# Isaiah 9:6: Does “Mighty God” Mean Less Than “Almighty God”? > Isaiah 9:6 calls the child Mighty God. Isaiah 10:21 uses that same Hebrew title for the God to whom the remnant of Jacob returns. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/mighty-god-and-almighty-god-isaiah-9-6 - Religions: Jehovah's Witnesses - Denominations: none - Beliefs: none - Tags: jehovahs-witnesses, christology, scripture - Updated: 2026-10-18 - Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) Isaiah 9:6 calls the promised child Mighty God. Isaiah 10:21 uses that same Hebrew title, el gibbor, for the God to whom a remnant of Jacob returns, and the verse before it names Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel. Jehovah’s Witnesses treat “Mighty God” as a lesser title than “Almighty God,” so that the child is not Jehovah. The prophet uses the phrase for the child and for the God of the remnant. ## Key Points - The [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of Isaiah 9:6](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/isaiah/9/#v23009006) says his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Verse 7 says the zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this. - The study note on [John 1:1](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/1/#v43001001) in that Bible says calling the Word “a god” lines up with Isaiah 9:6, “Mighty God” and not “Almighty God.” - The [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of Isaiah 10:21](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/isaiah/10/#v23010021) says the remnant of Jacob returns to the Mighty God. Verse 20 says they support themselves on Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel. - [Jeremiah 32:18](/bible/jeremiah/32/18) calls the LORD the Great, the Mighty God. [Deuteronomy 10:17](/bible/deuteronomy/10/17) calls him a great God, a mighty, and a terrible. - Latter-day Saints read the next title, “Everlasting Father,” as Christ the Creator. Jehovah’s Witnesses read it as the father of his subjects. ## What Does Isaiah 9:6 Say? The [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of Isaiah 9:6](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/isaiah/9/#v23009006) reads: > For a child has been born to us, A son has been given to us; And the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. A footnote on “rulership” offers “government” or “princely rule.” Verse 7 says the zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this. The King James of [Isaiah 9:6](/bible/isaiah/9/6) says his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. The child is given titles. One of them is Mighty God. Another is Eternal Father, or everlasting Father. The page of that translation does not add a study note that “Mighty God” means a lesser god. The explanation Jehovah’s Witnesses publish for the contrast sits in the note on John 1:1. ## What Is the Difference Between Mighty God and Almighty God? The study note on “the Word was a god” at [John 1:1](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/1/#v43001001) in the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) says many translators favor “the Word was God,” equating him with God Almighty, and then gives reasons for refusing that. One of them is this: > Calling the Word “a god,” or “a mighty one,” would be in line with the prophecy at Isa 9:6, foretelling that the Messiah would be called “Mighty God” (not “Almighty God”) and that he would be the “Eternal Father” of all those privileged to live as his subjects. The note treats “Mighty God” as a title that stops short of Almighty God, and it treats “Eternal Father” as fatherhood over subjects, not the fatherhood of Jehovah. [John 1 and the Word](/jehovahs-witnesses/john-1-and-the-word) walks through the grammar the note itself calls qualitative. This page stays with the Isaiah title the note uses. “Almighty” in the King James is often [Shaddai (H7706)](/bible/hebrew/shaday-h7706), as in [Genesis 17:1](/bible/genesis/17/1), “I am the Almighty God.” Isaiah 9:6 does not use that word. It uses el gibbor, mighty God. The question is whether el gibbor is a title Isaiah withholds from Jehovah. The next chapter answers that with the same words. ## What Does El Gibbor Mean? [El (H410)](/bible/hebrew/el-h410) and [gibbor (H1368)](/bible/hebrew/gibor-h1368) are the two words behind “mighty God.” The [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of Isaiah 10:21](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/isaiah/10/#v23010021) says: “Only a remnant will return, The remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.” Verse 20 says those who remain will no longer support themselves on the one who struck them, but will support themselves on Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel. The remnant returns to the Mighty God, and the paragraph has already named Jehovah. The King James of [Isaiah 10:21](/bible/isaiah/10/21) says the remnant shall return unto the mighty God. [Jeremiah 32:18](/bible/jeremiah/32/18) addresses the LORD as the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts. [Deuteronomy 10:17](/bible/deuteronomy/10/17) says the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible. The English “mighty” in those lines is the family of gibbor. Isaiah did not reserve el gibbor for a Messiah who is less than Jehovah. He used it for the God the remnant returns to, in a paragraph about Jehovah. [Is Jesus the Creator or a Creature?](/jehovahs-witnesses/is-jesus-the-creator-or-a-creature) is the related claim that the Son is the first thing made. A child called Mighty God, in a book that calls Jehovah the Mighty God, is not that claim. [Who Is Jehovah?](/jehovahs-witnesses/who-is-jehovah) quotes their account of the divine name and the New Testament lines that use the LORD’s words for Jesus. [Elohim (H430)](/bible/hebrew/elohim-h430) is the plural-form word for God in [Genesis 1:1](/bible/genesis/1/1). El in Isaiah 9:6 is the shorter word, and Isaiah 10:21 shows whose title it is in this prophecy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How