Isaiah 8:1

¶ Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

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}.

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].'"

Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

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;

Commentary on Isaiah 8:1 (KJV)

Isaiah 8:1 marks a pivotal moment in the prophetic ministry of Isaiah, following the significant prophecies concerning King Ahaz and the sign of Immanuel in Isaiah chapter 7. This verse introduces a new, dramatic prophetic action commanded by God.

Historical and Cultural Context

This command from the LORD comes during a period of intense political and military tension in Judah. King Ahaz, ruling the Southern Kingdom, faced a formidable alliance between the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria (Aram), who sought to depose him and install a puppet king. Despite God's assurance and offer of a sign, Ahaz stubbornly refused to trust the LORD, instead planning to seek aid from Assyria, a powerful and dangerous empire. In this context, God instructs Isaiah to create a public, undeniable sign.

The "great roll" refers to a large scroll, a common writing material in ancient times, suggesting that the message was meant to be publicly displayed and easily read. The phrase "with a man's pen" implies that the writing was to be clear, legible, and understandable to the common person, not in obscure or symbolic script. It also suggests the presence of human witnesses or the intention for public verification of the written prophecy.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Command and Prophetic Action: The verse highlights God's direct involvement in human affairs, commanding His prophet to perform a symbolic act that would serve as a visible warning.
  • Imminent Judgment: The central theme conveyed by the name "Mahershalalhashbaz" is the swift and certain arrival of judgment, specifically the plundering and spoiling of Judah's enemies.
  • God's Foreknowledge and Sovereignty: This prophecy demonstrates God's complete knowledge of future events and His sovereign control over nations and their destinies, even amidst political turmoil.
  • Warning to Judah: While the name primarily concerns the enemies of Judah (Syria and Israel), it subtly serves as a warning that Judah's reliance on human alliances rather than God would also lead to devastating consequences, as the Assyrians would eventually turn on them.

Linguistic Insights

The most significant linguistic insight in this verse is the name Mahershalalhashbaz (מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז). This is not merely a name but a prophetic sentence or phrase, packed with meaning:

  • Mahershalalhashbaz literally means "Hasten Spoils, Speed Plunder" or "Quick to the Plunder, Swift to the Booty."
  • It is composed of four Hebrew words:
    • Maher (מַהֵר): "hasten," "quick"
    • Shalal (שָׁלָל): "spoils," "plunder"
    • Hash (חָשׁ): "hurry," "speed"
    • Baz (בַּז): "prey," "booty"

This long, complex name was designed to be a clear and unmistakable sign of the swift and overwhelming defeat of the allied kingdoms of Syria and Israel by the Assyrians. The public inscription of this name, before its actual fulfillment, served as undeniable proof of God's prophetic word and His control over historical events. The full significance of this name is further elaborated with the birth of Isaiah's son in Isaiah 8:3.

Practical Application

Isaiah 8:1 reminds us that God often provides clear warnings and signs before significant events unfold. For us today, it underscores the importance of paying attention to God's word and prophetic messages, which often serve as guides or warnings. Just as the name Mahershalalhashbaz was a concrete sign of impending judgment, God's truth remains a constant and reliable guide in a chaotic world. It encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to execute His plans, even when circumstances seem overwhelming or uncertain.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

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