And one of the seraphims flew to me, and in his hand was a live coal, which he had taken with the tongs off the altar.
Rashi
a glowing coal Heb. רִצְפָּה, a coal, and similarly, (I Kings 19:6) “a cake baked on hot coals (עֻגַּת רְצָפִים),” like עֻגַּת רְשָׁפִים. In regards to Isaiah and Elijah, however, it is written with a ‘zadi,’ רִצְפָּה, because they spoke ill of Israel. This one [Isaiah] called them a people of unclean lips, and this one [Elijah] said, (ibid. 10) “For...have forsaken Your covenant.” Said the Holy One, blessed be He, to the angel, “Break the mouth (רְצוֹץ פֶּה) that spoke ill of My children.” with tongs Heb. (בְּמֶלְקֳחַיִם) with tongs. he had taken it from upon the altar that was in the forecourt.
Hebrew and Aramaic words are the commentator’s citations of the sacred text; the English translation that follows each is the translator’s.
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.