King James Version

What Does Isaiah 6:3 Mean?

Isaiah 6:3 in the King James Version says “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. one:...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. one: Heb. this cried to this the whole: Heb. his glory is the fulness of the whole earth”

Isaiah 6:3 · KJV

Context

1

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. his: or, the skirts thereof

2

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. one: Heb. this cried to this the whole: Heb. his glory is the fulness of the whole earth

4

And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. door: Heb. thresholds

5

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. undone: Heb. cut off

Read Isaiah 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The seraphim's antiphonal cry 'Holy, holy, holy' (trisagion) emphasizes God's supreme holiness—the only attribute given three-fold repetition in Scripture. 'LORD of hosts' connects His holiness to sovereign power. The declaration 'the whole earth is full of His glory' contrasts God's transcendent holiness with His immanent presence—He is both utterly separate from creation and fills it with glory. This anticipates Habakkuk 2:14 and the Great Commission spreading God's glory.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This trisagion forms the basis of liturgical worship in both Judaism and Christianity. The Sanctus in Christian liturgy quotes this verse, connecting earthly worship with heavenly praise.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's holiness affect your worship—does it inspire awe or merely familiarity?
  2. Where do you see God's glory filling the earth despite prevalent evil?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וְקָרָ֨א1 of 14

“And one cried”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

זֶ֤ה2 of 14
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

אֶל3 of 14
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

זֶה֙4 of 14
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וְאָמַ֔ר5 of 14

“unto another and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

קָד֖וֹשׁ6 of 14

“Holy”

H6918

sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) god (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

קָד֖וֹשׁ7 of 14

“Holy”

H6918

sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) god (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

קָד֖וֹשׁ8 of 14

“Holy”

H6918

sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) god (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

יְהוָ֣ה9 of 14

“is the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

צְבָא֑וֹת10 of 14

“of hosts”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

מְלֹ֥א11 of 14

“is full”

H4393

fulness (literally or figuratively)

כָל12 of 14
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָאָ֖רֶץ13 of 14

“the whole earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃14 of 14

“of his glory”

H3519

properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 6:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 6:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Revelation 4:8-9Psalms 72:19Numbers 14:21Ezra 3:11Exodus 15:11Isaiah 11:9-10

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