מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז (ma.her sha.lal chash baz)
ma.her sha.lal chash baz
Maher-shalal-hash-baz
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz is a prophetic sign given to the prophet Isaiah for his son, recorded in Isaiah 8:1. The phrase translates to "swift is booty, speedy is prey," serving as a living warning of impending judgment. It was not merely a personal identifier but a divine act intended to communicate a specific message to the people of Judah during a time of political crisis.
This striking name points directly to the rapid fall of Israel’s enemies, Damascus and Samaria, at the hands of the Assyrian empire. By naming his child with such a vivid description of plunder, Isaiah embodied the certainty and speed of God’s judgment against those threatening His people. The name functions as a tangible sign that the threat was immediate and the outcome inevitable, anchoring the prophecy in real human experience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz means "swift is booty, speedy is prey." God instructed Isaiah to write this on a large tablet and give it to his son as a living sign. It was not just a label but a vivid warning of coming judgment against Israel's enemies.
When threats loom over your life, remember that God sees the outcome before it happens. This name reminds us that justice moves quickly and no power can stop His plans. Even in times of fear, we can trust that God is sovereign over history and our personal struggles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shalal-2×
- Hash-2×
- Baz2×
- Maher-1×
- <to>/ Maher-1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁלָ֖ל2×
- חָ֥שׁ2×
- בַּֽז\׃2×
- מַהֵ֥ר1×
- לְ/מַהֵ֥ר1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 8:1
Yahweh said to me, “Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man’s pen, ‘For Maher Shalal Hash Baz’;
This verse establishes the name as a public, written sign to be witnessed by reliable witnesses, emphasizing its certainty.
-
Isaiah 8:3
I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then Yahweh said to me, “Call his name ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz.’
The birth of Isaiah's son fulfills the prophecy, showing that God's word is not just spoken but enacted in real life.