What It Was
Seeing the LORD high and lifted up, Isaiah cried, “Woe is me!… I am a man of unclean lips.” Then a seraph flew with “a live coal in his hand, which he had taken… from off the altar,” touched his mouth and said, “thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged” (Isaiah 6:5–7). Cleansed, Isaiah answered the call: “Here am I; send me.”
Biblical Significance & Symbolism
The coal comes from the altar — cleansing flows from sacrifice. Only when his guilt is purged is Isaiah fit to be sent. It is a vivid picture of how God prepares his servants: conviction, atonement, then commission.
Timeline
A seraph cleanses Isaiah’s lips with the live coal
Scripture References
1 verseIsaiah1 verse
Isaiah 6:6
Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: having: Heb. and in his hand a live coal
Topics & Symbolism
Biblical themes this object points to and helps interpret.
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Frequently asked about The Live Coal
What was The Live Coal in the Bible?
The burning coal a seraph took from the altar to touch Isaiah’s lips and purge his sin.
What does The Live Coal symbolize?
Cleansing fire from the altar that fits the sinner to speak for God.
What does the name The Live Coal mean?
The name The Live Coal means “A burning coal from the altar”.
What was The Live Coal made of?
The Live Coal was made of a live coal from the altar of incense.
Where was The Live Coal kept?
The Live Coal was kept at The heavenly temple (Isaiah’s vision).
Where is The Live Coal first mentioned in the Bible?
The Live Coal is first mentioned in Isaiah 6:6.
How often is The Live Coal mentioned in the Bible?
The Live Coal is mentioned in 1 verse across 1 book: Isaiah.
What did the live coal do to Isaiah?
A seraph touched Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal from the altar, purging his sin and preparing him to be God’s messenger (Isaiah 6:6–7).
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