What Does the Name Maher-shalal-hash-baz Mean in the Bible?
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One of the most fascinating names in the Bible is quite a mouthful. My older brother studied Biblical Hebrew language at seminary and, with great pleasure, used it to pronounce Maher-shalal-hash-baz. He rolled it off his tongue with delight, knowing it was a great way to tease his little sister, promising to give a son that name. I thought it was a terrible idea.
So, what does this long name mean?
Is Maher-shalal-hash-baz a Real Name in the Bible?
Maher-shalal-hash-baz is the longest name in the Bible and one of the longest words.
Foreign names often seem strange to us, difficult and cumbersome to pronounce, but perhaps Maher-shalal-hash-baz surprised even the people and culture in which he was born. It was a singular name with an extraordinary meaning.
The name is found in Isaiah 8:1-3. The book is attributed to the prophet Isaiah, and he gave the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz to one of his sons. But it was more than just a personal name. Maher-shalal-hash-baz was a message for everyone.
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters, ‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’’” (Isaiah 8:1 ESV)
At the time of Maher-shalal-hash-baz’s birth, Israel and Judah faced political fear and oppression (Isaiah 7:2). The message this name proclaimed signified a change to that situation: powers would shift, and entire countries would be overturned.
What Does the Name Maher-shalal-hash-baz Mean?
The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz communicated the coming judgment for Israel’s past sins. We get the full details here:
“And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; 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.” (Isaiah 8:3-4 ESV)
Each of the components of the child’s name has a meaning. Maher means speedy, swift, or quick. Shalal signifies prey, plunder, spoil, or booty. Hash means make haste, hurry, and Baz refers to spoil, booty, or robbery.
The pieces of Maher-shalal-hash-baz are closely related, and their meanings overlap, but the intent is clear. The name spells destruction for Israel and eventually Judah.
Literally, the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz means “speed-spoil-hasten-plunder.” Soldiers shouted these words to their fellow warriors as they attacked armies.
Isaiah’s listeners would have remembered the prophecy a few years later when an invasion came.
What Judgment Did Maher-shalal-hash-baz Predict?
While we find God’s name choice for Isaiah’s son interesting, perhaps a little strange, the name and birth of Maher-shalal-hash-baz demonstrated a pivotal point in history for several nations.
As mentioned earlier, God would use the Assyrian forces to bring judgment. It was the capital of the southern kingdom of Israel, reigned when Maher-shalal-hash-baz was born. Damascus stood as the capital city of Aram, which had a treaty with Israel at the time.
Both kingdoms were steeped in pagan worship. Turning from God to worthless idols had been a pattern for God’s people throughout Old Testament history. God, in His mercy and grace, chose Israel to be His people, to carry His name. However, time and again, they strayed from Him and replaced worship and honor due to Him with idols made with hands. Disobedience always brought ruin and judgment.
Even as fathers today warn their children of dangers, desiring to spare them consequences and harm, God also warned His children. Isaiah’s warning was especially directed at the rulers of Israel and Judah, including King Ahaz of Jerusalem (Isaiah 7:12-13). God mercifully wanted to give leaders a sign, but they didn’t trust the Lord.
When Did the Predicted Judgment Happen?
Isaiah’s son’s name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz came with a timetable within its prophecy:
“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.” (Isaiah 8:4)
Counting nine months of pregnancy and the time until the baby could speak, approximately two years would have passed. At that time, a little boy’s given name would be a reminder to Ahaz of impending judgment and swift destruction.
“Speed the spoil and hasten the booty” came to pass at the hands of the Assyrian army in 732 B.C. The ruthless king of Assyria, Tiglath-Pileser, intended to conquer Damascus, the capital of Aram, but his sights extended to Israel and Judah. The Aram-Israel alliance failed, and the Assyrians invaded Samariah.
Ultimately, the Assyrian conquest affected Israel more than Judah. Most of its residents were exiled and never returned, becoming known as the 10 lost tribes. The survivors intermingled with Canaanites and became known as the Samaritans. However, Judah suffered losses, and even more damage centuries later. Another invasion, the Babylonian conquest, decimated the territory of Judah.
