◄ Isaiah 8:18 ►
Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
Study Bible
Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me

Isaiah and his sons stood before Judah as living witnesses to God’s word. Shear-Jashub, “a remnant shall return,” announced preservation after judgment; Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, “swift is the booty, speedy is the prey,” warned of approaching Assyrian devastation. Their lives declared that God would judge unbelief yet preserve a faithful remnant.

Heb 2:13 And again: “I will put My trust in Him.”…
Jhn 17:12 While I was with them, I protected and preserved them…
Jhn 17:6 I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me…

as signs and symbols in Israel

God made Isaiah’s household a public testimony in a nation resisting His warnings. Isaiah and his children—Shear-jashub, meaning “a remnant shall return,” and Maher-shalal-hash-baz, meaning “swift to plunder, quick to spoil”—were divinely purposed living signs to Israel. Like Hosea’s family, Ezekiel’s enacted messages, and Jeremiah’s yoke, these signs confronted Israel with the reality of coming discipline and the certainty of God’s covenant purposes.

Ezk 12:6 And as they watch, lift your bags to your shoulder…
Ezk 24:24 Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything…
Isa 20:3 Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone…

from the LORD of Hosts,

The signs did not arise from Isaiah’s imagination or family circumstances but from the sovereign God who commands heaven’s armies and rules the nations. Assyria’s advance, Judah’s crisis, and the remnant’s future were all under the authority of the LORD of Hosts.

1Sa 1:3 Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city…
1Sa 17:45 But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me…
Psa 24:10 Who is He, this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts…

who dwells on Mount Zion.

Though judgment would reach Judah, God had established Zion as the place of His covenant presence. Jerusalem would remain central to His saving purpose, anticipating the day when the nations would come to Zion to learn His ways and when the Lord’s reign would bring lasting peace.

Jol 3:17 Then you will know that I am the LORD your God,…
Psa 76:2 His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion.
Psa 132:13-14 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the speaker in this verse. He is known for his prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of the Lord.

2. Children of Isaiah
Refers to Isaiah's sons, who were given symbolic names by God to represent His messages to Israel. They serve as living signs and symbols of God's plans and purposes.

3. The LORD of Hosts
A title for God emphasizing His sovereignty and command over the heavenly armies. It underscores His power and authority.

4. Mount Zion
A significant location in Jerusalem, often symbolizing God's presence and His covenant with Israel. It is a place of divine dwelling and protection.

5. Israel
The nation chosen by God, often depicted as straying from His commandments, yet central to His redemptive plan.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Purpose
God uses individuals and families to convey His messages and fulfill His purposes. Just as Isaiah and his children were signs, believers today are called to be witnesses of God's truth.

Symbolism in God's Plan
The names and lives of Isaiah's children were not random but divinely appointed to communicate specific messages. This reminds us that God is intentional in His dealings with us.

Living as Signs and Symbols
As Christians, our lives should reflect the values and truths of the Gospel, serving as living testimonies to those around us.

Trust in God's Presence
Mount Zion symbolizes God's presence and protection. In times of uncertainty, we can trust that God is with us, guiding and safeguarding His people.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of Isaiah and his children as signs and symbols challenge you to consider your own role in God's plan today?

2. In what ways can you be a living testimony of God's truth in your community, similar to how Isaiah's family was in Israel?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's presence and protection. How does this relate to the symbolism of Mount Zion in Isaiah 8:18?

4. How do the symbolic names of Isaiah's children (Shear-Jashub and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz) deepen your understanding of God's messages to Israel and to us today?

5. Considering Hebrews 2:13, how does the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy in Jesus Christ encourage you in your faith journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Hebrews 2:13
This New Testament verse quotes Isaiah 8:18, highlighting the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus Christ and His relationship with believers as children given by God.

Isaiah 7:3 and 8:3
These verses provide context for the symbolic names of Isaiah's children, Shear-Jashub and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, which convey messages of hope and impending judgment.

