[ser-uh-fim] 
| a pl. of seraph. |
[ser-uhf] [-uh-fim] . | 1. | one of the celestial beings hovering above God's throne in Isaiah's vision. Isa. 6. |
| 2. | a member of the highest order of angels, often represented as a child's head with wings above, below, and on each side. |
| ser·aph (sěr'əf) n. pl. ser·a·phim (-ə-fĭm) or ser·aphs
[Back-formation from pl. seraphim, from Middle English seraphin, from Old English, from Late Latin seraphīn, seraphīm, from Greek serapheim, from Hebrew śərāpîm, pl. of śārāp, fiery serpent, seraph, from śārap, to burn; see śrp1 in Semitic roots.] se·raph'ic (sə-rāf'ĭk), se·raph'i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj., se·raph'i·cal·ly adv. |
Seraphim
mentioned in Isa. 6:2, 3, 6, 7. This word means fiery ones, in allusion, as is supposed, to their burning love. They are represented as "standing" above the King as he sat upon his throne, ready at once to minister unto him. Their form appears to have been human, with the addition of wings. (See ANGELS.) This word, in the original, is used elsewhere only of the "fiery serpents" (Num. 21:6, 8; Deut. 8:15; comp. Isa. 14:29; 30:6) sent by God as his instruments to inflict on the people the righteous penalty of sin.
