Maher-shalal-hash-baz

Maher-shalal-hash-baz (/ˈmɑːhɛr ʃælæl ˈhæʃ bɑːz/;[1] Hebrew: מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז- "Hurry to the spoils!" or "He has made haste to the plunder!" - was the second mentioned prophetic child in Isaiah ch.7-9.[2]

And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bore a son. {S} Then said the LORD unto me: 'Call his name Maher-shalal-hashbaz'
Isaiah 8:3[3]

The prophet Isaiah's first son Shearjashub is mentioned only once in Isaiah 7:3. Commentators, Jewish and Christian, traditionally note that this first son's name is also prophetic - meaning "the remnant shall return" - but no account of why, when or how this son was named is given in the Book of Isaiah.

The child Maher-shalal-hash-baz is the second prophetic-name child after the birth of Immanuel - traditionally understood as the son of Abi the bride of king Ahaz, i.e. the future king Hezekiah, by many Jewish commentators, or of another woman. The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz is a reference to the impending plunder of Samaria and Damascus by the king of Assyria, Tiglath-Pileser III (734-732 BCE).

This is often counted the longest name (and word) used in the Bible, though a possible longer name-phrase in Isaiah is found in Isaiah 9:6 "called Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom"[4][5]

The section is also quoted in the Book of Mormon.[6]

References

  1. LDS.org: "Book of Mormon Pronunciation Guide" (retrieved 2012-02-25), IPA-ified from «mā´her—shăl-ăl—hăsh´bäz»
  2. The phrases maher-shalal and hash-baz are synonymous, both meaning approximately "quickly to the plunder".
  3. Isaiah 8:1–3
  4. Joseph Herman Hertz The Pentateuch and Haftorahs 1968 "This clearly indicates that the 'crown prince' is the person referred to. pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom. i.e. Wonderful in counsel is God the mighty, the Everlasting Father, the Ruler of Peace (Rashi and Luzzatto)."
  5. James R. Beck Jesus & personality theory: exploring the five-factor model p11 1999 "When translators come to Isaiah 9:6, they could also leave the name of the promised Messiah in its transliterated state, in which case the name would be even longer than that of Isaiah 8:1: Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom."
  6. 2 Nephi 18:1-4.
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