Isaiah 9:6

Context

Isaiah 9 opens with a prophecy that a great light will shine on the northern territory plunged into darkness by the Assyrian invasion, "the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali" (9:1-2). A song of deliverance follows, in which the yoke of oppression is broken and the boots and garments of war are burned (vv. 3-5). Verse 6 then declares that this deliverance will come through the birth of a child, and verse 7 concludes that he will reign forever upon the throne of David with judgment and justice. Together with the Immanuel prophecy of chapter 7 and the prophecy of the stem of Jesse in chapter 11, the passage is read as part of a group of messianic prophecies.

Interpretation

• As messianic prophecy: Christianity identifies this child as Jesus Christ, citing Matthew 4:15-16, which applies verses 1-2 to Jesus' ministry in Galilee. The title "The mighty God" (El Gibbor) in particular is taken as evidence of the Messiah's divinity, and interpreters often note that the same expression is used of the LORD in Isaiah 10:21.
• As a song about a contemporary king: Some in the Jewish tradition and some historical-critical scholars read the song as celebrating the birth or accession of a Davidic king such as Hezekiah. They interpret the titles either as names given to the king or as sentence names praising God.
• Division of the titles: Translations differ on whether "Wonderful, Counsellor" should be taken as a single title ("Wonderful Counselor") or as two. Many interpreters, citing the paired structure of the original text, group the titles into four.

Controversies

Jehovah's Witnesses distinguish between "Mighty God," as used in this verse, and "Almighty God," holding that Jesus is a mighty God but not the Almighty, as Jehovah is. Major denominations reject this view, pointing to Isaiah 10:21, where the same expression is applied to the LORD. The title "The everlasting Father" has also given rise to a modalist reading that treats the Son as the same person as the Father. Orthodox Trinitarian doctrine, by contrast, explains the title as meaning that the Messiah cares for his people eternally, as a father does.

In Korean Churches

In Korean churches, the verse is a principal text for Christmas services and Christmas cantatas. The chorus from Handel's oratorio Messiah that sets this verse is frequently sung by church choirs during the Christmas season.

Related Passages

• Isaiah 9:1-7
• Isaiah 7:14
• Luke 2:10-11
• Matthew 4:15-16