Isaiah 9:5–6
A child is born to govern, with names that speak of wonder, strength and peace
Study it word by word5For every boot of the one tramping in tumult, and the cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
6For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us, and the dominion will be on his shoulder; and his name will be called Wonder of a Counselor, Valiant El, Perpetual Father, Prince of Peace.
In its context
3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased the joy for it; they rejoice before you as with the joy at harvest, as people exult when they divide spoil.
4For the yoke of its burden and the staff of its shoulder, the rod of its oppressor, you have shattered as on the day of Midian.
…
7Of the increase of the dominion and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from now and forever. The zeal of YHWH Tsevaot will do this.
8Adonai sent a word against Jacob, and it fell on Israel;
Its words in the original
- סְאוֹןseon· boot (of a soldier)
A soldier's boot.
- סֹאֵןsoen· put on boots, tramp
To put on boots; "the one shod", a soldier tramping.
- רַעַשׁraash· quaking, earthquake
Quaking, shaking, rumbling; especially an earthquake.
- שִׂמְלָהsimla· cloak
Cloak: the outer garment, which also served as a covering for sleeping.
- מְגוֹלָלָהmegolala· roll
Roll; roll away; figuratively, commit (one's way) to someone.
- דָמִיםdamim· blood
Blood. In the Bible blood stands for life; "shed blood" is to kill; "bloodguilt" is guilt for killing.
- הָיְתָהhayta· be, become, happen
Be, exist; also "become" or "happen". It is the verb of "there was", "it was" and "it came to pass".
- שְׂרֵפָהserefa· burning
Burning, fire.
- מַאֲכֹלֶתmaacholet· fuel
Fuel: what the fire feeds on.
- אֵשׁesh· fire
Fire. In the Bible it often goes with the presence of God (the bush, Sinai).
- יֶלֶדyeled· child, boy
Child, boy, young man; offspring.
- יֻלַּדyulad· bear, father
Give birth, bear children; said of the father, "father" or "beget". In some forms, help at a birth (midwife) or be born.
- בֵּןben· son
Son. In the plural it can include sons and daughters, and also grandsons and descendants. "Son of..." also says what group someone belongs to ("sons of Israel" = Israelites).
- נִתַּןnitan· give, put, set
Give, in a very wide sense: hand over, put, place, grant, allow, make something be.
- מִּשְׂרָהmisra· rule, dominion
Rule, government, dominion.
- שִׁכְמshichm· shoulder
Shoulder; the upper part of the back, where burdens are carried.
- יִּקְרָאyikra· call, proclaim
Call: speak out to someone, summon, invite, give a name, proclaim; also read aloud. "Call on the name of YHWH" is to pray to him and worship him.
- שְׁמshem· name
Name. In the Bible a name says who someone is; so it also means fame, renown or reputation.
- פֶּלֶאpele· wonder
Wonder: something only God can do.
- יוֹעֵץyoets· advise, counsel
Advise; also decide or plan something.
- אֵלel· El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
- גִּבּוֹרgibor· mighty one, mighty man
Strong, valiant; a mighty man, an outstanding warrior.
- אֲבִיavi· father
Father; also ancestor ("our fathers"), and the founder or head of a family or group.
- עַדad· forever
Forever, without end.
- שַׂרsar· chief, official
Chief, a person in command: prince, captain, official, leader.
- שָׁלוֹםshalom· peace, well-being
"Shalom": peace in a wide sense; not only the absence of war, but being whole and well: health, safety, good relations. It is also the Hebrew greeting.