Isaiah 9 · a question people ask
Who is the child of 9:6?
The chapter doesn't name him. It says "a child is born to us" and "A son is given to us" (9:6), that "the government will be on his shoulders" (9:6), what "His name will be called" (9:6), and that of his government and of peace "there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom" (9:7), "even forever" (9:7). The New Testament doesn't quote 9:6-7. Luke tells what the angel said to Mary of the son she would bear (Luke 1:30-31): "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom" (Luke 1:32-33). Luke doesn't name Isaiah. The angel's words stand beside 9:7's "David’s throne" and "no end", and these notes set the two side by side and say no more; the chapter on 2 Samuel 7 pairs Luke 1:32-33 with the LORD's promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12-13). One of the names has words Isaiah soon uses again. Mighty God in 9:6 is el gibbor, and 10:21 has the same two Hebrew words: "A remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God" (Isaiah 10:21) (tap Mighty). The honest question on the sign of 7:14, in the chapter on Isaiah 7, weighs these verses too.
The verses
“For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will perform this.”
“The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.””
“When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
“A remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.”