Psalm 2:6
Connects to the theme of Mount Zion as the place where God establishes His King, reinforcing the idea of divine authority and protection.
Sermons
Children have a MissionR. W. Emerson.Isaiah 8:18
Christian NurtureA. Raleigh, D. D.Isaiah 8:18
I and the ChildrenIsaiah 8:18
Isaiah and His Children as Signs"Niger" in Expositor.Isaiah 8:18
Man Every Way God's InstrumentR. Tuck Isaiah 8:18
Names as Signs"Niger" in Expositor.Isaiah 8:18
The Teacher's Distress and His ConsolationW. Clarkson Isaiah 8:16-18
The Helplessness of SuperstitionE. Johnson Isaiah 8:16-22
People
Immanuel, Isaiah, Jacob, Jeberechiah, Mahershalalhashbaz, Remaliah, Rezin, Uriah, Urijah, Zechariah
Places
Assyria, Damascus, Euphrates River, Jerusalem, Judah, Mount Zion, Samaria, Shiloah
Topics
Almighty, Armies, Behold, Dwelleth, Dwelling, Dwells, Hosts, Mount, Portents, Resting-place, Signs, Symbols, Wonders, Zion
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 8:18

     1450   signs, kinds of

Isaiah 8:17-18

     5682   family, significance

Library
Shiloah and Euphrates
Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly ... the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many.' ISAIAH viii. 6, 7. The kingdom of Judah was threatened with a great danger in an alliance between Israel and Damascus. The cowardly King Ahaz, instead of listening to Isaiah's strong assurances and relying on the help of God, made what he thought a master-stroke of policy in invoking the help of the formidable Assyrian power. That ambitious military …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Search the Scriptures
I feel at this particular crisis of religious affairs, it is imperative upon the Christian minister to urge his people to hold fast the doctrines of the truth--the words of God. This seems likely to become the age of preaching, rather than the age of praying. We now see everywhere large congregations assembling in halls and abbeys to listen to the Word preached; and it is an ominous sign of the times, that these preachings are not only espoused by the orthodox, but even by those whom we have considered …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace
? Perseverance of the Saints--"The Final Perseverance of Believers in Christ Jesus," by William O'Neill (message 5). The Rev. C. H. SPURGEON took the chair at 3 o'clock. The proceedings were commenced by singing the 21st Hymn-- Saved from the damning power of sin, The law's tremendous curse, We'll now the sacred song begin Where God began with us. We'll sing the vast unmeasured grace Which, from the days of old, Did all his chosen sons embrace, As sheep within the fold. The basis of eternal love …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

Prefatory Scripture Passages.
To the Law and to the Testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.-- Isa. viii. 20. Thus saith the Lord; Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.--Jer. vi. 16. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

Of the Scriptures
Eph. ii. 20.--"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Believers are "the temple of the living God," in which he dwells and walks, 2 Cor. vi. 16. Every one of them is a little sanctuary and temple to his Majesty, "sanctify the Lord of hosts in your hearts." Though he be "the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity," yet he is pleased to come down to this poor cottage of a creature's heart, and dwell in it. Is not this …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Gihon, the Same with the Fountain of Siloam.
I. In 1 Kings 1:33,38, that which is, in the Hebrew, "Bring ye Solomon to Gihon: and they brought him to Gihon"; is rendered by the Chaldee, "Bring ye him to Siloam: and they brought him to Siloam." Where Kimchi thus; "Gihon is Siloam, and it is called by a double name. And David commanded, that they should anoint Solomon at Gihon for a good omen, to wit, that, as the waters of the fountain are everlasting, so might his kingdom be." So also the Jerusalem writers; "They do not anoint the king, but …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Trials of the Christian
AFFLICTION--ITS NATURE AND BENEFITS. The school of the cross is the school of light; it discovers the world's vanity, baseness, and wickedness, and lets us see more of God's mind. Out of dark afflictions comes a spiritual light. In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. The end of affliction is the discovery of sin; and of that, to bring us to a Saviour. Doth not God ofttimes even take occasion, by the hardest of things that come upon us, to visit …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