Do Other Groups Read “Everlasting Father”? The same verse gives the child a second title that is argued over. The 1916 First Presidency exposition of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, [reprinted in the April 2002 Ensign](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2002/04/the-father-and-the-son?lang=eng), says, citing Isaiah 9:6, that “with analogous meaning Jesus Christ is called ‘The Everlasting Father,’” in the sense of Creator. The study note on John 1:1 in the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) reads “Eternal Father” as the father “of all those privileged to live as his subjects.” In both, the title does not make the child the one that church calls the Father: Elohim for Latter-day Saints, Jehovah for Jehovah’s Witnesses. [Elohim and Jehovah in Latter-day Saint Teaching: Two Divine Beings?](/latter-day-saints/elohim-and-jehovah) quotes the 1916 statement at length. ### Who Does the Zeal of Jehovah Belong To? Isaiah 9:7 says the zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this. The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) reads it the same way. The note on John 1:1 calls that Jehovah the child’s own Father, who accomplishes the promise. The titles in verse 6 are still the child’s names, including Mighty God. ## Keep Reading - [John 1 and the Word](/jehovahs-witnesses/john-1-and-the-word) - [Is Jesus the Creator or a Creature?](/jehovahs-witnesses/is-jesus-the-creator-or-a-creature) - [Who Is Jehovah?](/jehovahs-witnesses/who-is-jehovah) - [What Does Elohim Mean?](/god/elohim) - [What Is God’s Name?](/christianity/what-is-gods-name) - [The Trinity](/christianity/the-trinity) ## Passages Quoted on This Page ### John 1:1 New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible). [Open on jw.org](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/1/#v43001001) > In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. ### Jeremiah 32:18 King James Version. > Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, ### Deuteronomy 10:17 King James Version. > For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: ### Isaiah 9:6 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. ### Genesis 17:1 King James Version. > And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. ### Isaiah 10:21 King James Version. > The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. ### Genesis 1:1 King James Version. > In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ### The Father and the Son, 1916 English, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [Open on churchofjesuschrist.org](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2002/04/the-father-and-the-son?lang=eng) > God the Eternal Father, whom we designate by the exalted name-title “Elohim,” is the literal Parent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and of the spirits of the human race. ### Isaiah 9:6–7 King James Version. > [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. [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. ### John 1:1 King James Version. > In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [Book of Isaiah, 9:6–7; 10:20–21](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/isaiah/9). King James Version 2. [Book of Jeremiah, 32:18](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/jeremiah/32/18). King James Version 3. [Book of Deuteronomy, 10:17](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/deuteronomy/10/17). King James Version 4. [Gospel of John, 1:1](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/1/1). King James Version 5. [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of the Holy Scriptures, Isaiah 9:6 (2013 revision)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/isaiah/9/#v23009006) (Study Edition. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.) 6. [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of the Holy Scriptures, Isaiah 10:21 (2013 revision)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/isaiah/10/#v23010021) (Study Edition. The remnant of Jacob returns to the Mighty God.) 7. [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of the Holy Scriptures, Study note on John 1:1 (Study Edition)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/1/#v43001001) (The note says calling the Word “a god” lines up with Isaiah 9:6, Mighty God and not Almighty God.) ## See Also - [Does “Jehovah” Belong in the New Testament?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/does-jehovah-belong-in-the-new-testament) — The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) uses the name Jehovah 237 times in the New Testament. The Study Edition’s note on Acts 7:60 says the Greek manuscripts read “Lord.” - [How the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) Changes John 1:1 and Other Verses About Jesus](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/how-the-new-world-translation-changes-verses-about-jesus) — How the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) renders John 1:1 as “a god” and other verses about Jesus, beside the King James and the Greek. - [Is Jesus “Our Great God and Savior” in Titus 2:13?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/titus-2-13-our-great-god-and-savior) — Titus 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:1 use one Greek article for God and Savior. The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) reads them as two persons. - [Is Jesus Michael the Archangel?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/is-jesus-michael-the-archangel) — Insight on the Scriptures identifies Michael with Jesus by a chain of inferences. Hebrews 1 sets the Son over every angel. - [Is Jesus the Creator or a Creature?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/is-jesus-the-creator-or-a-creature) — Jehovah’s Witnesses say a literal reading of Colossians 1:16 would make Jesus the Creator, so the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) adds “other.” John 1:3 and Hebrews 1:10–12 do not leave him outside creation as a creature.