Yeshayahu Chapter 6 | “Holy, Holy, Holy”

This chapter presents one of the most vivid depictions of divine revelation in the Tanakh. Yeshayahu envisions God seated upon His throne, surrounded by seraphim who proclaim what has become a central part of the Jewish prayer, known as the 'Kedusha': “Holy, holy, holy.” Below are three key points for deeper exploration of this chapter:

The Call to Prophecy: Many commentators, following the Mekhilta (Masekhta de-Shira, 7), view this chapter as Yeshayahu's prophetic commissioning. This interpretation is supported by God’s search for a messenger and Yeshayahu’s volunteering, suggesting that there was no prophet in this role before now. Additionally, there are significant parallels between this vision and other prophetic commissioning narratives—those of Moshe (Shemot 3–4), Yirmeyahu (Yirmeyahu 1), and Yehezkel (Yehezkel 2–3). For a detailed analysis of these comparisons, see the attached article by Dr. Naphtali Meshel.

“High, raised”: On one level, the vision emphasizes that although God is lofty, holy, and transcendent, “His clothing filling the Sanctuary,” demonstrating His connection to this world and its judgment. On the other hand, Rav Yoel Bin-Nun offers a different interpretation, proposing that this vision describes the 'Shekhina' in motion. The phrase “high, raised” is not an adjective but a verb indicating a process of rising ('רם' in the same way as 'קם' is a verb). According to this view, Yeshayahu is witnessing the Shekhina departing the Temple due to the sins of Yehuda. The throne is ascending, leading to the declaration, “The world's fullness His glory.” Similarly, in Yechezkel’s vision of the chariot (Merkava), the chariot serves as God’s vehicle, and there too, the Shekhina’s departure from the Temple and its movement to other places is described. For further study, see Rav Yoel’s full shiur from Herzog's Yemei Iyun b'Tanakh.

“I am Here. Send Me”: If one may have a favorite verse in the prophets, then mine is verse 8 in this chapter: “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' And I said, I am here; send me'.” This verse contains two not obvious and profound lessons from Yeshayahu:
1.    He hears God’s call for an assistant and for volunteers in the world.
2.    He declares that he is willing to take on the mission.

Even in our own time, God continues to speak, and there are still missions awaiting volunteers. How much Torah can be shared, how many hearts can be drawn closer, and how much kindness can be performed? Will we succeed in hearing His call? Will we declare, “I am here, send me”?