Isaiah 7:3

KJV

Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;

KJV (with Strong's)

Then said {H559} the LORD {H3068} unto Isaiah {H3470}, Go forth {H3318} now to meet {H7125} Ahaz {H271}, thou, and Shearjashub {H7610} thy son {H1121}, at the end {H7097} of the conduit {H8585} of the upper {H5945} pool {H1295} in the highway {H4546} of the fuller's {H3526} field {H7704};

Complete Jewish Bible

Then ADONAI said to Yesha'yahu, "Go out now to meet Achaz, you and your son Sh'ar Yashuv, at the end of the aqueduct from the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderers' Field;

Berean Standard Bible

Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct that feeds the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field,

American Standard Version

Then said Jehovah unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fuller’s field;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 7:3 records a pivotal divine directive issued to the prophet Isaiah, commanding him to intercept King Ahaz of Judah during a period of intense national anxiety. The Lord instructs Isaiah to take his son, Shearjashub, and meet the king at a specific, strategically significant location—the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field. This encounter is divinely orchestrated to deliver a crucial message of reassurance and a call to radical trust in God's sovereign protection, setting the stage for one of Isaiah's most profound prophetic declarations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the very beginning of a critical section in Isaiah, often referred to as the "Book of Immanuel" (chapters 7-12). The immediate backdrop is the Syro-Ephraimite War (circa 734-732 BC), a period of profound geopolitical instability for the Southern Kingdom of Judah. [Isaiah 7:1-2](/isaiah/7-1-2 "Isaiah 7:1-2 - Judah's Fear During the Syro-Ephraimite War") vividly portrays the widespread fear gripping King Ahaz and the people of Jerusalem as the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Aram (Syria) form a formidable alliance, threatening to besiege Jerusalem and replace Ahaz with a puppet ruler. Amidst this palpable national panic, [Isaiah 7:3](/isaiah/7-3 "Isaiah 7:3 - God's Command to Isaiah") marks God's direct and proactive intervention, dispatching His prophet Isaiah to confront Ahaz with a message designed to counteract the king's reliance on human strategies and instill divine trust. This encounter initiates a crucial prophetic dialogue that will culminate in the significant sign of Immanuel in [Isaiah 7:14](/isaiah/7-14 "Isaiah 7:14 - The Sign of Immanuel").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Syro-Ephraimite War was a genuine and immediate existential threat to Judah's independence. King Ahaz, unlike some of his predecessors, was characterized by his lack of faith and his propensity to seek alliances with powerful foreign nations, particularly Assyria, rather than trusting in the Lord (compare [2 Kings 16](/2_kings/16 "2 Kings 16 - Ahaz's Unfaithful Reign")). Jerusalem's water supply, primarily sourced from the Gihon Spring and distributed via an intricate system of conduits and pools, was absolutely vital for the city's survival during any extended siege. The "conduit of the upper pool" and the "fuller's field" were likely located just outside the city walls, near crucial water infrastructure and a common industrial area for washing and dyeing clothes. This specific meeting point suggests that Ahaz was likely inspecting the city's defenses or assessing its water resources, highlighting the practical, life-or-death nature of the crisis. God meets Ahaz precisely at the nexus of his earthly anxieties and strategic concerns, underscoring His direct engagement with the king's immediate predicament.
* **Key Themes:** This verse serves as an introduction to several profound themes that permeate Isaiah's prophetic message. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Divine Sovereignty and Intervention**, demonstrating that even amidst human fear, political chaos, and national apostasy, God remains actively involved in the affairs of His people, initiating contact and offering a path grounded in faith. Secondly, the explicit instruction for Isaiah to bring his son, Shearjashub, brings to the forefront the theme of the **Faithful Remnant**. Shearjashub's name, meaning "a remnant shall return," functions as a living prophecy, a tangible embodiment of God's unwavering promise to preserve a portion of His people despite impending judgment or current unfaithfulness. This concept of the remnant is foundational to Isaiah's message of both judgment and ultimate hope, as further elaborated in passages such as [Isaiah 10:20-22](/isaiah/10-20-22 "Isaiah 10:20-22 - The Remnant of Israel"). Thirdly, the entire encounter underscores the critical theme of **Trust vs. Fear**, directly challenging Ahaz to abandon his reliance on human cunning and foreign alliances in favor of absolute trust in the Lord's deliverance and protection, a call consistently echoed throughout the prophetic literature.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, referring to "the self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God." This designation emphasizes that the command originates from the covenant God of Israel, the one who is eternally present, self-sufficient, and sovereign over all creation and human history. It underscores the ultimate divine authority and unwavering nature of the message Isaiah is commissioned to deliver to King Ahaz.
