The title “Mighty God” given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 is an incredibly powerful and significant description of who Jesus is. This verse says “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Let’s break down the meaning and significance of Jesus being called “Mighty God”:
1. It affirms the deity and divine nature of Jesus
To call Jesus “Mighty God” is to directly equate him with Almighty God. This title undeniably claims and confirms the divine nature and deity of Jesus Christ. He is not merely a great human teacher or prophet, but the verse explicitly calls Jesus by the name reserved only for Yahweh – the one true and eternal God. By giving Jesus a name and title that only God Himself can rightly have, Isaiah 9:6 affirms the Christian belief that Jesus is God incarnate – the eternal divine Son of God in human flesh.
2. It points to Jesus as equal with God the Father
By using the definitive title “Mighty God” for the child to be born, Isaiah puts Jesus on par with God Almighty. Jesus shares the divine name, authority, and worship belonging to the Lord God. This verse is a powerful statement that Jesus is not inferior to God in any way, but that the Son shares fully in the divine identity, majesty, power and glory as the Father. As John 1:1 declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus as “Mighty God” means He is of the very same essence as the Father, co-eternal with Him, and equal to Him in every way.
3. It speaks of the rule and reign of Christ
Calling the coming Messiah “Mighty God” conveys kingship and sovereign rule. As God, Jesus has supreme authority and omnipotent power to reign over all Creation for eternity. Referring to Christ as “Mighty God” carries the same enthronement and exaltation as calling Him “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). It announces that Jesus is the all-powerful ruler who shall reign on David’s throne forever (Isaiah 9:7). He is the mighty conquering King who will one day return to claim His Kingdom in fullness, subduing every enemy under His feet.
4. It speaks to the saving nature of Jesus
By being called “Mighty God”, we recognize that Jesus is the Savior-God come to rescue His people. Just as God alone saved Israel from Egypt by His mighty hand, now Immanuel “Mighty God” has come in person to save His people from their sins. This child is called “Mighty God” because He has all power and ability to conquer sin, crush Satan, and deliver believers from condemnation and death. Calling Jesus “Mighty God” carries the hope and assurance that Almighty Yahweh has come Himself to be our redeeming Lord and Savior.
5. It speaks of Jesus as eternal God the Son
“Mighty God” affirms the eternal pre-existence of Jesus as God. It declares His identity as the divine Son of God before Creation even began. By Isaiah’s time some 700 years later, this promised child “Mighty God” had still not arrived or been born. That’s because Jesus as the Son of God existed from all eternity with the Father. This verse powerfully claims the eternal divinity of Jesus – He was already “Mighty God” before His incarnation, and will remain “Mighty God” forever.
6. It’s a significant claim of deity by a monotheistic Old Testament prophet
That Isaiah, a devout Old Testament prophet and servant of Yahweh, refers to the coming Messiah as “Mighty God” is highly significant. Isaiah was a strict monotheist who worshipped and proclaimed the oneness of God. For Him to blatantly call this promised child “Mighty God” in the same breath with ‘Everlasting Father’ is an incredibly elevated title. As a monotheistic Jew, Isaiah would only dare to call someone ‘Mighty God’ if he truly believed that’s who this person essentially is. That’s why this title ascribed to Jesus is so theologically important.
7. It requires us to recognize and worship Jesus as God
For anyone who takes the Word of God seriously, Isaiah’s prophecy leaves no room for doubt about the deity of Jesus Christ. If God’s own Word declares the Son to be “Mighty God”, then we must recognize Him as such and render to Christ all the worship due to Almighty God alone. As Hebrews 1:6 says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” And in Revelation 5:12-13, Jesus receives the same glory, honor and praise as the Father.
8. It displays the climactic revelation of God’s plan to save humanity
The naming of Jesus as “Mighty God” marks the high point of God’s progressive revelation to humanity across the Old Testament. God is resolute to save, and this verse signals that His mighty salvation will finally come through His own incarnation as Immanuel. All the Law, Prophets and Scriptures point towards God becoming man. Jesus as Israel’s long-promised “Mighty God” displays God’s climactic act of redemption for His creation. It is profoundly good news.
9. It corresponds with Jesus as fully God and fully man
Jesus is not merely called “God” here, but more specifically “Mighty God” while still being the child born as a human son. This points to the two natures of Christ – fully divine and fully human. As the Council of Chalcedon in 451AD declared, Jesus is one person existing in two natures, the perfect union of undiminished deity & perfect humanity. Jesus is just as much “Mighty God” as He is a man, and fully embraces both natures.
10. It’s a foundational verse of Biblical inspiration about Christ’s identity
This seminal verse in Isaiah remains one of the most important statements in all the Bible regarding who Jesus Christ is. Along with other key verses like John 1:1, 14, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:1-3, Revelation 1:8, Isaiah’s prophesy in 9:6 forms the crucial biblical foundation for recognizing Jesus of Nazareth as the eternal “Mighty God” and Lord of all. As John Piper says, “If Jesus is not God in flesh, he is not a great Savior, and our gospel is hollow.”