Isaiah 8:1 - Exposition

Take thee a great roll ; rather, a large tablet . The word is the same as that used for "mirror" in Isaiah 3:23 . Write in it with a man's pen ; i.e. "write upon it with the pen used by ordinary men"—in opposition to the implements of an engraver. The tablet was probably to be hung up to view in a public place (comp. Isaiah 30:8 ), so that all might read, and the writing was therefore to be such as was in ordinary use. Concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz . These were the words which were to be written on the tablet, which was to be otherwise left blank. They would naturally excite curiosity, like the strange names placarded in modern streets. The name is literally, "Plunder speeds, spoil hastens." It has been imitated by Goethe in his "Habebald-Eilebeute" ('Faust,' act 4. sc. 3).