* **Go forth (Hebrew, _yâtsâʼ'_):** From H3318, a primitive root meaning "to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim." This imperative verb conveys a sense of direct, immediate, and purposeful action. It is not a mere suggestion but a divine summons for Isaiah to step out of his ordinary routine and into a divinely orchestrated encounter, highlighting God's proactive initiative in confronting Ahaz's crisis.
* **Shearjashub (Hebrew, _Shᵉʼâr Yâshûwb'_):** From H7610, meaning "a remnant will return." This is the symbolic name of Isaiah's son, whose very presence serves as a living prophecy. His name embodies a core theological theme of Isaiah's ministry: despite impending judgment and exile, God will faithfully preserve a remnant of His people who will ultimately return to Him. His inclusion in this critical meeting adds a profound layer of visual and auditory symbolism to God's message, conveying both a warning of judgment and a promise of enduring hope.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said the LORD unto Isaiah,"**: This opening phrase unequivocally establishes the divine origin and supreme authority of the command that follows. It highlights God's direct initiative in addressing the unfolding crisis, choosing to intervene through His appointed prophet to communicate His will to the king.
* **"Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son,"**: This constitutes the core instruction. Isaiah is commanded to actively seek out King Ahaz, implying a direct confrontation or intervention. The explicit inclusion of Shearjashub, whose name ("a remnant shall return") carries profound prophetic weight, is crucial. His presence transforms the encounter into a living parable, a tangible visual aid to God's message concerning both impending judgment and ultimate preservation.
* **"at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;"**: This clause precisely specifies the location of the divinely mandated meeting. It identifies a strategic point related to Jerusalem's vital water supply and defensive infrastructure. This detail suggests that Ahaz was likely preoccupied with practical military preparations and securing the city's resources. God deliberately meets Ahaz exactly where his earthly anxieties and strategic efforts were concentrated, underscoring that divine help is available even in the midst of human efforts and concerns.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 7:3 is rich with **Symbolism**. The most prominent symbol is Isaiah's son, Shearjashub, whose name ("a remnant shall return") embodies a central theological theme of the book of Isaiah. His very presence serves as a living prophecy, a tangible reminder to Ahaz of God's promise to preserve a faithful few despite the nation's unfaithfulness and the impending judgment. The meeting place itself also functions as **Symbolism** and **Irony**. The "conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field" was a vital part of Jerusalem's water supply and defenses. Meeting Ahaz here, where he was likely inspecting human provisions and strategies for survival, is deeply ironic. It subtly contrasts Ahaz's reliance on physical infrastructure and military might with God's offer of divine protection, highlighting the ultimate inadequacy of human efforts without God's blessing. The entire scene is also an example of **Divine Initiative**, as the Lord actively sends His prophet to confront the king's fear, demonstrating God's unwavering and personal engagement with His people's plight.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 7:3 profoundly underscores God's active and personal involvement in human history, demonstrating His willingness to meet His people, even unfaithful leaders like Ahaz, at their point of deepest need. It highlights the theological principle that divine revelation often comes precisely in the midst of crisis, serving as a direct call for faith over debilitating fear. The deliberate presence of Shearjashub introduces the profound theological concept of the "remnant," a theme central to prophetic literature throughout the Old and New Testaments. This concept signifies God's unwavering faithfulness to preserve a portion of His people through judgment, ensuring the continuity of His covenant promises and His redemptive plan despite human sin and rebellion. This divine preservation is not merely about physical survival but about spiritual restoration and the ultimate fulfillment of God's purposes.

