The prophet Isaiah has two sons, both of which bear symbolic names that correspond to the predicted outcome of God’s designs for His people:
• Maher-shalal-hash-baz (see 2 Nephi 18:1, 3; compare Isaiah 8:1, 3) in Hebrew means, approximately, “hurrying to the spoil hastens the plunder” (alluding to the misguided alliance of Ephraim and Syria which was defeated with the Assyrian invasion of 721 b.c.—and by extension to the eventual defeat of all earthly kingdoms rising up in alliance against the kingdom of God).
• Shearjashub (see 2 Nephi 17:3; compare Isaiah 7:3) in Hebrew means “a remnant shall return” (alluding to the eventual restoration of Israel in the latter days according to the design of God).
Thus the names of these two sons constitute a prophetic statement about the scattering and gathering of Israel according to the judgment and mercy of the Almighty.