King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.
Complete Jewish Bible:
ADONAI said to me, "Take a large tablet, and write on it in easily readable letters; 'Maher shalal, hash baz [the spoil hurries, the prey speeds along].'"
Berean Standard Bible:
Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
American Standard Version:
And Jehovah said unto me, Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it with the pen of a man, For Maher-shalal-hash-baz;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Moreover the LORD{H3068} said{H559} unto me, Take{H3947} thee a great{H1419} roll{H1549}, and write{H3789} in it with a man's{H582} pen{H2747} concerning Mahershalalhashbaz{H4122}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 30:8
- ¶ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Job 19:23
- ¶ Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
Job 19:24
- That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
Habakkuk 2:2
- And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Habakkuk 2:3
- For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Isaiah 8:3
- And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
Revelation 21:17
- And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred [and] forty [and] four cubits, [according to] the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 8:1
Isaiah 8:1 is part of a larger narrative within the Book of Isaiah, which is a collection of prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah, who lived in the 8th century BCE. This verse is situated in a historical context where the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were facing threats from the expanding Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians were known for their ruthless military campaigns and had already conquered the northern kingdom, leading to a sense of impending doom among the people of Judah.
In this verse, God instructs Isaiah to take a large scroll—a significant act in a time when writing materials were precious and costly—and to inscribe upon it a particular name, "Mahershalalhashbaz," using a common pen. This name is symbolic and prophetic, meaning "hurry to the spoil, hasten to the prey," which suggests the swift and decisive plundering that the Assyrians would soon bring upon the region. The act of writing this name on a scroll was meant to serve as a tangible sign and a lasting testimony of the imminent judgment that was to come. It also served to authenticate Isaiah's prophetic ministry, providing a physical record that could be referenced and verified.
The themes present in this verse include the sovereignty of God over historical events, the use of symbolic actions to convey prophetic messages, and the importance of recording and preserving divine revelation. Isaiah's obedience to this command set the stage for further prophetic declarations, emphasizing the urgency of repentance and the need for faith in God's promises amidst the turmoil of international politics and warfare.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H1419
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדוֹל
Transliteration: gâdôwl
Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very. - Strong's Number: H1549
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גִּלָּיוֹן
Transliteration: gillâyôwn
Pronunciation: ghil-law-yone'
Description: or גִּלְיוֹן; from גָּלָה; a tablet for writing (as bare); by analogy, a mirror (as a plate); glass, roll. - Strong's Number: H3789
There are 212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּתַב
Transliteration: kâthab
Pronunciation: kaw-thab'
Description: a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe); describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten). - Strong's Number: H582
There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
Pronunciation: en-oshe'
Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H2747
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶט
Transliteration: chereṭ
Pronunciation: kheh'-ret
Description: from a primitive root meaning to engrave; a chisel or graver; also a style forwriting; graving tool, pen. - Strong's Number: H4122
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז
Transliteration: Mahêr Shâlâl Châsh Baz
Pronunciation: mah-hare' shaw-lawl' khawsh baz
Description: from מַהֵר and שָׁלָל and חוּשׁ and בַּז; hasting (is he (the enemy) to the) booty, swift (to the) prey; Maher-Shalal-Chash-Baz; the symbolical name of the son of Isaiah; Maher-sha-lal-bash-baz.