ֔ו שֵׁ֧שׁ כְּנָפַ֛יִם שֵׁ֥שׁ כְּנָפַ֖יִם לְאֶחָ֑ד בִּשְׁתַּ֣יִם יְכַסֶּ֣ה פָנָ֗יו וּבִשְׁתַּ֛יִם יְכַסֶּ֥ה רַגְלָ֖יו וּבִשְׁתַּ֥יִם יְעֹופֵֽף׃
Seraphim stood above Him; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Morphology
- שְׂרָפִים (serafim) – Root: שרף (saraf); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “Seraphim”; Notes: Heavenly beings, likely fiery or burning ones, in Isaiah’s vision.
- עֹמְדִים (ʿomdim) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “standing”; Notes: Describes their posture—ready or worshipful presence.
- מִמַּעַל (mi-māʿal) – Root: מעל (maʿal); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “above”; Notes: Indicates vertical position relative to the throne.
- לֹו (lo) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Him”; Notes: Refers to Adonai seated on the throne.
- שֵׁשׁ כְּנָפַיִם (shesh kenafayim) – Root: ששׁ (shesh), כנף (kanaf); Form: Numeral + noun feminine dual; Translation: “six wings”; Notes: Describes anatomical features of each seraph.
- לְאֶחָד (le-eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾeḥad); Form: Preposition לְ + numeral masculine singular; Translation: “to each one”; Notes: Distributive—each had six wings.
- בִּשְׁתַּיִם (bishtayim) – Root: שׁתים (shtayim); Form: Preposition בְּ + dual numeral; Translation: “with two”; Notes: Instrumental use of preposition indicating function of wings.
- יְכַסֶּה (yekasseh) – Root: כסה (kasah); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he covers”; Notes: Repeated action by each seraph using wings.
- פָנָיו (fanav) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Noun masculine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his face”; Notes: Gesture of reverence or shielding from divine glory.
- וּבִשְׁתַּיִם (u-bishtayim) – Root: שׁתים (shtayim); Form: Conjunction + preposition + dual numeral; Translation: “and with two”; Notes: Repeats structure for parallel actions.
- יְכַסֶּה רַגְלָיו (yekasseh raglav) – Root: כסה (kasah), רגל (regel); Form: Verb + noun feminine plural with suffix; Translation: “he covers his feet”; Notes: Symbol of humility or modesty.
- וּבִשְׁתַּיִם יְעֹופֵף (u-bishtayim yeʿofef) – Root: עוף (ʿuf); Form: Conjunction + preposition + dual numeral + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and with two he flies”; Notes: Describes continuous flight—ministering or serving activity.