For to Us a Child Is Born: The meaning of Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 is a prophecy about a future child who would bear the government on his shoulders and be called by titles that could only rightfully be attributed to God:

"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

This one of the most well-known Old Testament prophecies about Jesus. But what does it mean?

In this video, John N. Oswalt explains the historical context behind this famous passage.

[Therecov]

The Jewish scholars who interpreted the old testament Hebrew to the Greek when creating The Septuagint bible 200 years before Jesus was born translated that word virgin not maiden interestingly Isa. 7:14. I've read years ago that Isa. 7:14 is a double prophecy its two fold part pertained to Isaiah's predicament and the greater meaning was messianic.

Zech 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit[a] of grace and supplication. They will look on[b] me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

Isaiah 53:5

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

[jacksteiner]

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no the Messiah/Christ can fulfill this prophecy...Christ is the Everlasting Father of a new nation which He has brought forth by His sacrifice and resurrection...He is as well the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace and finally, His government is Everlasting...as only God's govt. can be.

[jazzmac]

I literally just watched a Jewish scholar try to deny the messianic prophecy of Jesus by referring to Hezekiah. Thank you for providing that argument of how that perspective is lacking. Great breakdown!

[psandbergnz]

Unto us a child is born" is a reference to king Hezekiah. It is not about Jesus. There is nothing evidently futuristic in Isaiah 9:6, and the verses are past tense (admittedly, a past tense does not rule out a future event, but to supply future tenses in a translated text, there should be evidence that a future is intended by the Hebrew writer). The child has already been born at the time of Isaiah's writing. King Hezekiah is described as one of the greatest kings that Judah ever had (2 Kings 18:5) because of his trust in the LORD. He is the harbinger of the light to the Gentiles and the Galileans who were being persecuted by the Assyrians (led by king Sargon). Hezekiah withstood their vast armies by virtue of his faith, despite being hugely outnumbered. The light (verse 2) is the light of God that he reflected on them through his faith and zeal.

At any rate, turning to the epithets or descriptors in Isaiah 9:6, we find that NONE of them applies to Jesus, and the NT never indicates that they do. For example, Jesus was not called "everlasting Father". In Christian theology, Jesus is never the "Father", but the Son; calling Jesus "Father" would contradict the Trinity (If God intended any indication of Jesus in the verse, it would surely read "everlasting Son").

Jesus was also not called "prince of peace" either. On the contrary, in Matt. 10:32, he declares that he had not come to bring peace, but a sword. Jesus wasn't called by any of the other epithets in that verse, so they are a mismatch for him. The Hebrew word "Hezekiah" means "God is mighty" or "might of God". So Hezekiah's name is actually encoded in the verse ("his name is called mighty god"). In the verse Heszekaiah is "everlasting father" in the sense that his dynasty - which is the dynasty of David, his forefather - is everlasting. The verse is not saying that the man Hezekiah is everlasting, but that he is father of an everlasting dynasty - the dynasty of David.

[nothingbutthetruth]

With all due respect you seem like a nice guy but you make so so many mistakes here. As far as 7:14 how do you understand the context here at all? This is a sign that was to be given to Ahaz to assure him of a victory. The verse is clear this will happen in a few years, not 700 years later. What kind of a sign would that be to Ahaz now if it happened 700 years later?? I can't believe I even have to explain this. Are you aware that this whole chapter has zero to do with the messiah? The word almah is not an ambiguous word at all. It means young woman. If the intention was to describe a virgin birth, the word besula would have been used. Alma never means virgin anywhere in the whole bible. Are you aware this verse is in the present tense, not future? The baby had already been conceived. Are you aware 9:6 is in the past tense, not future? Are you are that this child who is Hezekiah is not in fact called a Mighty God? It is actually correctly translated Mighty God CALLED HIM Prince of Peace. Are you aware that verse 1 only says they will see a great light? It doesn't say this baby will make the light. Are you aware that there are dozens of names like Emmanuel that have God in the name? It's not a prophecy. It means God is with us and He always is. That's it. Elijah means God is our Lord. Is this a prophecy for something too? I don't blame you for all the mistranslations and all the distortions since this is what the nt and the church will tell you but just think a minute and you'll see the obvious lies and deception.

