What Does Isaiah 9:6 Mean?
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; the governance shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Father of the Ages, Prince of Wholeness.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
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.THE KEY
The Hebrew word for “government” and the title “Prince” share a root, joining the authority on his shoulder to a ruler whose nature is wholeness.
THE MEANING
For us, a child is born and a son is given; governing authority rests on his shoulder. His name is his nature: wonder, counsel, might, everlasting fatherhood, and rule directed toward wholeness. Authority is borne here, and its character is wholeness.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that authority must constrict those under it: here, the rule resting on his shoulder is named by wholeness.
THE ROOT
מִשְׂרָה
misrah
GROWS FROM
שׂרר
sarar
to rule, exercise authority
“governance” in this verse is misrah. The title “Prince” grows from the same root as “government.” The authority borne on his shoulder is bound to the nature of the ruler himself, and the next title names that rule’s character as wholeness.
ALSO GROWS
sar: prince, chief
שַׂר
This is the title used for the ruler whose shoulder bears the government.
sarar: to rule, exercise dominion
שָׂרַר
This verb carries the governing action contained in both “government” and “Prince.”
שָׁלוֹם
shalom
GROWS FROM
שלם
sh-l-m
to be complete, whole, sound
“Prince of Wholeness” in this verse is shalom. Shalom carries the sense of wholeness and integrity, not only a pause in conflict. The ruler’s authority is measured by life made whole; the title gives the government its character.
ALSO GROWS
shalem: whole, complete
שָׁלֵם
This branch makes clear that the “peace” in the title describes wholeness.
hishlim: to complete, bring to completion
הִשְׁלִים
It points toward what the ruler’s authority does: brings what is incomplete toward wholeness.
THE PATTERN
Authority in God’s rule is carried for the opening, rest, and wholeness of life.
I will set the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, and he will open, and none will shut. He will shut, and none will open.Lift my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and low in heart, and you will find rest for your living souls.For the governance of God is not eating and drinking, but alignment, and wholeness, and joy in the Set-Apart Breath.THE THREAD
There shall be no end to the growth of his governance and wholeness, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to set it firm and to support it with judgment and with alignment, from now and into the ages. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.The next verse repeats מִשְׂרָה (misrah, government) and pairs its increase with שָׁלוֹם (shalom, wholeness). The titles in verse 6 name the nature of the ruler and the character of the realm that grows from his shoulder.
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