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Isaiah 7:3 meaning

This single verse urges God’s people to seek divine wisdom rather than short-sighted human solutions.

“Then the LORD said to Isaiah, ‘Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the fuller’s field’” (v.3). This command is both simple and profound, as it illustrates God’s direct instruction to His prophet Isaiah. The narrative takes place in the southern kingdom of Judah in the eighth century BC, during the reign of King Ahaz (circa 732-716 BC). The LORD tells Isaiah to find Ahaz at a very specific place: “the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the fuller’s field” (v.3). In Jerusalem’s geography, a conduit was a water channel that supplied the city. The upper pool may refer to a reservoir near the Gihon Spring or another critical water source, emphasizing that even practical concerns like water supply were part of God’s sovereign care over His people. By directing Isaiah to meet Ahaz there, the LORD points to His awareness of Judah’s public and political life, and underscores that no sphere of life—military, civil, or domestic—falls outside God’s domain.

When we see “Go out now to meet Ahaz” (v.3), we also learn of Isaiah’s responsibility to carry God’s message into tense political circumstances. King Ahaz faced threats from neighboring nations (Isaiah 7:1-2), yet instead of trusting in the LORD, Ahaz was inclined to seek alliances that would compromise Judah’s faithfulness. Isaiah arrives with his son, Shear-jashub, whose name means “a remnant shall return,” hinting at both warning and hope. This name underlines a theme found throughout Isaiah’s prophetic ministry: though judgment may come, God’s promise of a faithful remnant endures Isaiah 10:20-22). This hope connects to the larger biblical story culminating in Jesus the Messiah, who invites all nations to be saved, preserving a faithful remnant in His kingdom (Romans 9:27).

This verse also demonstrates God’s gracious desire to offer guidance and assurance to His people in turbulent times. By telling Isaiah “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and your son” (v.3), the LORD models the urgency and personal involvement of His message. God does not abandon His people, even when they wander from Him. Instead, He actively pursues them, sending prophets and later sending His own Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). When we read this passage, we see an invitation to trust in the One who remains faithful, especially in moments of fear or crisis.

Isaiah 7:3