Isaiah 8:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Then the Lord said to me, "Take a large tablet and inscribe on it with an ordinary stylus: 'Swift to Plunder, Quick to Spoil.'"

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י קַח־לְךָ֖ גִּלָּי֣וֹן גָּד֑וֹל וּכְתֹ֤ב עָלָיו֙ בְּחֶ֣רֶט אֱנ֔וֹשׁ לְמַהֵ֥ר שָׁלָ֖ל חָ֥שׁ בַּֽז׃

Transliteration

wə-yōʾmer YHWH to-me qaḥ-ləkā gillāyôn gādôl and-kətōb on-it with-ḥereṭ ʾĕnôš to-mahēr šālāl ḥāš baz

Grammar Details

• *wə-yōʾmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and said/spoke
• *YHWH*: proper noun, divine name - Yahweh/LORD
• *qaḥ-ləkā*: qal imperative masculine singular + preposition with 2nd masculine singular suffix - take for yourself
• *gillāyôn*: noun masculine singular - tablet/scroll/writing surface
• *gādôl*: adjective masculine singular - large/great
• *kətōb*: qal imperative masculine singular - write
• *ḥereṭ*: noun masculine singular construct - stylus/engraving tool
• *ʾĕnôš*: noun masculine singular - man/common person
• *mahēr šālāl ḥāš baz*: phrase meaning 'quick to plunder, swift to spoil' - symbolic name

Word Meanings

• *gillāyôn*: tablet/large scroll/writing surface
• *ḥereṭ ʾĕnôš*: stylus of man/common writing tool/ordinary pen
• *mahēr šālāl ḥāš baz*: quick to the spoil, swift to the prey/hasten to plunder, hurry to loot/speed to the spoil, haste to the prey

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Moreover, the LORD said to me, Take for yourself a large scroll, and write on it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Jehovah said unto me, Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it with the pen of a man, For Maher-shalal-hash-baz;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Morouer the LORDE sayde vnto me: Take the a greate leaf, and wryte in it, as men do with a penne, that he spede him to robbe, and haist him to spoyle.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Moreouer, the Lord sayd vnto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a mans penne, Make speede to the spoyle: haste to the praye.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Moreouer the Lorde sayde vnto me, Take thee a great roule, and wryte in it as men do with a pen: make hastie speede to rob, and haste to the spoyle.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Yahweh said to me, "Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man's pen, 'For Maher Shalal Hash Baz;{"Maher Shalal Hash Baz" means "quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil."}'

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Jehovah saith unto me, `Take to thee a great tablet, and write upon it with a graving tool of man, To haste spoil, enjoy prey.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Jehovah said unto me, Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it with the pen of a man, For Maher-shalal-hash-baz;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Jehovah said unto me, Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it with the pen of a man, For Maher-shalal-hash-baz;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And the Lord said to me, Take a great writing-board, and on it put down in common letters, Maher-shalal-hash-baz;

• World English Bible (2000)

  Yahweh said to me, "Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man's pen, 'For Maher Shalal Hash Baz;'

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  A Sign-Child is Born The LORD told me,“Take a large tablet and inscribe these words on it with an ordinary stylus:‘Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.’

Referenced Verses

• Isa 30:8 : 8 Now go, write it on a tablet before them and inscribe it in a book, so it will stand as a witness forever and ever.
• Jer 36:2 : 2 Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the days of Josiah until today.
• Jer 36:28 : 28 "Take another scroll and write on it all the original words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned.
• Jer 36:32 : 32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch son of Neriah, the scribe, who wrote on it at Jeremiah’s dictation all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many more similar words were added to them.
• Hab 2:2-3 : 2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that a runner may read it clearly. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it may delay, wait for it, for it will surely come and will not be late.
• Rev 13:18 : 18 This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and its number is 666.
• Rev 21:17 : 17 He measured its wall to be one hundred forty-four cubits, by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement.
• Job 19:23-24 : 23 Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! 24 That with an iron stylus and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
• Isa 8:3 : 3 I approached the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. The Lord said to me, "Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (Swift to Plunder, Quick to Spoil)."