Isaiah 9:6

unto us the survivors of the judgment. Cf. "Immanuel," "God with us."

the government This word is found only here and in Isaiah 9:7, and is of uncertain interpretation, perhaps "princedom."

his name shall be called The name of the Messiah consists of a series of honorific titles, pertaining to Him in His kingly capacity and expressing mainly the qualities displayed in His government. We may compare, with Guthe and others, the high-sounding titles assumed by Egyptian and Babylonian monarchs in their inscriptions, such as, "Giver of Life in perpetuity," "Ever Living," "Lord of Life," "Lord of Eternity and Infinity" &c.

Wonderful, Counseller Since each of the other names is compounded of two words, these expressions are also to be taken together as forming a single designation Wonder-Counseller. The construction is either construct followed by genitive "a wonder of a Counseller" (cf. Genesis 16:12), or acc. governed by participle "one who counsels wonderful things." Cf. "wonderful in counsel" (of Jehovah) in ch. Isaiah 28:29. On counsel as the function of a king, see Micah 4:9.

The mighty God ("êl Gibbôr) either "God-like Hero" or Hero-God. The second is to be preferred, because the title is applied to Jehovah in ch. Isaiah 10:21 (cf. Deuteronomy 10:17; Jeremiah 32:18). These two titles ascribe to the Messiah the two fundamental virtues of a ruler, wisdom and strength (cf. ch. Isaiah 11:2), both in superhuman measure. The predicate of divinity (like that of eternity in the next name) is not to be understood in the absolute metaphysical sense; it means that the divine energy works through him and is displayed in his rule (cf. Isaiah 11:2 ff.; Mi. Isaiah 5:4; Zechariah 12:8). In the fulfilment the words receive a larger sense.

The remaining two titles describe the character of the Messiah's government, as (a) paternal, and (b) peaceful.

The everlasting Father lit. Father of Eternity. The translation "Father of booty" is grammatically unimpeachable (see ch. Isaiah 33:23; Genesis 49:27), but the ideas of fatherhood and booty form an unnatural association. "Father of Eternity" describes the king, not as "possessor of the attribute of eternity" but as one who continually acts as a father to his people.

Prince of Peace Cf. ch. Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 11:4 ff.; Micah 5:5; Zechariah 9:10.