Isaiah 9:6

“For unto us a child is born, &c.] This is a reason of all that is said in the context; of the great light that shone upon and was seen by those that sat in darkness, and in the land of the shadow of death; of the great joy among the people; of the breaking off of the yoke, rod, and staff of the oppressor; and of the burning of garments rolled in blood, so putting an end to war, and establishing peace; all which is owing to the child here said to be born, by whom we are to understand the Messiah; as the Targum interprets it; and not Hezekiah, as many of the Jewish writersf159 apply it; who could never be represented as a child just born, when he was, at least, ten or eleven years of age when…”

“For--the ground of these great expectations, unto us--for the benefit of the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (compare "unto you," Luk 2:11). son . . . given-- (Psa 2:7). God's gratuitous gift, on which man had no claim (Joh 3:16; Rom 6:23). government . . . upon . . . shoulder--The ensign of office used to be worn on the shoulder, in token of sustaining the government (Isa 22:22). Here the government on Messiah's shoulder is in marked antithesis to the "yoke and staff" of the oppressor on Israel's "shoulder" (Isa 9:4). He shall receive the kingdom of the earth from the Father, to vindicate it from the misrule of those to whom it was entrusted to hold it for and under the Most High, but who…”

“For - This is given as a reason of the victories that were predicted in the previous verses. That it has reference to the Messiah has been almost universally conceded; and indeed it does not seem possible to doubt it. The eye of the prophet seems to have been fixed on this great and glorious event - as attracting all his attention. The scenes of coming times, like a panorama, or picture, passed before him. Most of the picture seems to have been that of battles, conflicts, sieges, dimness, and thick darkness. But in one portion of the passing scene there was light. It was the light that he saw rising in the distant and darkened Galilee. He saw the joy of the people; the armor of war laid…”

“For - Having spoken of the glorious light, and joy, and victory of God's people, he now proceeds to shew the ground of it. Us - Unto us Jews, of whom Christ was born, and to whom he was primarily sent. A child - The Messiah by the consent of interpreters, not only Christian, but Jewish: for so the ancient Hebrew doctors understood the place, and particularly the Chaldee paraphrast; although the latter Jews, out of opposition to Christ, wrest it to Hezekiah. Which extravagant conceit, as it hath no foundation in this or any other text of scripture, so it is fully confuted by the following titles, which are such as cannot without blasphemy and nonsense be ascribed to Hezekiah, nor indeed to…”

“9:6 a child is born to us, a son is given to us: This child, the Messiah, would be David’s descendant (11:1). • he will be called: These names can be read as four throne names, signifying the nature of the child’s rule: (1) The Wonderful Counselor conforms to God’s wisdom (11:1; 25:1; 28:29; 40:13), unlike the counselors of Judah (1:26; 3:3). (2) Mighty God is an affirmation of the Messiah’s divine nature. (3) He cares for his children as the Everlasting Father, the father whose care continues forever (cp. 22:21; 63:16). (4) The Prince of Peace is a leader who brings peace. • Alternatively, the four names could be collapsed into two: (1) “A Wonderful Counselor [is] the Mighty God”; and (2)…”

“For unto: Isa 7:14; Luk 1:35, Luk 2:11 unto us a son: Joh 1:14, Joh 3:16, Joh 3:17; Rom 8:32; Jo1 4:10-14 the government: Isa 22:21, Isa 22:22; Psa 2:6-12, Psa 110:1-4; Jer 23:5, Jer 23:6; Zac 6:12, Zac 6:13, Zac 9:9, Zac 9:10; Mat 11:27, Mat 28:18; Co1 15:25; Eph 1:21, Eph 1:22; Rev 19:16 his name: Isa 7:14; Jdg 13:18 \*marg. Jer 31:22; Mat 1:23; Ti1 3:16 Counsellor: Isa 28:29; Zac 6:13; Luk 21:15; Joh 1:16; Co1 1:30; Col 2:3 The mighty God: Isa 45:24, Isa 45:25; Psa 45:3, Psa 45:6, Psa 50:1; Jer 23:5, Jer 23:6; Joh 1:1, Joh 1:2; Act 20:28; Rom 9:5; Tit 2:13; Heb 1:8; Jo1 5:20 The everlasting Father: Isa 8:18, Isa 53:10; Pro 8:23; Heb 2:13, Heb 2:14 The Prince of Peace: Isa 11:6-9, Isa…”

“Upon the two sentences with ci the prophet now builds a third. The reason for the triumph is the deliverance effected; and the reason for the deliverance, the destruction of the foe; and the reason for all the joy, all the freedom, all the peace, is the new great King. - "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government rests upon His shoulder: and they call His name, Wonder, Counsellor, mighty God, Eternal-Father, Prince of Peace." The same person whom the prophet foretold in chapter 7 as the son of the virgin who would come to maturity in troublous times, he here sees as born, and as having already taken possession of the government. There he appeared as a sign, here…”