Isaiah 8:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Isaiah's wife conceives and bears a son, whom God commands to be named according to the sign Isaiah wrote.
The Context of Isaiah 8:3
God directs Isaiah to name his newborn son, making the child himself an embodied sign of coming events.
What Does Isaiah 8:3 Mean?
Isaiah's wife, called 'the prophetess,' becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son. The Lord then directs Isaiah to name this child Mahershalalhashbaz—the very name already written on the public scroll. This transforms the child himself into a walking, living sign; every time the boy is called by name in Jerusalem's streets, the prophecy is audibly renewed.
The combination of the written sign and the named child creates a dual testimony. The scroll established the word before anything happened; the boy's existence and growth confirm that God's purposes are at work. A living child bearing a prophecy's name makes the word incarnate and unmistakable.
Isaiah 8:3 in the Original Language
prophetess (נְבִיאָה, n'viʾah)—a woman recognized as one who speaks God's word; Isaiah's wife shares in his prophetic office.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 8:3
What does Isaiah 8:3 mean?
Isaiah's wife conceives and bears a son, whom God commands to be named according to the sign Isaiah wrote.
What is the context of Isaiah 8:3?
God directs Isaiah to name his newborn son, making the child himself an embodied sign of coming events.