What Does Isaiah 9:6 Mean?
This article is part of the What Does It Mean? series.
The Context for the Prophecy
One of the most well-known prophecies about the birth of Christ is Isaiah 9:6, which says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” We read this on Christmas cards and holiday signs, but what does it mean? The original context of this promise in Isaiah helps us. Isaiah answers three questions about this child who will be born.
What He Brings
First, what will he bring? Along with the arrival of this child, Isaiah promises that God will bring three gifts. The first is joy. Isaiah 9:1 says, “But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” These are the northern parts of Israel, and two places in particular: Zebulun and Naphtali. These northern parts were the areas of Israel’s land that were most vulnerable to attack. They were the first places attacked by Assyria and the first to go into exile. They walked in darkness and anguish and gloom. Yet while they were the first to suffer from war, Isaiah promises they will be the first to experience restoration. Their darkness will be turned to light, their gloom to joy: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. . . . you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you” (Isa. 9:2–3).
God will also bring his people freedom and peace. Israel was under a heavy burden of oppression, but God will set them free (Isa. 9:4). One day peace will be so pervasive that all the boots and garments needed for war will be burned up (Isa. 9:5). These three gifts—joy, freedom, and peace—will come with the arrival of a child, a son.
Isaiah
Drew Hunter
Pastor Drew Hunter helps readers grasp the message of Isaiah, a prophetic book about the God who saves his people from their sins.
Who He Is
The second question Isaiah answers is, Who is he? This son will be a king in the line of David, and he will rule the people. Isaiah identifies him with four titles in verse 6. These titles could be referring to God himself as the one who acts in and through this king, but they are most likely referring to this Davidic king himself. The first title is “Wonderful Counselor.” Think of the wisest person you know—the person who cuts through confusion, clarifies the truth, and charts the best course of action. This king will be the wisest of counselors. And even here we see a hint of his divinity, for the Hebrew word for “wonderful” is uniquely used for the acts of God himself. This is supernatural, miraculous, divine counsel.
The divine nature of this child becomes unmistakable in the next title: “Mighty God.” This deep mystery, promised here centuries before the birth of Jesus, is that a child would be born and called Mighty God. This child will be truly human and truly divine.
The fourth title is “Everlasting Father.” This is most likely a reference to the father care that this king will show his people. He is from everlasting, and he cares for his people with fatherly strength, patience, and protection.
He will also be the “Prince of Peace,” the source of true peace. He will bring peace to our souls, our relationships, our communities, and ultimately the whole cosmos.
We All Need Reminders!
In the busyness of life it’s all too easy to forget who God is, what he has done for us, and who we are because of him. Crossway wants to help! Sign up today to receive concise Scripture-filled, gospel-saturated reminders that will encourage you and strengthen your walk with Jesus.
Who is this child? Isaiah says he will sit on the throne of David to establish it forever (Isa. 9:7). This links this promised child to one of the central threads through the whole Bible. From the very beginning, God promised that one would come through the line of Eve to defeat Satan and restore all that is broken in this world (Gen. 3:15). As this promise develops, we learn that this child will come through the line of Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3), then Judah (Gen. 49:8–12), then David (2 Sam. 7:1–17; Ps. 2). Isaiah identifies this child as the long-awaited king of Israel, the one to rule all nations, the one who will set all things right and make all things new.
This promise was fulfilled with the birth of Jesus, who was born into this promised line of David through Mary and Joseph. We marvel at Jesus’s birth because he is both truly human and truly divine, which we refer to as the incarnation. There, in Mary’s arms, was the Mighty God. It is this child who would bring the three promised gifts of joy, freedom, and peace.
As Jesus grew up, his identity became increasingly clear to people. He unfolded his ministry in such a way that made it evident he was fulfilling these promises from Isaiah. He even intentionally began his ministry where Isaiah 9 promised he would: Matthew said he “lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled” (Matt. 4:13–14, in fulfillment of Isa. 9:1–2). He preached the gospel of his kingdom—the good news of joy, freedom, and peace—to those who dwelt in darkness, beginning in northern Israel, and eventually spreading his peace and rule through all the world.
He will bring peace to our souls, our relationships, our communities, and ultimately the whole cosmos.
Who He Is For
We’ve seen what this child brings and who he is, but Isaiah also answers a third question: Who is this child for? He is for us—for you and for me—if we’ll receive his grace and come under his rule. The promise says, “for to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isa. 9:6). The Lord Jesus was not just born to Mary, he is born to all his people. He is born to us and given to us. The “us” in Isaiah first referred to Israel, and then extended to all who come under his grace and authority.
This is why we sing of coming to Jesus and adoring Jesus during Advent. It’s because Jesus is the great gift to the world. We walk in darkness and gloom because of our sin and the mess we have made of this world. Yet Jesus came to bring light to our darkness, freedom to our slavery, and peace to our distress.
At Christmas, we celebrate how Jesus was given to us as a child so that he could be given to us as a sacrifice. He came to those in darkness so that on the cross he could take our darkness upon himself. It is through his life, death, and resurrection that we have joy, freedom, and peace.
This section in Isaiah ends with stunning assurance: “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Isa. 9:7). This child would come into the world because of the zeal of God—the passion of his heart and his purposes. God delights to give us his Son because it is in and through Christ that we receive joy, freedom, and peace. God is zealous to give us his Son; let us be zealous to receive him.
Drew Hunter is the author of Isaiah: A 12-Week Study.
Popular Articles in This Series
View All
Even those in their prime with perfect health have limits. We need a stronger strength to match our deep discouragements.
What Does Jeremiah 29:11 Mean?
This verse is commonly found on bumper stickers, signs, cards, etc. to encourage people to have hope for the future. But is that really what this well-known verse means?
Acts is the story of God’s grace flooding out to the world, from the cross and resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
Christians, remember that God has graciously given us his Holy Spirit, who makes us fearless in troubled times.
