Isaiah 9 · Verse 6

Isaiah 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.
Isaiah 9:6, King James Version

Isaiah 9:6 in other translations

BSBFor unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
WEBFor 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.
ASVFor 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, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
YLTFor a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.
DARBYFor unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.
BBEFor to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace.
WebsterFor 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, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

What does Isaiah 9:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. For--the ground of these great expectations, unto us--for the benefit of the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (compare "unto you," Lu 2:11). son ... given--(Psa 2:7). God's gratuitous gift, on which man had no claim (Joh 3:16; Ro 6:23). government ... upon ... shoulder--The ensign of office used to be worn on the shoulder, in token of sustaining the government (Is 22:22). Here the government on Messiah's shoulder is in marked antithesis to the "yoke and staff" of the oppressor on Israel's "shoulder" (Is 9:4). He shall receive the kingdom of the earth from the Father, to vindicate it from the misrule of those to whom it was entrusted to hold it for and under the Most High, but who sought to hold it in defiance of His right; the Father asserts His right by the Son, the "Heir of all things," who will hold it for Him (Da 7:13, 14). name ... called--His essential characteristics shall be. Wonderful--(See on Is 8:18; Jud 13:18, Margin; 1Ti 3:16). Counsellor--(Psa 16:7; Ro 11:33, 34; 1Co 1:24; Col 2:3). mighty God--(Is 10:21; Psa 24:8; Tit 2:13) Horsley translates: "God the mighty man." "Unto us ... God" is equivalent to "Immanuel" (Is 7:14). everlasting Father--This marks Him as "Wonderful," that He is "a child," yet the "everlasting Father" (Joh 10:30; 14:9). Earthly kings leave their people after a short reign; He will reign over and bless them for ever [Hengstenberg]. Prince of Peace--(See on Is 9:5; Ge 49:10; Shiloh, "The Tranquillizer"). Finally (Ho 2:18). Even already He is "our peace" (Lu 2:14; Ep 2:14).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 The government shall be upon his shoulder - That is, the ensign of government; the scepter, the sword, the key, or the like, which was borne upon or hung from the shoulder. See note on Isa 22:22. And his name shall be called - אל גבור El gibbor, the prevailing or conquering God. The everlasting Father "The Father of the everlasting age" - Or אבי עד Abi ad, the Father of eternity. The Septuagint have μεγαλης βουλης Αγγελος, "the Messenger of the Great Counsel." But instead of אבי אד Abi ad, a MS. of De Rossi has אבעזר Abezer, the helping Father; evidently the corruption of some Jew, who did not like such an evidence in favor of the Christian Messiah. Prince of Peace - שר שלום sar shalom, the Prince of prosperity, the Giver of all blessings. A MS. of the thirteenth century in Kennicott's collection has a remarkable addition here. "He shall be a stumbling-block, המכשלה; the government is on his shoulder." This reading is nowhere else acknowledged, as far as I know.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 9:1-7

The Son that should be born, and his kingdom. (Is. 9:1-7) The judgments to come upon Israel, and on the enemies of the kingdom of Christ. (Is. 9:8-21) Verses 1-7 The Syrians and Assyrians first ravaged the countries here mentioned, and that region was first favoured by the preaching of Christ. Those that want the gospel, walk in darkness, and in the utmost danger. But when the gospel comes to any place, to any soul…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 9:1-7 →

Isaiah 9:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּי\־ki-forH3588
יֶ֣לֶדYe.leda childH3206
יֻלַּד\־yu.lad-he will be bornH3205
לָ֗נוּLa.nuto us
בֵּ֚ןbena sonH1121
נִתַּן\־ni.tan-he will be givenH5414
לָ֔נוּLa.nuto us
וַתְּהִ֥יva.te.Hiand it wasH1961
הַמִּשְׂרָ֖הha.mis.Rahthe dominionH4951
עַל\־'al-onH5921
שִׁכְמ֑וֹshikh.Moshoulder hisH7926
וַיִּקְרָ֨אvai.yik.Ra'and someone calledH7121
שְׁמ֜וֹshe.Moname hisH8034
פֶּ֠לֶאPe.le'a wonderH6382
יוֹעֵץ֙yo.'Etza counselorH3289
אֵ֣ל'elGodH410
גִּבּ֔וֹרgi.BormightyH1368
אֲבִיעַ֖ד'a.vi.'Adfather of perpetuityH1
שַׂר\־sar-prince ofH8269
שָׁלֽוֹם\׃sha.LompeaceH7965

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 9:6

  • Luke 2:11

    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

  • Matthew 28:18

    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

  • Jeremiah 23:5-6

    Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

  • Isaiah 7:14

    Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  • Matthew 1:23

    Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

  • 1 John 5:20

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

  • Revelation 19:16

    And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

  • John 1:1-2

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

  • Isaiah 53:5

    But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

  • Isaiah 28:29

    This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.

  • Hebrews 2:13-14

    And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For unto.
7:14; Lu 1:35; 2:11
unto us a son.
Joh 1:14; 3:16,17; Ro 8:32; 1Jo 4:10-14
the government.
22:21,22; Ps 2:6-12; 110:1-4; Jer 23:5,6; Zec 6:12,13; 9:9,10
Mt 11:27; 28:18; 1Co 15:25; Eph 1:21,22; Re 19:16
his name.
7:14; Jud 13:18; *marg:
Jer 31:22; Mt 1:23; 1Ti 3:16
Counsellor.
28:29; Zec 6:13; Lu 21:15; Joh 1:16; 1Co 1:30; Col 2:3
The mighty God.
45:24,25; Ps 45:3,6; 50:1; Jer 23:5,6; Joh 1:1,2; Ac 20:28; Ro 9:5
Tit 2:13; Heb 1:8; 1Jo 5:20
The everlasting Father.
8:18; 53:10; Pr 8:23; Heb 2:13,14
The Prince of Peace.
11:6-9; 53:5; Ps 72:3,7; 85:10; Da 9:24,25; Mic 5:4,5; Lu 2:14
Joh 14:27; Ac 10:36; Ro 5:1-10; 2Co 5:19; Eph 2:14-18; Col 1:20,21
Heb 7:2,3; 13:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 9:5

    For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

  • Isaiah 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.

  • Isaiah 9:7

    Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Read all of Isaiah 9

Isaiah 9:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque un niño nos es nacido, hijo nos es dado; y el principado sobre su hombro: y llamaráse su nombre Admirable, Consejero, Dios fuerte, Padre eterno, Príncipe de paz.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		À l’accroissement de son empire, et à la paix, il n’y aura pas de fin, sur le trône de David et dans son royaume, pour l’établir et le soutenir en jugement et en justice, dès maintenant et à toujours. La jalousie de l’ Éternel des armées fera cela.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn ein Kind ist uns geboren, ein Sohn uns gegeben, und die Herrschaft ruht auf seiner Schulter; und man nennt seinen Namen: Wunderbarer, Berater, starker Gott, Vater der Ewigkeit, Friedefürst.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Parvulus enim natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis, et factus est principatus super humerum ejus: et vocabitur nomen ejus, Admirabilis, Consiliarius, Deus, Fortis, Pater futuri sæculi, Princeps pacis.