Isaiah 8:4

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.

For before the child {H5288} shall have knowledge {H3045} to cry {H7121}, My father {H1}, and my mother {H517}, the riches {H2428} of Damascus {H1834} and the spoil {H7998} of Samaria {H8111} shall be taken away {H5375} before {H6440} the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}.

because before the child knows how to cry, 'Abba!' and 'Eema!', the riches of Dammesek and the spoil of Shomron will be carried off and given to the king of Ashur."

For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”

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 carried away before the king of Assyria.

Commentary

Isaiah 8:4 is a powerful prophetic declaration, providing a specific timeline for the downfall of Judah's enemies, Aram (Damascus) and the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria).

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy delivered by the prophet Isaiah during a time of great political turmoil for the Kingdom of Judah. King Ahaz of Judah was facing an invasion from a coalition of Aram (Syria), led by King Rezin of Damascus, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim), led by King Pekah of Samaria. This conflict is known as the Syro-Ephraimitic War. Ahaz, instead of trusting God, sought an alliance with the powerful Assyrian Empire. In response, God gave signs through Isaiah, including the prophecy of Immanuel and, in this chapter, the naming of Isaiah's own son, Maher-shalal-hash-baz, whose name itself served as a prophetic symbol of swift judgment.

Meaning and Prophecy

The "child" mentioned here refers specifically to Maher-shalal-hash-baz, whose name means "Hurry to the spoil! Swift to the plunder!" The phrase "before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and My mother" signifies a very short and certain timeframe—likely within one to two years—the period it takes for a young child to develop basic speech. Within this brief window, Isaiah prophesies that "the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria." This foretold the swift and decisive defeat of both Aram and Israel by the rising power of Assyria, precisely the empire King Ahaz was aligning himself with. This judgment on Damascus and Samaria is documented historically, with Damascus falling to Assyria in 732 BC and Samaria falling in 722 BC, aligning with the prophetic timeline.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Control: The verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute control over nations and their destinies. Even the mighty Assyrian Empire served as an instrument in His plan.
  • Swift and Certain Judgment: The short timeframe emphasizes the inevitability and immediacy of God's promised judgment against those who oppose His will or His people.
  • Warning and Fulfillment: This prophecy served as a clear warning to Judah not to fear their enemies but to trust in God, who would deal with their adversaries. Its historical fulfillment underscores the reliability of God's word.

Linguistic Insights

The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz (מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז) is a compound Hebrew phrase directly meaning "Hurry to the spoil, swift to the plunder." This name itself encapsulates the prophecy, indicating the speed with which the enemies of Judah would be conquered and plundered.

Practical Application

Isaiah 8:4 reminds us that God's plans unfold according to His perfect timing. While the world may seem chaotic or threatening, God remains sovereign over all events and nations. It encourages believers to place their trust in God's faithfulness rather than relying on human strategies or fearing earthly powers. Just as God delivered Judah from its immediate threats, He is capable of bringing about His purposes in our lives and in the world today, often through unexpected means and with remarkable speed.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 9:11 (4 votes)

    (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

  • Isaiah 7:8 (2 votes)

    For the head of Syria [is] Damascus, and the head of Damascus [is] Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.

  • Isaiah 7:9 (2 votes)

    And the head of Ephraim [is] Samaria, and the head of Samaria [is] Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

  • 2 Kings 15:29 (2 votes)

    In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

  • Jonah 4:11 (2 votes)

    And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and [also] much cattle?

  • 2 Kings 17:3 (2 votes)

    Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.

  • Isaiah 10:6 (2 votes)

    I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.