Isaiah 8:18

I and the children. As indicated by their names (see on ch. 7:14), Isaiah and his sons were ordained of God to be living signs to the people of Judah. Through them God proclaimed a vital message to His people. The name “Isaiah” means “Jehovah [will] save.” Isaiah’s name is, in fact, the theme of the book that bears his name (see p. 84). In relation to the immediate circumstances, this meant salvation from Israel, Syria, and Assyria. The name of Isaiah’s first son, Shear-jashub, means “[a] remnant [shall] return,” and that child by his very name signified to the people that a remnant would be saved. God would not at this time make a full end of Judah, as He planned to do of Israel. The name of Isaiah’s second son, Maher-shalal-hash-baz, means “Speed the spoil, hasten the prey.” This son was a constant reminder that judgment was hastening on apace and that erelong doom would fall on those who rejected God’s grace. To those who were faithful and true to Him, the child Immanuel was God’s assurance of His continued presence among them.