* [Isaiah 10:21](/isaiah/10-21 "Isaiah 10:21 - The Remnant Will Return to God")
* [Romans 9:27](/romans/9-27 "Romans 9:27 - Paul Quotes Isaiah on the Remnant")
* [Jeremiah 23:3](/jeremiah/23-3 "Jeremiah 23:3 - God's Promise to Gather the Scattered Remnant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a powerful and enduring reminder that God often initiates contact with us in the very midst of our fears, anxieties, and frantic strategic planning, meeting us precisely "where we are" in our struggles. Just as He sought out Ahaz at a vulnerable moment, preoccupied with earthly defenses, God reaches out to us today through His Word, His indwelling Spirit, and His community of believers, offering profound reassurance and a clear path forward. It challenges us to honestly consider where our own "fuller's fields" are—the specific areas of our lives where we are most preoccupied with human solutions, anxieties, and self-devised defenses. The passage underscores the paramount importance of trusting God's promises and His sovereign control (as further elaborated in [Isaiah 7:4-9](/isaiah/7-4-9 "Isaiah 7:4-9 - God's Reassurance and Warning to Ahaz")) rather than relying solely on our own strength, wisdom, or strategic planning when facing overwhelming circumstances. We are called to cultivate a posture of listening for God's voice and obeying His directives, even when the task seems daunting, recognizing that true security, peace, and deliverance ultimately come from divine faithfulness, not human ingenuity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I currently relying more on human strategies and anxieties than on God's promises and sovereign care?**
* **How does God "meet me where I am" in my current struggles, and how can I better recognize and respond to His divine initiative?**
* **What "living prophecies" or symbolic reminders of God's faithfulness might God be placing in my life today, urging me to trust Him more fully?**

### FAQ
**Why was Isaiah commanded to bring his son, Shearjashub, to meet Ahaz?**

Answer: Isaiah was commanded to bring his son, Shearjashub, because his name itself was a living prophecy and a powerful symbolic message intended directly for King Ahaz. The name "Shearjashub" literally means "a remnant shall return." In a time when Judah faced existential threats from the Syro-Ephraimite alliance and Ahaz was gripped by fear, the physical presence of Shearjashub served as a tangible, visual, and auditory reminder of two crucial truths. First, it subtly conveyed that judgment was indeed coming due to the nation's unfaithfulness, implying a scattering or destruction. Second, and more importantly, it offered a profound message of hope: that despite the impending calamity, God would faithfully preserve a "remnant" of His people. This dual message of warning and enduring hope urged Ahaz to trust in God's ultimate plan of preservation rather than his own political alliances or military strategies, as further explained and elaborated in [Isaiah 7:4-9](/isaiah/7-4-9 "Isaiah 7:4-9 - God's Message of Trust and Warning").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 7:3, with its profound emphasis on divine initiative, the symbolic son, and the call to radical trust, finds its ultimate and most complete Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as God sent His prophet Isaiah and his symbolically named son, Shearjashub, to meet a fearful king at a strategic location, God ultimately sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, into a world gripped by the fear of sin and death, meeting humanity at its deepest point of spiritual and existential need. Jesus is the ultimate "remnant," the perfectly faithful Israelite who perfectly fulfilled God's will where all others failed (cf. [Romans 11:5](/romans/11-5 "Romans 11:5 - The Remnant Chosen by Grace")). He embodies the true "return" to God, not merely of a physical remnant, but of all who believe in Him, drawing them back into fellowship with the Father (cf. [John 6:37](/john/6-37 "John 6:37 - All Who the Father Gives Will Come to Jesus")). The encounter at the "fuller's field," a place of cleansing and ordinary life, foreshadows Christ's earthly ministry, where He often met people in their common, sometimes unclean, circumstances, offering spiritual cleansing, healing, and new life (cf. [Mark 1:40-42](/mark/1-40-42 "Mark 1:40-42 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper")). Ultimately, the promise of God's unwavering presence and unfailing deliverance, which King Ahaz tragically failed to grasp, is fully and perfectly realized in Christ, who is truly "God with us," the ultimate Immanuel (cf. [Matthew 1:23](/matthew/1-23 "Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel, God With Us")), providing the absolute security and eternal salvation that no human strategy, earthly defense, or political alliance could ever offer.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 18:17

¶ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which [is] in the highway of the fuller's field.

Isaiah 36:2

And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.

Romans 9:27

Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

Isaiah 6:13

But yet in it [shall be] a tenth, and [it] shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance [is] in them, when they cast [their leaves: so] the holy seed [shall be] the substance thereof.

Jeremiah 19:2

And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which [is] by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,

Jeremiah 19:3

And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.

Jeremiah 22:1

¶ Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,