The Isaiah 9:6 Prophecy
The Isaiah 9:6 Prophecy
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Wonderful, Counselor?
Wonderful:
פֶּלֶא
pele'
peh'-leh
From H6381; a miracle: - marvellous thing, wonder (-ful, -fully).
Total KJV occurrences: 13
The fact that the son would be born is a “marvelous thing” and “wonderful.” This doesn’t prove he’s the Almighty incarnate.
Counselor:
יָעַץ
yâ‛ats
yaw-ats'
A primitive root; to advise; reflexively to deliberate or resolve: - advertise, take advice, advise (well), consult, (give take) counsel (-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose.
Total KJV occurrences: 80
Jesus is the "good shepherd" of the little flock he leads, and he's a "Master" of many disciples, which is a “counselor” or “guide.” This is in accordance with all Father gave to him and who follow him. Again, nothing in this word indicates he must be YHWH incarnate.
Mighty God?
mighty:
גִּבֹּר גִּבּוֹר
gibbôr gibbôr
ghib-bore', ghib-bore'
Intensive from the same as H1397; powerful; by implication warrior, tyrant: - champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man.
Total KJV occurrences: 159
This word easily demonstrates in what sense he could be called a “god” or judge. He’s a valiant champion, a mighty man; he excels his brethren—the Gospels tell us he grew in wisdom and stature and favor of God and men. Nothing needs to indicate this means he’s any sort of “God-Man.” He’s a man who can be called “god” in the broader, Hebraic sense of the term.
God:
אֵל
'êl
ale
Shortened from H352; strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity): - God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong. Compare names in “-el.”
Total KJV occurrences: 242
This means the prophesied son to come isn’t necessarily Almighty God. The more sensible thing would be “god” in a lesser sense, such as a “mighty one” or “powerful”/ “strong” man.
Everlasting Father?
everlasting:
עַד
‛ad
ad
From H5710; properly a (peremptory) terminus, that is, (by implication) duration, in the sense of perpetuity (substantially as a noun, either with or without a preposition): - eternity, ever (-lasting, -more), old, perpetually, + world without end.
Total KJV occurrences: 48
Jesus could be said to be “everlasting” or have eternal life in the sense that God has granted for him to have life in himself, and the fact that he’s the first to rise from the dead and never die again. Because he's the “first” to be resurrected to immortality, and he's been granted to give such life to his brethren, he is in fact, in a sense, an “everlasting father.”
Father:
אָב
'âb
awb
A primitive word; father in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application: - chief, (fore-) father ([-less]), X patrimony, principal. Compare names in “Abi-”
Total KJV occurrences: 1214
The figurative or remote application of this to Jesus would mean he’s the head, leader, or principle figure of “everlasting” life because he was the first to be resurrected to immortality. he’s also the Master and Teacher of his disciples. He’s the Messiah.
Prince of Peace?
Prince:
שַׂר
śar
sar
From H8323; a head person (of any rank or class): - captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord, ([-task-]) master, prince (-ipal), ruler, steward.
Total KJV occurrences: 421
If you’ll recall, Jesus is the “one lord” YHWH has set up as ruler/ king of the Kingdom of Heaven. Once more, the idea this must mean he’s YHWH in the flesh is only imagined.
Peace:
שָׁלֹם שָׁלוֹם
shâlôm shâlôm
shaw-lome', shaw-lome'
From H7999; safe, that is, (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, that is, health, prosperity, peace: - X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend, X greet, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at) peace (-able, -ably), prosper (-ity, -ous), rest, safe (-ly), salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.
Total KJV occurrences: 236
Jesus is the chief example of a peacemaker, and we do well to follow this example.