Bible Strands
Isaiah 8:3
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Isaiah addresses the Lord following the appointment of Uriah and Zechariah as official witnesses. The moment captures the fulfillment of a divine directive to enact a prophetic sign before the boy reaches verbal maturity.
The words — The Hebrew verb אֶקְרַבּ (ekrav) translates literally as “I drew near,” denoting physical approach and intimacy with the prophetess. The divine command to name the child Maher-shalal-hash-baz functions as a spoken seal on the impending judgment.
The thread — Prophetic sign-acts involving marriage and childbearing appear in Hosea 1:3, while the office of prophetess is documented in Judges 4:4 and 2 Kings 22:14. These passages collectively anchor prophetic authority in tangible human relationships.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to treat divine warning as historical fact rather than theoretical prediction. It demands acknowledgment that God’s judgments unfold through ordinary events and must be recorded by reliable witnesses.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Maher–shalal–hash–baz.
Cross-references
- Hosea 1:3 So Hosea went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
- Judges 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
- 2 Kings 22:14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.
- Isaiah 7:13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?