That it is not Lawful for the Well Affected Subjects to Concur in Such an Engagement in War, and Associate with the Malignant Party.
That It Is Not Lawful For The Well Affected Subjects To Concur In Such An Engagement In War, And Associate With The Malignant Party. Some convinced of the unlawfulness of the public resolutions and proceedings, in reference to the employing of the malignant party, yet do not find such clearness and satisfaction in their own consciences as to forbid the subjects to concur in this war, and associate with the army so constituted. Therefore it is needful to speak something to this point, That it is …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Universality of Actual Grace
The gratuity of grace does not conflict with its universality. Though God distributes His graces freely, He grants them to all men without exception, because He wills all to be saved. This divine "will to save" (voluntas Dei salvifica) may be regarded in relation either to the wayfaring state or to the status termini. Regarded from the first-mentioned point of view it is a merciful will (voluntas misericordiae) and is generally called first or antecedent will (voluntas prima s. antecedens) …
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Jesus' Temporary Residence at Capernaum.
^A Matt. IV. 13-16. ^a 13 And leaving Nazareth [This expression means that Jesus now ceased to make Nazareth his home. For description of Nazareth, see page 60], he came and dwelt in Capernaum [See page 119. Capernaum means city of Nahum, or village of consolation. Its modern name, "Tel-Hum," means hill of Nahum. The word "dwelt" means that Jesus made this town his headquarters. He owned no house there (Matt. viii. 20). He may have dwelt with some of his disciples--for instance, Simon Peter--Matt. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Of the Character of the Unregenerate.
Ephes. ii. 1, 2. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. AMONG all the various trusts which men can repose in each other, hardly any appears to be more solemn and tremendous, than the direction of their sacred time, and especially of those hours which they spend in the exercise of public devotion. …
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

To Pastors and Teachers
To Pastors and Teachers If all who laboured for the conversion of others were to introduce them immediately into Prayer and the Interior Life, and make it their main design to gain and win over the heart, numberless as well as permanent conversions would certainly ensue. On the contrary, few and transient fruits must attend that labour which is confined to outward matters; such as burdening the disciple with a thousand precepts for external exercises, instead of leaving the soul to Christ by the …
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

"But if we Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have Fellowship one with Another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His
1 John i. 7.--"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Art is the imitation of nature, and true religion is a divine art, that consists in the imitation of God himself, the author of nature. Therefore it is a more high and transcendent thing, of a sublimer nature than all the arts and sciences among men. Those reach but to some resemblance of the wisdom of God, expressed in his works, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Wicked Husbandmen.
"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto …
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

First Sunday in Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 6, 1-10. 1 And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain 2 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, and in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): 3 giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; 4 but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
Whatever attainment is made by any as distinguished from the wicked, or whatever gracious benefit is enjoyed, is a spiritual privilege. Adoption into the family of God is of this character. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (margin, or, the right; or, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."[617] And every co-ordinate benefit is essentially so likewise. The evidence besides, that Covenanting …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone]. …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful.
That The Employing Of, And Associating With The Malignant Party, According As Is Contained In The Public Resolutions, Is Sinful And Unlawful. If there be in the land a malignant party of power and policy, and the exceptions contained in the Act of Levy do comprehend but few of that party, then there need be no more difficulty to prove, that the present public resolutions and proceedings do import an association and conjunction with a malignant party, than to gather a conclusion from clear premises. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

History of the Interpretation.
1. AMONG THE JEWS. This History, as to its essential features, might, a priori, be sketched with tolerable certainty. From the nature of the case, we could scarcely expect that the Jews should have adopted views altogether erroneous as to the subject of the prophecy in question; for the Messiah appears in it, not in His humiliation, but in His glory--rich in gifts and blessings, and Pelagian self-delusion will, a priori, return an affirmative answer to the question as to whether one is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

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