Isaiah 8 3

Isaiah 8:3 kjv

And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.

Isaiah 8:3 nkjv

Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, "Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz;

Isaiah 8:3 niv

Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, "Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.

Isaiah 8:3 esv

And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, "Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz;

Isaiah 8:3 nlt

Then I slept with my wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said, "Call him Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

Isaiah 8 verses

Isaiah 8 3 meaning

This verse records Isaiah's marital union with a woman identified as "the prophetess," who then conceives and gives birth to a son. Crucially, the LORD directly commands Isaiah to name this child "Maher-shalal-hash-baz," a symbolic name proclaiming that "Hurry [to the] spoils, swift [to the] plunder" is coming. This child, and his name, serves as a living prophecy and an immediate sign of the swift impending judgment and plunder by Assyria against the kingdoms of Aram (Syria) and Israel, which were threatening Judah.

Isaiah 8 3 Context

Isaiah chapter 8 is a continuation of the prophecies concerning the Syro-Ephraimite War. In chapter 7, Isaiah gives King Ahaz the sign of Immanuel ("God With Us") to reassure him against the impending threat from Aram (Syria) and Israel (Ephraim/Northern Kingdom). However, Ahaz rejects relying on God, choosing instead to trust in Assyria. Chapter 8 then details further warnings and signs regarding God's direct intervention. Verses 1-2 establish the LORD's command for Isaiah to inscribe "Maher-shalal-hash-baz" on a large tablet and secure trustworthy witnesses. Verse 3 directly follows, recounting the fulfillment of another part of God's instruction, making the prophet's family central to the prophetic message. Historically, Judah was in a precarious position, tempted to ally with a powerful human empire rather than trusting in divine protection. This context highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His use of ordinary human experiences—like marriage and childbirth—as potent signs of His immediate plans.

Isaiah 8 3 Word analysis

• Then I went (וָאֵקְרַב - va'eqrav): From the Hebrew root qarab, meaning "to draw near, approach," or "to engage in intimate contact." In this context, it unambiguously refers to conjugal relations, implying that Isaiah, acting on divine command or guided by prophetic understanding, was participating in an act that would lead to a divine sign. It signifies an intentional and consecrated act rather than a mere personal event.

• to the prophetess (אֶל־הַנְּבִיאָה - el-hannyvi'ah): "The prophetess" refers to Isaiah's wife. The definite article "the" suggests she was known, likely by the audience, to hold a prophetic role or status. This indicates that God often used not just individuals but also their families as part of His prophetic messages, ensuring a deeper resonance and witness. Her designation as a prophetess underscores the sanctity and purposefulness of their union in the divine plan.

• and she conceived (וַתַּהַר - vattahar): Standard Hebrew verb for conception, emphasizing the natural yet divinely ordained progression following Isaiah's act.

• and bore (וַתֵּלֶד - vattedled): Standard Hebrew verb for giving birth, completing the sequence from union to a tangible new life.

• a son (בֵּן - ben): A male child, significant as names of male heirs often carried a family's legacy and future hopes, and in this case, a national message.

• Then the LORD said (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי - vayyo'mer YHWH 'elay): This marks a direct divine command, underscoring the authority and origin of the instruction. "YHWH" (the tetragrammaton) signifies the personal, covenant-keeping God of Israel, ensuring the absolute truth and fulfillment of the prophecy.

• to me (אֵלַי - elay): Specifies Isaiah as the recipient of the direct instruction regarding the naming.

• 'Call his name (קְרָא שְׁמוֹ - qera' shemo): An imperative command to formally bestow the significant name. Naming in ancient Israel was often performative, declaring the nature or destiny of the named.

• Maher-shalal-hash-baz (מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז - Maher-shalal-hash-baz): This four-word phrase is transliterated directly as the child's name. It combines two pairs of synonyms:

  • Maher (מַהֵר - maher): "Hurry!" or "Haste!" (an imperative verbal form from the root mahar - to hurry).
  • Shalal (שָׁלָל - shalal): "Spoils," "booty."
  • Hash (חָשׁ - hash): "He hurries!" or "He rushes!" (a verbal form from the root hush - to rush).
  • Baz (בַּז - baz): "Plunder," "prey."
  • Together, the name translates to "Hurry [to the] spoils, swift [to the] plunder." This conveys a vivid and forceful message of impending, rapid, and complete despoliation by an invading army (Assyria), directed against Damascus and Samaria (Isaiah 8:4). The repetition and synonymy heighten the sense of urgency and inevitability of the judgment.

• "Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son": This phrase describes the divine intention behind a private marital act becoming a public prophetic sign. It is a purposeful act, sanctioned by God, demonstrating His deep involvement in all aspects of life to communicate His will and judgment.

• "Then the LORD said to me, ‘Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.'": This sequence explicitly connects the birth of the child to a direct divine revelation concerning his name. The LORD's direct command makes the child a living, breathing sermon—a prophetic sign. The unusual, lengthy, and declarative name immediately signifies a potent, divinely decreed future event, solidifying its role as a living oracle of imminent judgment and destruction upon Judah's enemies.

Isaiah 8 3 Bonus section

The title "prophetess" for Isaiah's wife is rare and significant. It implies she was not just the prophet's wife but had a recognized prophetic gifting or role, participating consciously and actively in God's message delivery. This elevates her status beyond that of a mere consort, showcasing a partnership in God's work. Some interpretations also see this marriage and birth as a parallel or an ironic contrast to the earlier "Immanuel" prophecy (Isa 7:14), with Maher-shalal-hash-baz representing the immediate, destructive aspect of God's presence, while Immanuel (ultimately fulfilled in Christ) signifies His saving and redemptive presence. The public record of these intimate events, especially the divine command concerning Isaiah's marital life and family, powerfully demonstrates that God's sovereignty extends into every facet of human existence, shaping even personal choices for cosmic redemptive purposes. The two witnesses (Isa 8:2) testify not only to the written prophecy but potentially to the child's naming, further cementing the prophecy's authenticity and divine origin.

Isaiah 8 3 Commentary

Isaiah 8:3 captures a profound moment where the private life of the prophet is conscripted entirely into his public prophetic ministry. God instructs Isaiah to lie with his wife, who is specifically called "the prophetess," underscoring her spiritual significance and collaborative role in this divine drama. The subsequent birth of their son is not a mere domestic event but a calculated, divinely ordained sign. The name "Maher-shalal-hash-baz"—"Hurry [to the] spoils, swift [to the] plunder"—is a powerful, active prophecy. It serves as a stark and urgent warning of the swift and total devastation that will soon befall Aram and Israel at the hands of Assyria (as elaborated in v. 4). This acts as both a confirmation of God's earlier promises regarding these nations and a test of Ahaz's faith, challenging him to trust God's word above human alliances. The use of a child as a living sign vividly illustrates the immediacy and certainty of God's judgments and purposes in history.

• Practical Example: A minister, instructed by God, publicly changes their lifestyle or family dynamic to illustrate a sermon point, showing personal cost for a divine message.