Isaiah 8:3

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then I had sexual relations with my wife; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son; and ADONAI said to me, "Name him Maher Shalal Hash Baz;

Berean Standard Bible:

And I had relations with the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. The LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

American Standard Version:

And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said Jehovah unto me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And I went^{H7126} unto the prophetess^{H5031}; and she conceived^{H2029}, and bare^{H3205} a son^{H1121}. Then said^{H559} the LORD^{H3068} to me, Call^{H7121} his name^{H8034} Mahershalalhashbaz^{H4122}.

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Commentary for Isaiah 8:3

Isaiah 8:3 is a verse set within the historical context of the ancient Near East during the 8th century BCE, a time when the Assyrian Empire was expanding and posed a significant threat to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The prophet Isaiah, to whom this verse is attributed, was active during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah.

In this verse, Isaiah is instructed by God to approach "the prophetess," commonly understood to be his wife, who is not named in the text. The verse states that she conceives and bears a son. The Lord then directs Isaiah to name the child "Mahershalalhashbaz," which is a notably long and complex name. This name has a prophetic significance, as it can be translated from Hebrew to mean "quick to the plunder," "swift is booty," or "he has made haste to the spoil." The name itself is a message foretelling the rapid downfall of the kingdoms of Israel and Damascus at the hands of the Assyrians, serving as a sign that God would use Assyria as an instrument of judgment against His people for their idolatry and unfaithfulness.

The broader context of this passage is found in the political turmoil of the time, with the northern Kingdom of Israel and the Aramean kingdom of Damascus forming an alliance against Judah, pressuring it to join them against Assyria. Isaiah's prophecy, however, reassures King Ahaz of Judah that these threats would not stand and that the alliance would fail, as the name Mahershalalhashbaz suggests. The birth of this child, therefore, is both a literal event in Isaiah's life and a symbolic act meant to convey God's message of impending judgment and the temporary nature of the current political powers.

In summary, Isaiah 8:3 is a verse that captures a moment of prophetic symbolism, where the birth of Isaiah's son and the bestowing of his name serve as a divine sign of the swift military conquests soon to unfold. It reflects the themes of divine judgment, the reliability of God's word over human political maneuvers, and the ultimate sovereignty of God over the nations and their leaders.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7126
   There are 259 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרַב
   Transliteration: qârab
   Pronunciation: kaw-rab'
   Description: a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose; (cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5031
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נְבִיאָה
   Transliteration: nᵉbîyʼâh
   Pronunciation: neb-ee-yaw'
   Description: feminine of נָבִיא; a prophetess or (generally) inspired woman; by implication, a poetess; by association a prophet's wife; prophetess.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2029
   There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָרָה
   Transliteration: hârâh
   Pronunciation: haw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively); been, be with child, conceive, progenitor.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
   
5. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
6. 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.
   
7. 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.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7121
   There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרָא
   Transliteration: qârâʼ
   Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
   
9. Strong's Number: H8034
   There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁם
   Transliteration: shêm
   Pronunciation: shame
   Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
   
10. 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.