What "child" is this? (Isaiah 9:6)
Isaiah 9:6 ESV - 6 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.
Isaiah 9:1 - 7
ESV - 1 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. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
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Asked December 01 2020
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Jack Gutknecht
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Tim Maas
My understanding of the Jewish interpretation of this passage is that it was fulfilled by Hezekiah (although Christians, of course, see a parallel fulfillment in Jesus). The divine attributes ascribed to the child are taken to be indicative of the way in which God worked and achieved His purposes through and during Hezekiah's life and rule. (For example, the phrase "Mighty God" evokes an image of the way in which God miraculously slew the army of King Sennacherib of Assyria when it besieged Jerusalem during Hezekiah's reign, as recorded in 2 Kings 19.)
Jack Gutknecht
According to John 3:16 the Child is Jesus. He was born unto us—for the benefit of the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (compare “unto you,” Lu 2:11). The term, “Child” and "a Son" speaks of the first and second of the twofold nature of the Messiah, respectively (9:6): "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us." 1. The Messiah will be born as a human baby (Isa 9:6a). 2. He would also be “given” as “a son” (Isaiah 9:6b) which is talking about his Divine Nature as the Son of God. I.e. the Messiah will be sent as a gift from heaven (Isaiah 9:6b).
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