Isaiah 8:4

THE MESSAGE

Then God told me, "Get a big sheet of paper and write in indelible ink, ‘This belongs to Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Spoil-Speeds-Plunder-Hurries).'" I got two honest men, Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah, to witness the document. Then I went home to my wife, the prophetess. She conceived and gave birth to a son. God told me, "Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Before that baby says ‘Daddy' or ‘Mamma' the king of Assyria will have plundered the wealth of Damascus and the riches of Samaria."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
for before the boy knows how to call ‘Father,’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria will be carried off to the king of Assyria.”

Hebrew Names Version
For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and, My mother, the riches of Dammesek and the spoil of Shomron shall be carried away before the king of Ashshur.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
for before the boy knows how to cry ‘My father' or ‘My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria."

New American Standard Bible
for before the boy knows how to cry out 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria."

New Century Version
because the king of Assyria will take away all the wealth and possessions of Damascus and Samaria before the boy learns to say ‘my father' or ‘my mother.'"

Amplified Bible
for before the boy knows how to say, 'My father' or 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus (Aram's capital) and the spoil of Samaria (Israel's capital) will be carried away by the king of Assyria."

World English Bible
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.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For before the childe shall haue knowledge to crye, My father, & my mother, he shall take away the riches of Damascus and the spoyle of Samaria, before the King of Asshur.

Legacy Standard Bible
for before the boy knows how to cry out ‘My father' or ‘My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria."

Berean Standard Bible
For before the boy knows how to cry 'Father' or 'Mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off to the king of Assyria."

Contemporary English Version
Because before he can say ‘Mommy' or ‘Daddy', the king of Assyria will attack and take everything of value from Damascus and Samaria."

Complete Jewish Bible
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."

Darby Translation
For before the lad knoweth 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.

Easy-to-Read Version
He said that because before the boy learns to say "Mama" and "Daddy," God will take all the wealth and riches from Damascus and Samaria and give them to the king of Assyria.

George Lamsa Translation
For before the child shall know how 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.

Good News Translation
Before the boy is old enough to say ‘Mamma' and ‘Daddy,' all the wealth of Damascus and all the loot of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria."

Lexham English Bible
For before the boy knows to call ‘my father' and ‘my mother,' one will carry away the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria in the presence of the king of Assyria."

Literal Translation
For before the boy knows to cry, My father, or, My mother, the riches of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria shall be lifted up before the king of Assyria.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For why, or euer the childe shal haue knowlege to saye: Abi and Im, yt is father, and mother: shal ye riches of Damascus and ye substaunce of Samaria be take awaye, thorow the Kynge of ye Assirians.

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
For before the child is able to say, Father, or, Mother, the wealth of Damascus and the goods of Samaria will be taken away by the king of Assyria.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.'

King James Version (1611)
For before the childe shall haue knowledge to cry, My father and my mother, the riches of Damascus, and the spoile of Samaria shalbe taken away before the king of Assyria.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For why, or euer the chylde shall haue knowledge to crye my father and mother, shall the riches of Damascus and the spoyle of Samaria be taken away before the kyng of the Assyrians.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For before the child shall know how to call his father or his mother, one shall take the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria before the king of the Assyrians.

English Revised Version
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.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For whi bifor that the child kan clepe his fadir and his modir, the strengthe of Damask schal be doon awei, and the spuylis of Samarie, bifor the kyng of Assiriens.

Update Bible Version
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

New English Translation
for before the child knows how to cry out, ‘My father' or ‘My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria."

New King James Version
for before the child shall have knowledge to cry "My father' and "My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria."

New Living Translation
For before this child is old enough to say ‘Papa' or ‘Mama,' the king of Assyria will carry away both the abundance of Damascus and the riches of Samaria."

New Life Bible
For before the boy knows how to cry out ‘My father' or ‘My mother,' the riches of Damascus and everything of any worth in Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria."

New Revised Standard
for before the child knows how to call "My father" or "My mother," the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For before the boy 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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For before the child know to call his father and his mother, the strength of Damascus, and the spoils of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of the Assyrians.

Revised Standard Version
for before the child knows how to cry 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Sama'ria will be carried away before the king of Assyria."

Young's Literal Translation
for before the youth doth know to cry, My father, and My mother, one taketh away the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria, before the king of Asshur.'

New American Standard Bible (1995)
for before the boy knows how to cry out 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria."

