Isaiah 9:6 Why is Jesus, the Son of God, called Everlasting Father?

Muslims and anti-trinitarians will often use the following verse in their attempts to disprove the Divinity of Jesus Christ:

'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.' ESV

They commonly argue that the verse does not show any distinction between God the Father and God the Son, since the Messiah is identified as Everlasting Father. The anti-trinitarians will then conclude that the Messiah cannot possibly be Jesus. However, there are many different interpretations of this passage. This article will explain why Isaiah 9:6 does not support anti-trinitarian theology and analyse the counter arguments (some are more robust than others!)

The first detail to notice is at the begining of the verse, the Messiah is called a 'child' and a 'son'. This is undeniably the first indication that Isaiah propehecying about Jesus:

"Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus [YHWH saves]. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:30-32

This passage is reflects Isaiah 9:7 "on the throne of David and over his kingdom,to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

Athanasius comments on this passage: 'For His Only-begotten Son might, you Arians, be called 'Father' by His Father, yet not in the sense in which you in your error might perhaps understand it, but (while Son of the Father that begot Him) 'Father of the coming age' Isaiah 9:6, Septuagint. For it is necessary not to leave any of your surmises open to you. Well then, He says by the prophet, 'A Son is born and given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Angel of Great Counsel, mighty God, Ruler, Father of the coming age' Isaiah 9:6. The Only-begotten Son of God, then, is at once Father of the coming age, and mighty God, and Ruler. ' [1]

Athanasius' commentary concurs with Isaiah 9 and Luke 1, showing the Isaiah is prophecying of a future ruler, Dividic king, who will be the Father of the coming age. Anthasisus therefore refutes the notion that the Son is being portrayed as the Eternal Divine Person of the Father. Anathasius' translation is completely different to modern translations: 'Everlasting Father' has very different implications to 'Father of the coming age'.

However, it should be noted that the Literal standard version alligns more with Anathasius' translation: 'For a Child has been born to us, "" A Son has been given to us, "" And the dominion is on His shoulder, "" And He calls His Name "" Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, "" Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.

LSV Isaiah 9:6 Literal Standard version' [2]

Neverthless, the only way to determine the true sentence structure is to examine the original hebrew text. [3]

The hebrew word ’ă-ḇî-‘aḏ אֲבִי עַ֖ד means Father of Everlasting[ness] אֲבִי just means 'Father' but עַ֖ד is more nuanced

1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future

1a) ancient (of past time)

1b) for ever (of future time)

1b1) of continuous existence

1c) for ever (of God's existence) [4]

Modern translations (i.e. ESV, NIV) are limited as they lose sense of the original word order and sentence structure, but hebrew text analysis does support Anathasius' translation. There is an additional interpretation of this passage which also explains in what sense the Messiah will be the Father of Everlasting[ness].

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:27.

This verse, as well as the following verses, demonstrate that Jesus has power to grant eternal to life to those who believe in Him, hence why the Messiah holds the title Father of Everlasting[ness].

'but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.' John 20:31

“Father, he hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him” John 17:2

^“For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world...I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:33,35

Conclusion

Isaiah 9:6 only reiterates what the Lord Jesus says “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”. In this instance, Isaiah is foreshadowing the coming of a Messiah who is going to give life to those who believe in Him. Father of Everlasting[ness]/Eternity is also a fitting title because the anointed one was prophesied to be a figure who will save his people and establish an everlasting Kingdom.

Sources

[1] www.newadvent.org. (n.d.). CHURCH FATHERS: On Luke 10:22 and Matthew 11:27 (Athanasius). [online] Available at: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2805.htm.

[2] Biblehub.com. (2022). Isaiah 9 Literal Standard Version. [online] Available at: https://biblehub.com/lsv/isaiah/9.htm [Accessed 31 Mar. 2026].

‌[3] Isaiah) (2016). יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Isaiah) 9 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC). [online] Blue Letter Bible. Available at: https://www.blueletterbible.org/wlc/isa/9/6/s_688006 [Accessed 31 Mar. 2026].

[4] Packer, J.I. (2026). ESV - English Standard Version. [online] Stepbible.org. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org/?q=version=ESV@reference=Isa.9&options=HNVUG [Accessed 31 Mar. 2026].

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