King James Version

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.

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Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

In the Hebrew text this line is Isaiah 9:5.

כִּיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…יֶ֣לֶדyeledchildיֶלֶדnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “child”, the ordinary formH3206something born, i.e. a lad or offspringboy, child, fruit, son, young man (one).יֻלַּדyuladbearיָלַדverb, pual, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “bear”, a completed actionH3205to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineagebear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (wom…לָ֗נוּlanvtoלָ֗נוּpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, plural — “to”toבֵּ֚ןbensonבֵּןnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “son”, the ordinary formH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […נִתַּןnitangiveנָתַןverb, niphal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “give”, a completed actionH5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] wi…לָ֔נוּlanvtoלָ֔נוּpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, plural — “to”toוַתְּהִ֥יvathiand beהָיָהconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “and be”, the next action in the storyH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.הַמִּשְׂרָ֖הhamisrahthe governmentמִשְׂרָהdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the government”, the ordinary formH4951empiregovernment.עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…שִׁכְמ֑וֹshikhmvobackשְׁכֶםnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “back”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7926the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of ahillback, [idiom] consent, portion, shoulder.וַיִּקְרָ֨אvayiqraand callקָרָאconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and call”, the next action in the storyH7121to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.שְׁמ֜וֹshemvofameשֵׁםnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “fame”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8034an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character[phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.פֶּ֠לֶאpelemarvellous thingפֶּלֶאnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “marvellous thing”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6382a miraclemarvellous thing, wonder(-ful, -fully).יוֹעֵץ֙yoetsadviseיָעַץverb, qal, participle, absolute — “advise”, a verb used as a describing wordH3289to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolveadvertise, take advise, advise (well), consult, (give, take) counsel(-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose.אֵ֣לelidolאֵלnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “idol”, the ordinary formH410strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.'גִּבּ֔וֹרgiborchampionגִּבּוֹרadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “champion”, the ordinary formH1368powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrantchampion, chief, [idiom] excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man.אֲבִיavifatherאָבnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “father”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote applicationchief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.עַ֖דadeternityעַדnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “eternity”, the ordinary formH5703properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity (substantially as a noun, either with or without a preposition)eternity, ever(-lasting, -more), old, perpetually, [phrase] world without end.שַׂרsarcaptainשַׂרnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “captain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8269a head person (of any rank or class)captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.שָׁלֽוֹםshalomhealthשָׁלוֹםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “health”, the ordinary formH7965safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace[idiom] do, familiar, [idiom] fare, favour, [phrase] friend, [idiom] great, (good) health, ([idiom] perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, ([idiom] all is, be) well, [idiom] whol…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(9-5) For a child is born unto us, a son is given unto us; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom;

Translation Note

In the Hebrew text this line is Isaiah 9:5. The King James calls the child “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” The 1917 Jewish Publication Society does not translate the names. It prints “Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom.” Brenton reads “the Messenger of great counsel,” and does not print “mighty God.”

אֵל גִּבּוֹר is “mighty God” in the King James list of names. The Jewish Publication Society leaves the Hebrew names in Hebrew letters spelled in English. Christians say the child who bears the name “mighty God” is the Son. Jesus is that child, and Jesus is God.

King James Version. 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.

Jewish Publication Society (1917). “For a child is born unto us, a son is given unto us; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom.”

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English. “For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder: and his name is called the Messenger of great counsel.”

Septuagint, Brenton’s Greek (1851). παιδίον ἐγεννήθη ἡμῖν, υἱὸς καὶ ἐδόθη ἡμῖν, οὗ ἡ ἀρχὴ ἐγενήθη ἐπὶ τοῦ ὤμου αὐτοῦ, καὶ καλεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, Μεγάλης βουλῆς ἄγγελος.

Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah? What Does Messiah Mean?

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Young’s Literal Translation

For 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.

World English Bible

For 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.

Darby Translation

For 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.

Douay-Rheims

For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(9-5) For a child is born unto us, a son is given unto us; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom;

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder: and his name is called the Messenger of great counsel: for I will bring peace upon the princes, and health to him.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὅτι παιδίον ἐγεννήθη ἡμῖν, υἱὸς καὶ ἐδόθη ἡμῖν, οὗ ἡ ἀρχὴ ἐγενήθη ἐπὶ τοῦ ὤμου αὐτοῦ, καὶ καλεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, Μεγάλης βουλῆς ἄγγελος· ἄξω γὰρ εἰρήνην ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας, καὶ ὑγίειαν αὐτῷ.

Alluded to in

Luke 1:32 Luke 1:32 · King James VersionHe shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:Luke 1:32 · King James VersionOpen the Source
child born, Mighty God, Prince of Peace · early church, Edersheim’s rabbinic list
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: