כִּי־יֶ֣לֶד יֻלַּד־לָ֗נוּ בֵּ֚ן נִתַּן־לָ֔נוּ וַתְּהִ֥י הַמִּשְׂרָ֖ה עַל־שִׁכְמֹ֑ו וַיִּקְרָ֨א שְׁמֹ֜ו פֶּ֠לֶא יֹועֵץ֙ אֵ֣ל גִּבֹּ֔ור אֲבִי עַ֖ד שַׂר־שָׁלֹֽום׃
(Isaiah 9:5)
For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us; and the government is upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:5 is among the most iconic verses in the prophetic corpus. It functions both as poetic proclamation and as theological declaration. The grammar is layered with poetic intensification, compressed syntax, and honorific titles. In this lesson we will explore:
- The verbs of birth and gift (יֻלַּד, נִתַּן).
- The nominal clause of authority (וַתְּהִי הַמִּשְׂרָה עַל־שִׁכְמֹו).
- The naming formula (וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמֹו).
- The sequence of exalted epithets.
Through careful grammatical analysis, we can see how Isaiah uses Hebrew morphology and syntax to heighten the grandeur of this child’s birth, portraying him as the embodiment of divine governance and peace.
The Verbs of Birth and Gift
The verse opens with a poetic parallelism: כִּי־יֶלֶד יֻלַּד־לָנוּ בֵּן נִתַּן־לָנוּ — “For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us.”
- יֻלַּד: Pual perfect 3ms of ילד, “to be born.” The passive participial sense emphasizes the child as one who “has been born.”
- נִתַּן: Nifal perfect 3ms of נתן, “to be given.” Again, a passive sense: the son “has been given.”
The parallel verbs create poetic symmetry: birth and gift. Hebrew poetry often uses such parallels not to duplicate but to amplify. The first clause highlights biological fact, the second theological gift. Syntax becomes theology: the child is both natural and divinely bestowed.
The Nominal Clause of Authority
The next phrase is וַתְּהִי הַמִּשְׂרָה עַל־שִׁכְמֹו — “and the government is upon his shoulder.”
- וַתְּהִי: Qal wayyiqtol 3fs of היה, with הַמִּשְׂרָה (“government, rule”) as subject. The feminine agreement (תְּהִי) matches the feminine noun.
- עַל־שִׁכְמֹו: prepositional phrase, “upon his shoulder.”
The clause is more than metaphor. In ancient Near Eastern imagery, authority was visually represented as resting upon the shoulders of rulers (cf. carrying a staff or emblem of office). Grammar here conveys political theology: sovereignty is borne as a visible weight.
The Naming Formula
Next we encounter וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמֹו — “and his name shall be called.”
- וַיִּקְרָא: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of קרא, “to call.”
- שְׁמֹו: noun with suffix, “his name.”
The naming formula introduces a sequence of titles, a common feature in coronation or enthronement texts. Hebrew syntax places the emphasis on the identity conferred through the name. In prophetic poetry, names often function as descriptors of destiny or character, and here four grand epithets follow.
The Four Titles
The epithets are presented in a series without conjunctions, heightening their solemn cadence:
- פֶּלֶא יֹועֵץ — “Wonderful Counselor.” A compound epithet combining wonder (פֶּלֶא) and counsel (יֹועֵץ).
- אֵל גִּבֹּור — “Mighty God.” Theophoric title affirming divine strength.
- אֲבִי עַד — “Everlasting Father.” Literally “Father of eternity,” an idiom for protector across generations.
- שַׂר־שָׁלֹום — “Prince of Peace.” Governance characterized not by war but by shalom (wholeness, wellbeing).
The grammar treats each epithet as appositive, flowing rhythmically to build a crescendo of honorifics. The absence of וְ (“and”) quickens the pace, producing a liturgical intensity.
Parsing Table of Key Forms
| Form | Parsing | Literal Sense | Grammatical Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| יֻלַּד | Pual perfect 3ms of ילד | “has been born” | Passive birth verb highlights subject as gift |
| נִתַּן | Nifal perfect 3ms of נתן | “has been given” | Passive “gift” motif underscores divine agency |
| וַתְּהִי | Qal wayyiqtol 3fs of היה | “and was” | Matches feminine noun מִשְׂרָה, governing authority |
| וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמֹו | Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of קרא + noun with suffix | “and his name was called” | Formula for conferring identity |
| שַׂר־שָׁלֹום | Noun construct phrase | “Prince of Peace” | Appositive epithet closes the crescendo |
Masoretic Cadence and Poetic Structure
The Masoretic accents divide the verse into four poetic cola: (1) birth/gift, (2) authority, (3) naming, (4) titles. The rhythm moves from narrative event to theological proclamation. The poetic structure intensifies meaning, transforming the verse into both a coronation hymn and a theological declaration.
The Grammar of Majesty
Isaiah 9:5 illustrates how Hebrew grammar enacts majesty. Perfect verbs portray the child as already given; wayyiqtol situates his authority; the naming formula confers identity; and the epithets cascade in appositional splendor. Syntax itself proclaims sovereignty. For students of Biblical Hebrew, this verse exemplifies how grammar and poetry converge to create lasting theological resonance: the promise of divine governance embodied in a child whose very names echo eternity.