King James Version

What Does Isaiah 7:3 Mean?

Isaiah 7:3 in the King James Version says “Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of t... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field; Shearjashub: that is, The remnant shall return highway: or, causeway

Isaiah 7:3 · KJV


Context

1

And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

2

And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. is confederate: Heb. resteth on

3

Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field; Shearjashub: that is, The remnant shall return highway: or, causeway

4

And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. neither: Heb. let not thy heart be tender

5

Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God's command that Isaiah take his son Shear-jashub ('remnant shall return') to meet Ahaz made the prophet's child a living sermon. Names function as prophecy in Isaiah (8:3; 8:18), declaring God's purposes. The location—'conduit of the upper pool'—may relate to water supply vulnerable during siege, adding urgency. Shear-jashub's name promised both judgment (only a remnant) and hope (the remnant returns), embodying covenantal realism that judgment purifies rather than destroys utterly.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Water infrastructure was crucial during siege warfare (2 Kings 20:20). Meeting at the conduit emphasized both vulnerability and God's protective provision.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do our children and their names bear witness to God's faithfulness in our generation?
  2. What does the 'remnant shall return' principle teach about judgment's redemptive purpose?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 21

Then said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָה֮2 of 21

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֶֽל3 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְשַׁעְיָהוּ֒4 of 21

unto Isaiah

H3470

jeshajah, the name of seven israelites

צֵא5 of 21

Go forth

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

נָא֙6 of 21
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

לִקְרַ֣את7 of 21

now to meet

H7125

an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)

אָחָ֔ז8 of 21

Ahaz

H271

achaz, the name of a jewish king and of an israelite

אַתָּ֕ה9 of 21
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

וּשְׁאָ֖ר10 of 21
H0
יָשׁ֣וּב11 of 21

thou and Shearjashub

H7610

shear-jashub, the symbolic name of one of isaiah's sons

בְּנֶ֑ךָ12 of 21

thy son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

אֶל13 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

קְצֵ֗ה14 of 21

at the end

H7097

an extremity

תְּעָלַת֙15 of 21

of the conduit

H8585

a bandage or plaster (as placed upon a wound)

הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה16 of 21

pool

H1295

a reservoir (at which camels kneel as a resting-place)

הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה17 of 21

of the upper

H5945

an elevation, i.e., (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the supreme

אֶל18 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מְסִלַּ֖ת19 of 21

in the highway

H4546

a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase

שְׂדֵ֥ה20 of 21

field

H7704

a field (as flat)

כוֹבֵֽס׃21 of 21

of the fuller's

H3526

to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 7:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 7:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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