[gabrielbennoach]

It's not "a virgin", but "THE YOUNG WOMAN". it's talking about the wife of Achaz. Keep reading chapter 7 and you'll realize that this is a sign for Achaz to see. It makes no sense for it to happen 600 years later when Achaz would be long dead...

[mkl]

"Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come" goes well with this verse. Ditto with Luke 2:1-7. Merry Christmas.

[jojivarghese]

Mr so and so you are wong at all and your wong teachings thanks

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jesus is Lord. Psalms 110:1 David calls Him Lord of my Lord. Then go to Mathew 22:41-46 He speaks to those who rejected Him and to you who continue to reject Him.

[journeyintothebible]

If this is true, why do you have to change the Hebrew verbs from past (perfect tense) to future (imperfect tense) to prove your claim? For example, the word Vayikra is past tense, "was called", NOT will be called. And why in Isaiah 7:14 would you change "the" young woman to "A" virgin. What happened to the definite article? You distort the word of God and then want me to believe in Jesus?

[psandbergnz]

There is no prophecy of a "virgin" birth in Isaiah 7:14, and the speaker should not be sowing this confusion! The word that Isaiah uses there is "almah", and that word just means "young woman" (neither more nor less). If Isaiah had meant to imply a virigin, he would have used the Hebrew word "bethulah". Christians, please, enough of your dishonesty!
Moreover, the "sign" that Isaiah gives to Ahaz is not a mysterious birth, but that before the child (already conceived and gowing in the young woman's womb) is old enough to distinguish good from evil, then Ahaz's enemy kings will have been destroyed. That will be the sign to prove to king Ahaz that Isaiah is a true prophet from God, whom he can trust. READ THE CONTEXT!

[bluesteele]

isiah 9:6 does not refer to jesus christ, read the full scripture in context, it had already happened. The word you refer to does not mean virgin, many names means many things, like ishmael means God hears, stop misquoting scripture

[hassanbegdouri]

Stop deceiving please!
Why don't you read the text in the original text ... In Hebrew
And you'll have a very different signification .
Always twisting signication of words to suit your pagan belief of trinity. The first one concerned, Jesus, never proclaimed to be God worthy of worship and you'll find non verse from Him verbatim in the Bible.
You have verses lost in translation and other ones twisted in translation.

[selfyeshua]

nowhere in the NT ia Jesus called "mighty god", only few names in all the bible mean mighty god. one name is Hezekiah \ Hizke (mighty)-yahu(god) \Hebrew: חִזְקִיָּהוּ⁠. the others are Gabriel and Ezekiel. also not gods.

1) he quoted correctly the verse that starts with "For a child IS born to us", meaning the child had already been born during Isaiah time which is 700 years before Jesus. in the verse, the Hebrew word "YULAD" is past perfect tense meaning was born or is now born. however many mainstream christian translation say: "For a child will be born to us". that is a mis translation aiming to manipulate the text to fit the Jesus narrative.

2) "and he will be given the name" - again mistranslation. the Hebrew words "VA-YIKRA SHEMO" is past perfect or present tense meaning is/was called. if you dont believe me go to Leviticus Chapter 1:1 look how the first word in the verse -VA-YIKRA (וַיִּקְרָ֖א). you will see it is translated in the christian bible in the past tense which is a correct translation, while in Isaiah 9:5 they changed the same word to the future tense.

3) Isaiah is talking about the great miracle of the destruction of the Assyrian army during Hezekiah, the king reigning during Isaiah time. the name Hezekiah contains two Hebrew words. first word "HAZAK" means Mighty second word "YAHO" means god.
Hezekiah is called "Wonder of a Counsellor" because he counselled the Jewish people in Jerusalem, persuading them to repent for their sins and put their trust in god. and because they did as he counselled them, 185, 000 of Assyrian soldiers surrounding Jerusalem were wiped out (II Chronicles 31 and 32).
Hezekiah is called "the everlasting Father" because this name is a sign, which foretells that God will add years to his life and also because the Davidic dynasty was once more confirmed as the only true kingly rule that God would accept over his people (Isaiah 38:5).
Hezekiah is called "the ruler of peace" because this name is a sign, which foretells that God would be merciful to him. Punishment for lack of faith in the Almighty will be deferred and peace granted during the last years of his rule (Isaiah 39:8; 2 Chronicles 32:23).

