What does 'the government shall be upon His shoulder' mean in Isaiah 9:6?
It means the child born and Son given will bear authority of the coming thousand-year rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. The government rests on His shoulder, signifying He Himself will rule and reign, and His name is called Jesus Christ, Our God.
Les explains that Isaiah 9:6–7 is the prophet writing to the nation of Israel, so the pronoun “us” refers to Israel. He reads “unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” as pointing to the Christ who died for us, feeds us today, and is coming again. The government placed on His shoulder is the thousand-year rule and reign, when He will be King of kings and Lord of lords. Les also ties this to Ephesians and says the verse entwines God the Father and God the Son, naming Him Jesus Christ, Our God; He comes as King of kings.
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.
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.
More Questions
When will the government be on Christ's shoulder according to Isaiah 9:6?
The statement in Isaiah 9:6 that "the government shall be upon His shoulder" is fulfilled when Christ is on His throne in Jerusalem and the kingdom is set up.
On whose shoulder will the future government rest according to Isaiah 9:6?
The future government will rest on the shoulder of the Son who was given, that is, the same Son described in Isaiah 9:6 and John 3:16.