Contextual Overview

¹ Then God told me, "Get a big sheet of paper and write in indelible ink, ‘This belongs to Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Spoil-Speeds-Plunder-Hurries).'" ²I got two honest men, Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah, to witness the document. Then I went home to my wife, the prophetess. She conceived and gave birth to a son. God told me, "Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Before that baby says ‘Daddy' or ‘Mamma' the king of Assyria will have plundered the wealth of Damascus and the riches of Samaria." God spoke to me again, saying: "Because this people has turned its back on the gently flowing stream of Shiloah And gotten all excited over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, I'm stepping in and facing them with the wild floodwaters of the Euphrates, The king of Assyria and all his fanfare, a river in flood, bursting its banks, Pouring into Judah, sweeping everything before it, water up to your necks, A huge wingspan of a raging river, O Immanuel, spreading across your land." But face the facts, all you oppressors, and then wring your hands. Listen, all of you, far and near. Prepare for the worst and wring your hands. Yes, prepare for the worst and wring your hands! Plan and plot all you want—nothing will come of it. All your talk is mere talk, empty words, Because when all is said and done, the last word is Immanuel—God-With-Us. God spoke strongly to me, grabbed me with both hands and warned me not to go along with this people. He said: "Don't be like this people, always afraid somebody is plotting against them. Don't fear what they fear. Don't take on their worries. If you're going to worry, worry about The Holy. Fear God -of-the-Angel-Armies. The Holy can be either a Hiding Place or a Boulder blocking your way, The Rock standing in the willful way of both houses of Israel, A barbed-wire Fence preventing trespass to the citizens of Jerusalem. Many of them are going to run into that Rock and get their bones broken, Get tangled up in that barbed wire and not get free of it." Gather up the testimony, preserve the teaching for my followers, While I wait for God as long as he remains in hiding, while I wait and hope for him. I stand my ground and hope, I and the children God gave me as signs to Israel, Warning signs and hope signs from God -of-the-Angel-Armies, who makes his home in Mount Zion. When people tell you, "Try out the fortunetellers. Consult the spiritualists. Why not tap into the spirit-world, get in touch with the dead?" Tell them, "No, we're going to study the Scriptures." People who try the other ways get nowhere—a dead end! Frustrated and famished, they try one thing after another. When nothing works out they get angry, cursing first this god and then that one, Looking this way and that, up, down, and sideways—and seeing nothing, A blank wall, an empty hole. They end up in the dark with nothing. ⁴ Then God told me, "Get a big sheet of paper and write in indelible ink, ‘This belongs to Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Spoil-Speeds-Plunder-Hurries).'" I got two honest men, Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah, to witness the document. Then I went home to my wife, the prophetess. She conceived and gave birth to a son. God told me, "Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Before that baby says ‘Daddy' or ‘Mamma' the king of Assyria will have plundered the wealth of Damascus and the riches of Samaria." ⁵ God spoke to me again, saying: "Because this people has turned its back on the gently flowing stream of Shiloah And gotten all excited over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, I'm stepping in and facing them with the wild floodwaters of the Euphrates, The king of Assyria and all his fanfare, a river in flood, bursting its banks, Pouring into Judah, sweeping everything before it, water up to your necks, A huge wingspan of a raging river, O Immanuel, spreading across your land."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

before: Isaiah 7:15, Isaiah 7:16, Deuteronomy 1:39, Jonah 4:11, Romans 9:11

the riches of Damascus: etc. or, he that is before the king of Assyria shall take away the riches, etc. Isaiah 10:6-14, Isaiah 17:3, 2 Kings 15:29, 2 Kings 16:9, 2 Kings 17:3, 2 Kings 17:5, 2 Kings 17:6

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:11 - the king Isaiah 7:4 - the two tails Isaiah 7:8 - within Isaiah 9:8 - sent a word Isaiah 9:11 - set up Isaiah 10:5 - the rod Isaiah 17:1 - Damascus is Isaiah 28:1 - whose Hosea 13:16 - Samaria Amos 1:3 - Damascus Amos 3:12 - so shall Amos 6:14 - I will

Cross-References

Jeremiah 51:27
"Raise the signal in the land, blow the shofar-trumpet for the nations. Consecrate the nations for holy work against her. Call kingdoms into service against her. Enlist Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a field marshal against her, and round up horses, locust hordes of horses! Consecrate the nations for holy work against her— the king of the Medes, his leaders and people.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, my father, and my mother,.... Which are commonly the first words children learn to say; and so it signifies that what follows should happen in a year or two; as it did:

the riches of Damascus, and the spoil of Samaria, shall be taken away before the king of Assyria; or, "he shall take away the riches" q, c. not the child, unless he is considered as the sign of taking them away; but the soldier, put for the whole Assyrian army, which carried off the riches and spoil of these places, in the presence, and by the order, of the king of Assyria; the first of these, namely, Damascus, the metropolis of Syria, with its riches, wealth, and army, were taken and carried away by Tilgathpilneser, king of Assyria, within the time here mentioned, 2 Kings 16:9 but the latter, Samaria, the metropolis of the kingdom of Israel, was not taken and spoiled until the sixth year of Hezekiah, and ninth of Hoshea, 2 Kings 17:6 but because the prophecy began to be fulfilled, and was fulfilled in part, within the time mentioned, the whole is attributed to it; though it should be observed, that before this, after Pekah the son of Remaliah was slain, and Hoshea reigned in his stead, the king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents; which may be called the spoil of Samaria, 2 Kings 17:3.

q ישא את חיל "asportabit, opulentiam----servus regis Assyriae", Junius & Tremellius "auferet opes----is [qui stet] coram facie regis Assyriae", Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For before ... - This must have occurred in a short time - probably before the expiration of three years. A child would usually learn to address his parents in that time. In fact, the event here predicted occurred in less than three years from the time when the prophecy was spoken; see the notes at Isaiah 7:16.

Before the king of Assyria - By the king, or by his conquests. By the spoil of Samaria here, is to be understood, not the plunder which should be carried away from the city, but from the kingdom of Samaria. In other places, the land is called by the name of the capital; compare 2 Kings 17:26; 2 Kings 23:19; Jeremiah 31:5. The city of Samaria was not plundered until eighteen years after the time mentioned here by the prophet; Isaiah 8:5-6. These verses introduce again what was predicted in Isaiah 7:17, following, respecting the invasion of the land by the king of Assyria. The cause of the invasion is specified, and the consequences are foretold.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 8:4. For before the child — For my father and my mother, one MS. and the Vulgate have his father and his mother. The prophecy was accordingly accomplished within three years; when Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, went up against Damascus and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin, and also took the Reubenites and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and carried them captive to Assyria, 2 Kings 15:29; 2 Kings 16:9; 1 Chronicles 5:26.