Isaiah 8 4

Isaiah 8:4 kjv

For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 8:4 nkjv

for before the child shall have knowledge to cry 'My father' and 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria."

Isaiah 8:4 niv

For before the boy knows how to say 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria."

Isaiah 8:4 esv

for before the boy knows how to cry 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria."

Isaiah 8:4 nlt

For before this child is old enough to say 'Papa' or 'Mama,' the king of Assyria will carry away both the abundance of Damascus and the riches of Samaria."

Isaiah 8 verses

Isaiah 8 4 Meaning

This verse announces the imminent plunder and destruction of Samaria and Damascus by the Assyrian king. It signifies divine judgment upon the kingdoms of Israel and Syria for their opposition to Judah and its king, Ahaz.

Isaiah 8 4 Context

Chapter 8 of Isaiah begins in a context of crisis for Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim) and Syria (Damascus) have formed an alliance against Judah. King Ahaz of Judah, fearing this invasion, is tempted to seek help from Assyria, which Isaiah strongly advises against. Instead, Isaiah is instructed by God to trust in the Lord, who is the ultimate power, not the rising empire of Assyria. This particular verse follows God's instruction to Isaiah to take a large tablet and write upon it with a common stylus: "To Maher-shalal-hash-baz." This name, meaning "the spoil speeds, the prey hastes," and the subsequent confirmation with a sign involving a young woman (or a prophetess) bearing a son with the same name, served as a direct message of impending doom for Israel and Syria. The historical context is the Syro-Ephraimite war during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah (circa 735-734 BC).

Isaiah 8 4 Word Analysis

• וְהָיָה (wə·hā·yâ): "and it shall come to pass," or "and it shall be." This is a common conjunctive particle introducing a future event or consequence. It signals a continuation or unfolding of previous prophetic declarations.
• מְשִׁסַּת (mə·šis·sat): "the spoil of," or "the plunder of." Derived from the root šālāl (שָׁלָל), meaning "spoil," "prey," or "booty." This word directly relates to the outcome of warfare: what is taken from a conquered people.
• שָׂמְרֹון (śā·mə·rôn): "Samaria." The capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel. Its mention signifies the fate of the entire nation.
• וְעַמּוּדֵי (wə·ʿam·mū·ḏê): "and the pillars of." ʿam·mûḏ (עַמּוּד) means "pillar," "column," or "support." This likely refers to the important, perhaps opulent or culturally significant, structures or even the established leadership of Damascus.
• דַּמֶּשֶׂק (dam·me·śeq): "Damascus." The capital city of Syria. Its inclusion highlights the judgment upon that kingdom as well.
• בְּיַד (bə·yaḏ): "before the face of," or "in the hand of." Bə (בְּ) is a preposition meaning "in," "at," or "with." Yad (יָד) means "hand." Together, they indicate agency or proximity.
• פְּנֵי (pənê): "the face of." The plural of pāneh (פָּנֶה), meaning "face." It signifies in the presence of, or before.
• מֶלֶךְ (mé·leḵ): "the king."
• אַשּׁוּר (aš·šûr): "Assyria." Refers to the powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire, which was the dominant military force in the region at that time.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• מְשִׁסַּת שָׂמְרֹון: "the spoil of Samaria." This phrase directly links the fate of Samaria to the concept of plunder, emphasizing its defeat and the seizure of its wealth.
• וְעַמּוּדֵי דַּמֶּשֶׂק: "and the pillars of Damascus." This could poetically refer to the chief men, leaders, or perhaps prominent idols and edifices that constituted the strength and identity of Damascus. The plundering of these would signify a total dismantling of the city's status.
• בְּיַד מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר: "before the face of the king of Assyria." This prepositional phrase clearly designates the agent of this destruction: the king of Assyria. The "face of" implies direct confrontation and dominance.

Isaiah 8 4 Bonus Section

The prophet Isaiah often employed evocative names and prophetic signs to convey his messages. The name "Maher-shalal-hash-baz" itself, preceding this verse, signifies the swiftness and certainty of the judgment. The destruction of Samaria and Damascus serves as a warning to Ahaz and Judah not to place their trust in alliances with foreign powers but to rely on the Lord. This is a recurring theme in Isaiah, who consistently called Judah back to faith and obedience, presenting God as the ultimate protector, rather than relying on human strength or political maneuvering. The eventual downfall of Assyria itself, a theme present elsewhere in Isaiah, highlights that even instruments of God's judgment are themselves subject to His ultimate sovereignty and eventual judgment.

Isaiah 8 4 Commentary

This verse serves as a clear prophetic pronouncement of impending judgment against the allied kingdoms of Syria and Israel, the very nations that had conspired against Judah. The divine intention is to showcase that God's power supersedes any earthly coalition. The Assyrian king, depicted as the instrument of this judgment, will triumph over Samaria and Damascus. This prediction underlines the fragility of worldly powers when they stand against God's sovereign will and His chosen people. It foreshadows the Assyrian conquests that would dramatically alter the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East.