מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז

Maher-Shalal-Chash-Baz; the symbolical name of the son of Isaiah

Definition

Maher-Shalal-Chash-Baz is the symbolic name given by God to the son of the prophet Isaiah, as recorded in Isaiah 8:1-4. The name means 'hasten to the plunder, hurry to the spoil' and serves as a prophetic sign concerning the impending judgment on Israel and Aram (Syria) by the Assyrian Empire. In Isaiah 8:1, the Lord instructs Isaiah to write this name on a large tablet as a public declaration, and in Isaiah 8:3, it is bestowed upon his newborn son. The name embodies a message of swift military conquest, foretelling that before the child can speak, the wealth of Damascus and Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.

Biblical Usage

This proper noun is used exclusively in the book of Isaiah, appearing only in Isaiah 8:1 and Isaiah 8:3. Its usage is entirely prophetic and symbolic, functioning not merely as a personal name but as a divine oracle. The context is Isaiah's ministry during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis, where the name acts as a tangible sign of God's spoken judgment against the allied kingdoms of Aram and Israel. There is no pattern of general usage; it is a unique, divinely-commissioned sign-name.

Etymology

The name is a compound phrase derived from four Hebrew roots: מַהֵר (mahêr, H4118, 'to hasten'), שָׁלָל (shālāl, H7998, 'booty, plunder'), חוּשׁ (chûsh, H2363, 'to hurry'), and בַּז (baz, H957, 'spoil, prey'). It is constructed as an imperative phrase: 'Hasten (to the) booty! Hurry (to the) spoil!' The meaning is transparent and urgent, depicting the rapid action of a conquering army seizing loot. It does not evolve in meaning but is fixed as a prophetic title.

Semantic Range

This name is theologically significant as a sign of God's sovereign control over history and nations. It confirms prophecy through a living symbol (Isaiah's son) and demonstrates that God's word is active and will be fulfilled. The name underscores the theme of judgment for covenant unfaithfulness, specifically against the northern kingdom of Israel. Understanding this Hebrew phrase enriches reading by revealing the immediacy and certainty of God's declared judgment, contrasting the people's trust in political alliances with trust in the Lord alone (Isaiah 8:12-13).

In its original setting, bestowing a child with a name meaning 'swift to the plunder' was highly unusual and shocking, designed to capture public attention. Names often carried meaning about a child's character or destiny, but this was a direct prophetic act, turning a personal family event into a national sign. The cultural understanding would have immediately associated it with warfare, conquest, and the terrifying speed of the Assyrian military machine, making it a potent and ominous public message.

There are no direct synonyms for this unique prophetic name-phrase. It is a singular construction.

Word Details

Scripture References