However dark the foretelling in Isaiah 8 leads to the great hope of the Messiah as the story continues into Isaiah 9.
Where Else Does God Tell Isaiah to Give Symbolic Names to People?
“Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:18 ESV)
Isaiah, whose own name meant “Yahweh is salvation,” had two sons. He named his first son, Shear-Jashub. The name, like Maher-shalal-hash-baz, also carried a symbolic message: “a remnant shall return.”
In Isaiah 7:3, Shear-jashub and his father met King Ahaz of Judah with a message of courage and hope. The Assyrian king, Tiglath-Pilser, terrified and threatened Judah’s security. Ahaz and the hearts of his people “shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.”
“And the LORD said to Isaiah, ‘Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub, your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field.” (Isaiah 7:3 ESV)
God’s command to go with his son, Shear-jashub, should have been an object lesson to King Ahaz, assuring him of God’s sovereign hand and future well-being. It was a message of hope.
Maher-shalal-hash-baz’s message as Isaiah’s secondborn son communicated judgment, the consequence of not trusting God.
As Israel rejected God, so they would one day reject Jesus. He would become a “stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (Isaiah 8:14). However, Isaiah predicts deliverance and triumph for the faithful through the Messiah, Immanuel, “God with us” (Isaiah 8:10).
What Can the Name Maher-shalal-hash-baz Teach Us Today?
- Even before his conception, God had plans for Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Although the fascinating name is only recorded in two verses, the story of God’s intention to bring His message through this child reaffirms God’s will, purpose, and plans even preclude birth. Life holds immeasurable value to the Creator of Life. He values and purposes for each person.
- Humanity seeks glory in political figures, policies, kings, and nations. God wants us to look to Him as a Sovereign ruler. Maher-shalal-hash-baz’ birth and life remind us there is One greater than every other. During the time of Isaiah, with its Old Testament wars and conquests, alliances were made that did not please God. Those partnerships diluted faith in the one true God and compromised loyalty to Him alone. Political alliances and intrigues may bring temporal peace, but we find eternal salvation in personal relationships and obedience to God.
- God is faithful to do what He says. The Bible confirms that throughout history, history moves toward the Messiah Jesus Christ. As time moved forward to the coming of the prophesied child, God proved Himself to be always faithful to His promises. Maher-shalal-hash-baz reminds us that God is trustworthy. Humankind cycles through patterns of obedience, disobedience, disbelief, and trust, but God remains steadfast and unchanging. Maher-shalal-hash-baz lived to proclaim a difficult message, that proclaimed God was faithful to His promises. He will do what He says.
- God’s actions, even when we do not understand them or even seem harsh, are not evil. Maher-shalal-hash-baz testifies to a God whose ways and thoughts are higher than ours. He knows how to accomplish His good will and the best way to do it. The message about Maher-shalal-hash-baz prepares people for the coming of the Messiah with true justice.
- Watch out for idols. God’s chosen people struggled with placing Him above all else. Although our idols may look different than theirs, the principle stands. The Israelites’ hot and cold faith showed in what they worshipped. The story of Maher-Shalal-hash-baz and a people given to worshipping gods other than the one true God should give us pause about our priorities. Nothing must be held higher than Him.
I can report with satisfaction that my brother did not name my nephew Maher-shalal-hash-baz. He gave him another biblical name that was much easier to pronounce. However, ever since my brother’s seminary dive into the sounds of various Hebrew names, I’ve been intrigued by the person who carried such a difficult name to pronounce as Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
Looking deeper at the meaning behind Isaiah’s name for his son brought a greater appreciation of God’s divine plans. Although Maher-shalal-hash-baz may never appear in the list of top ten most popular names, this Old Testament messenger testifies to us that the Sovereign God of Isaiah’s day continues to hold today's events in His faithful and capable hands.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/adrian825
Her love for pasta and all things Italian stems from years of ministry abroad. She’d love to tell you about it over a steaming cup of cappuccino. Connect with Sylvia on her blog, When the House is Quiet, her Facebook page, or Twitter.
This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.
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