4) "dominion will rest on his shoulders" - the original Hebrew is in the present tense " VA-TEHI" (is upon): "and the government is upon his shoulder" again, Isaiah speak about someone living in his time. in any case, Jesus died as a criminal under roman government. Hezekiah held the government of Judea on his shoulders.

5) "in order to extend the dominion" - again mistranslation. the Hebrew word "MISRA" translate to "government" not dominion, a specifically Political role. Jesus was never a politician, Hezekiah was.

6) "and perpetuate the peace of the throne and kingdom of David" - Jesus or his church never perpetuate peace. Hezekiah on the other hand did - "peace reigned for the rest of his life" (2 Chronicles 32:23)

7) "to secure it (the kingdom of David) and sustain it through justice and righteousness henceforth and forever". did Jesus do that? absolutely not. things only went down hill for Judea since before the time of Jesus and after him. Hezekiah on the other hand cleansed the temple and his kingdom from idolatry and he is considered the most righteous Jewish king that ever lived.

8) The zeal of Adonai - Tzva’ot will accomplish this. Adonai - Tzva’ot means the lord of host. god of host was the one who destroyed the Assyrian army during Hezekiah conflict with king of Assyria. this prophecy speak of how god accomplished peace and security to Judea, but according to your religion god punished Judea because of Jesus.

these are the points that prove beyond any doubt that Isaiah cant be speaking about Jesus. if your going to tell me that Isaiah was speaking about the second coming of Jesus, well im sorry, im not going to wait another 2000 years for this baseless interpretation to come true. you've been lied to. if you believe in the word of god then all you have is the Torah. not the mistranslated manipulated christian bible, not the new testament, not the book of Mormons and not the Quran.

[leowise]

Alma is not ambiguous at all! It means young woman. Certainly not virgin. Virgin is always Besulah in Hebrew. Turn to Proverbs 30:20: "This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.'" The word for young woman is alma over here. An adulterous young woman. Hardly a virgin. You are not honest (or mislead) if you say alma is ambiguous.

[walls]

This debate on this has been going on a long time. The Hebrew word in Isaiah did not mean virgin it meant young woman. The writer of the Gospel of Matthew changed the word to virgin.

[psandbergnz]

Isaiah 9:1 is not a prophecy of Jesus' futur ministry, and there is no implication of a future event prophesied. For once, the KJV provides us an accurate translation fronm the Hebrew:
Isaiah 9:1 (KJV): "Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles."

The NIV MISTRANSLATES this verse as a futuristic prophecy: "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— in Galilee of the Gentiles."
BUT THERE IS NO FUTURE TENSE IN BIBLICAL HEBREW, AND NONE IMPLIED IN THAT VERSE.

SO TELL ME, CHRISTIANS, USING THE KJV, HOW ARE YOU SHOEHORNING JESUS INTO THAT VERSE? WHERE IS IT EVEN PROPHESYING A MESSIAH TO COME? THERE IS NOTHING FUTURISITC IN THAT VERSE IN ANY CORRECT TRANSLATION.

[cbradio]

It was Hezkiah . All events point to that moment, and you can’t simply fast forward to Jesus time and imply this passage . Had to be within context

[larrythrasher]

Isa. 7:14 & 9:6 refer both to the children in Isaiah's day and to the Messiah. A double prophesy. But Christ is not Jehovah. He is "el gibbor, " a mighty hero!

[TobyQuan]

In the original Hebrew text! Isaiah did not use the word "virgin", but rather "young woman". In the Greek Bible that the New Testament authors were using, it was mistranslated as "virgin". 100% human error.