Seraphim Angels: Meaning, Origins and Characteristics
If you’ve seen Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, you’ll have noticed the blue fairy that gave Pinocchio life has been kind of going viral throughout the internet, she looks a little crazy, a little scary, a little surrealistic in a way, creepy, and people are calling it the biblically accurate Seraphim. If you don’t know anything about Seraphim but are interested, please keep reading. I’m going to explain why this angelic creature is so fascinating, starting with verses from the Bible.
What is the meaning of the Seraphim?
The term “Seraphim” is derived from the Hebrew word “seraph,” it is the plural of a seraph and refers to the angels that directly exist next to God’s throne the translation of seraphim quite literally means the burning ones. This etymology hints at their fiery nature and signifies an intense passion for divinity and the purity required to be in the presence of the Almighty.
They are described as being creatures that have human heads and six wings. Cause the descriptions of the appearance and behavior of the Seraphim are highly correlated with the four living creatures of Revelation, some scholars believe that the Seraphim’s bodies should also be covered with eyes. The head is only rarely seen as the way that the angels move is they use two of the wings to cover their face, two of the wings to cover their feet, and the two other wings to fly. They’re seen as sort of caretakers of the throne of God, and move the throne about and constantly sing praises while around him.
Various Christian theological writings have hierarchized angels. The most influential Christian hierarchy of angels was proposed by Pseudo-Dionysius in his work De Coelesti Hierarchia. He referred to the Seraphim described in the Old Testament as the first rank in the first realm. For a full list of angel ranks, refer to Pictures of Angels According to the Bible.
The Origins of Seraphim in the Bible
Seraphim are less frequently mentioned in the Bible, focusing mainly on Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4.
Isaiah 6:
1: In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.
2: Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
3: And one called out to another and said,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
4: And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.
5: Then I said,
“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
6: Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”
We learn from this passage that Seraphim have six wings. Isaiah had seen these creatures flying around God’s throne, constantly praising God.
The fact that they covered their feet with wings may have been in honor of God, as they did not want to expose any dirt or uncleanness before Him. This could also be the reason why they covered their faces with their two wings, because they wanted to remain humble before God and deem themselves to be unworthy to even look upon him.
What’s interesting about this passage is that the Seraphim declared the word “holy” three times in a row. This is not only an affirmation of God’s holiness, but also an affirmation of God’s integrity, which believers see as evident in the past, present, and future. The use of holy three times also implies the presence of God in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, indicating that the repetition of the word “holy” by the Seraphim is not coincidental, but rather meaningful, and was used to proclaim the greatness of God in it.
Besides, there’s also an idea established in Isaiah 6 that the Seraphim along with being the eternal worshipers of God, also have the ability to remove people’s sins.
Revelation 4:
6: and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
7: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.
8: And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Whenever John is having the vision of God’s throne, he mentions creatures that are believed to be Seraphim —— though John called them “Four Living Creatures”.
But when we compare the characteristics of the Seraphim and the four living creatures, we recognize that the two beings have basic similarities:
- They are all found before the throne of God.
- They all have six wings.
- They all worship God by attributing to God His perfect holiness as they proclaim: “Holy, holy, holy”.
From the characteristics above, we have reason to believe that the four living creatures are Seraphim.
On this basis, the description of the four living creatures in Revelation is considered to complement the Seraphim. This is the reason for a lot of biblically accurate angelic depictions that the wings of Seraphim are covered with eyes.
For more details about “Four Living Creatures”, refer to The Appearance of Cherubim and Seraphim- A Biblical Study.
Characteristics of Seraphim
Physical appearance
From Isaiah and Revelation, we know that:
- Seraphim have six wings. (Isaiah 6:2; Revelation 4:8)
- Seraphim cover their faces with a set of wings. (Isaiah 6:2)
- They cover their feet with a set of wings. (Isaiah 6:2)
- They fly with a set of wings. (Isaiah 6:2)
- Their form may resemble a person standing upright—but with wings. (Isaiah 6:2)
- Their bodies may be covered with eyes. (Revelation 4:6; Revelation 4:8)
- They hover above God’s throne. (Isaiah 6:2; Revelation 4:6)
- They worship and praise God a lot! (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8)
What are the Duties of Seraphim and What Powers Do They Have?
The Seraphim are traditionally understood as the highest order of angels, whose primary role is to worship and glorify God. And act as guardians of God’s throne.
In addition to worship, They possess the ability to purify and sanctify. During Isaiah’s vision, he tells God he is not worthy to stand before him because he has an unclean mouth. So one of the seraphim grabs a lump of burning coal, comes and places it in his mouth, and says “You are now purged of your sins”. Some people have taken this to mean that whenever someone becomes a Christian and their sins are forgiven, the Seraphim plays a physical role in that.
The duties of Seraphim include:
- Worshiping God: The Seraphim are heavenly beings who worship God by constantly singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” around His throne.
- Protecting God’s Throne: The Seraphim are the guardians of God’s Throne, making His holiness known to all who come near it.
- Purifying: Seraphim has the trait of purification, and can purify others by burning them with a flame.
- Helping others: Seraphim can help others in the following ways:
- Placing hot coals on their lips to cleanse them of their sins.
- Healing others of serious wounds and diseases.
- Powerful: Seraphim are higher-level angels with stronger strength.
- Communicate through Mind Languages: Six-winged angels can communicate with others through telepathy.
What is the Symbolism of Seraphim?
The symbolism of the Seraphim is rich and multifaceted. As beings of fire, they represent purification and divine love, signifying the cleansing of sin and the elevation of the soul. In art, Seraphim are often painted red to symbolize fire and are associated with purity and closeness to God.
Moreover, the Seraphim symbolizes the ultimate form of worship and devotion. Their existence is a testament to the power and importance of divine praise, illustrating the ideal relationship between the Creator and His creation.
The six wings of the Seraphim also carry symbolic weight. They represent humility, reverence, and readiness, qualities that are essential for those who serve the divine will.
Is Archangel Michael a Seraph?
Michael is traditionally recognized as an archangel, known for his role as a protector and leader of heavenly armies. His status as an archangel places him in a different category from the Seraphim, who are primarily worshippers.
However, in the book of Enoch, there is a mention of the angel Michael being a seraphim. But whenever we hear Michael mentioned in Scripture, he does not have the form of a Seraphim. But if that’s true, that can mean that the seraphim themselves can be different kinds of angels, or at least transform themselves physically to look at something else. So While angel Michael may not be a Seraph in the strictest sense, his role and attributes might reflect some of their qualities, particularly in terms of divine service and protection.
Conclusion
The Seraphim, with their fiery presence and profound spiritual significance, occupy the highest ranking in the celestial hierarchy. Their role as worshippers, messengers, and agents of purification underscores their importance in religious and spiritual traditions.
And the idea of terrifying biblical angels has grown into a popular meme since 2020. So, if you want to put the biblically accurate angel on your Christmas tree, a Seraphim angel tree topper is a good choice.