Isaiah 9:6 is an Old Testament prophecy identifying the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, as Israel's Messiah and coming King whose government rests on His shoulder.
The verse says that unto the nation of Israel a child is born and a Son is given, and it calls Him Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Les Feldick teaches that these capitalized titles are terms of deity and that this same Son is the Jesus of the New Testament. The passage also promises an endless increase of government and peace from the throne of David.
Isaiah 9:6 — This is the verse the question asks about; it directly describes the promised Son, His titles, and the government on His shoulder.
Isaiah 9:7 — This continuation shows the endless increase of His government and peace and names David's throne as the seat of His rule.
Isaiah 9:6 is a prophetic promise to the nation of Israel: "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 continues: "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." The passage therefore presents a coming King whose rule is eternal and whose kingdom is established with judgment and justice. The New Testament also uses the phrase "only begotten Son" in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Les Feldick emphasizes that Isaiah 9:6 is a prophetic utterance given specifically to the nation of Israel. He points out that the pronoun "us" refers to Israel—Isaiah was not writing to Egyptians or Babylonians—and that the promise of a child and a Son is part of the covenant promise of a government and a King who will be the Son of God. That coming King is Jesus the Christ. Les describes the government placed on this Son's shoulder as a monarchy, not a democracy. It will be ruled by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, yet it will be benevolent rather than despotic or totalitarian. The Kingdom on earth will be perfect, with no sin, no corruption, and no rotten politics, and it will include the ruling and reigning of the thousand years. Les also connects the "Son given" in Isaiah 9:6 to John 3:16, explaining that God gave His only begotten Son when He was born in Bethlehem. He notes that Isaiah's capitalized names—Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace—are all titles of the Christ, the Messiah. The One born and given to Israel will rule from David's throne with endless peace.
Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that when reading Isaiah and the Old Testament prophets, we must determine to whom the passage was addressed. He says Isaiah was writing to Israel, not to the Egyptians or Babylonians, and that the words "for unto us" mean the prophecy belongs to the nation of Israel. The verse is part of the third part of the Abrahamic promise: the promise of a government or king who will be the Son of God.
Les notes that the names in Isaiah 9:6 are all capitalized in Scripture, and he identifies them as terms of deity associated with the coming King, the Messiah, the Son of God. He says these are "all appropriately His terms of deity" and are titles of the Christ. They describe Jesus the Christ, not merely an ordinary human ruler.
Isaiah 9:6 states that the government will be upon His shoulder, and verse 7 says there will be no end to its increase or peace. Les explains that this is not a democracy but a monarchy—the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will rule. He will be benevolent, not a despot or a totalitarian, and His Kingdom will be righteous and perfect, with no sin, corruption, or rotten politics. Les specifically connects this to the thousand-year reign of Christ and the Kingdom on earth promised throughout Old Testament prophecy.
Isaiah 9:6 says "unto us a son is given," and John 3:16 says God gave His only begotten Son. Les brings the two passages together and points out that God gave His Son when He was born in Bethlehem. In this way, the child born in Isaiah's prophecy is the same Son who was given according to John 3:16.
Isaiah 9:7 says the increase of His government and peace will have no end, "upon the throne of David." Les identifies the One born and given to Israel as the Messiah and says He will rule from David's throne. This is the King of Kings who will not only rule Israel but the whole world.
A Monarchy, Not a Democracy
Les explains that the royal family from David's line will eventually produce a government ruled by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—a benevolent monarchy, not a democracy.
Isaiah 9:6 and the Messiah
Les reads Isaiah 9:6 directly and identifies the child and Son as Jesus the Christ, showing that the capitalized names are terms of deity.
A Prophetic Utterance to Israel
Les stresses that Isaiah 9:6 is a prophetic utterance given to the nation of Israel and that the promised king is the Son of God.
The Covenant Promise of a King
Les repeats that Isaiah 9:6-7 was written to the nation of Israel and points to the question of who this government-ruler will be.
The Son Given in John 3:16
Les links the "Son given" in Isaiah 9:6 to John 3:16's statement that God gave His only begotten Son, reminding viewers the pronouns in Isaiah refer to Israel.
The Kingdom on Earth
Les describes the coming Kingdom on earth where the King of Kings rules the whole world perfectly, with no sin, corruption, or rotten politics.
The Thousand-Year Reign
Les says the government on the Son's shoulder refers to the ruling and reigning of the thousand years, showing Isaiah 9:6 has more than Christmas meaning.
The Titles of the Messiah
Les lists the capitalized titles of the Messiah—Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—and notes He will rule from David's throne with endless peace.
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.
Central verse answering the question: it names the child/son, His divine titles, and the government on His shoulder.
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.
Continues the prophecy by promising endless peace and rule from David's throne.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Connects the "son given" to God's gift of His only begotten Son, a connection Les makes.
Yes. The verse describes a child born and a Son given to Israel, and Les identifies that Son as Jesus the Christ, the Son of God. The capitalized names in the verse are terms of deity.
Les teaches that the prophecy is addressed to the nation of Israel. The words "for unto us" show that Isaiah is writing to Israel, not to the Gentiles.
Les connects this to the coming Kingdom on earth and the thousand-year reign of Christ. At that time the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will rule Israel and the whole world in righteousness and peace.
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