Dr. Couch, I understand that Christ’s name in Isaiah 9:6 is one long name. Since you know and have taught Hebrew, is this true?
ANSWER: Yes, indeed it is! The Hebrew text says that the Messiah has “one” name (singular). The Hebrew text spells out His name thusly: Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom. In English it reads: “Wonderful Counselor-Mighty God-Eternal Father-Prince of Peace.” In the Hebrew version of the Jewish English Bible, they simply spell out the name with the English letters, but with no explanation. The average Jew then cannot tell what the Hebrew words mean. I believe this is calculated so they cannot know what His name is actually all about!
The words “Eternal Father” should be translated “The Father of Eternity.” The Messiah is the Second Person of the Trinity, and, of course He is God! But He is not God the Father but God the Son! However, He is the Father, if you will, who “is in control of” eternity! Unger says on this passage:
“The Messiah is the Eternal Existing One,” the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Rev. 1:8), construed according to the Semitic idiom, “Where He who possesses a thing, etc. He is called the father of it!”
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
ANSWER: Yes, indeed it is! The Hebrew text says that the Messiah has “one” name (singular). The Hebrew text spells out His name thusly: Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom. In English it reads: “Wonderful Counselor-Mighty God-Eternal Father-Prince of Peace.” In the Hebrew version of the Jewish English Bible, they simply spell out the name with the English letters, but with no explanation. The average Jew then cannot tell what the Hebrew words mean. I believe this is calculated so they cannot know what His name is actually all about!
The words “Eternal Father” should be translated “The Father of Eternity.” The Messiah is the Second Person of the Trinity, and, of course He is God! But He is not God the Father but God the Son! However, He is the Father, if you will, who “is in control of” eternity! Unger says on this passage:
“The Messiah is the Eternal Existing One,” the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Rev. 1:8), construed according to the Semitic idiom, “Where He who possesses a thing, etc. He is called the father of it!”
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
