Maher-shalal-hash-baz
"Maher-shalal-hash-baz" (/ˌmeɪhər ʃælæl ˈhæʃ bɑːz/;[1] Hebrew: מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז, Mahēr šālāl ḥāš baz – "Hurry to the spoils!" or "He has made haste to the plunder!") was the second prophetic name mentioned in Isaiah chapter 8[2]–9.
Biblical accounts
The name is mentioned twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in the Book of Isaiah chapter 8:[3]
- Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.[4]
- And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived and bore a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.[5]
Analysis
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 phrases maher-shalal and hash-baz are synonymous, both meaning approximately "quickly to the plunder". 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).
Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
---|---|---|
מַהֵר | ma-hēr | hurry or quickly |
שָׁלָל | šā-lāl | loot, spoils, booty |
חָשׁ | ḥāš | he hurries or he hurried |
בַּז | baz | prey, spoils |
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 9:5 "called Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom"[6][7]
The section is also quoted in the Book of Mormon.[8]
See also
References
- churchofjesuschrist.org: "Book of Mormon Pronunciation Guide" (retrieved 2012-02-25), IPA-ified from «mā´her—shăl-ăl—hăsh´bäz»
- Isaiah 8:1–3
- Strong's Concordance, Hebrew Word 4122. Maher Shalal Chash Baz. Biblehub
- Isaiah 8:1 KJV
- Isaiah 8:3 KJV
- 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)."
- 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."
- 2 Nephi 18:1–4.
External links
- Complete Bible Genealogy
- The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, New International Version, 1990, pg. 765.