Isaiah 9:6 is another verse that is erroneously used by those who believe in the deity of Christ.
Their belief stems from the segment of the prophecy which says, "And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
However, we should understand that the term "Mighty God" was not mentioned as one of the names of the child but as part of the name which, in Hebrew, is read as Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom (Is. 9:6, Jewish Publications Society of America). The explanation in the footnote to this verse in the Jewish Publications Society of America states:
"That is, wonderful in Counsel is God the Mighty, the Everlasting Father, the Ruler of Peace."
Hence, Smith-Goodspeed Translation rendered this verse thus:
" 'For us a child is born to us, a son is given to us; And the government will be upon his shoulder; And his name will be called 'Wonderful counselor is God almighty, Father forever, Prince of Peace'."
If Christ were the Mighty God referred to in the verse, so many questions would be left unanswered: Is God a child? Was God ever born? Was God ever given? If the giver is also God, wouldn't that make two gods? Other verses on the Bible would then be contradicted. Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man ... Nor a son of man "(NKJV). Malachi 2:10 states, Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?(Ibid.). John 20:17 records the pronouncements of our Lord Jesus Christ thus: "... I am ascending to My Father and you Father, and to My God and your God" (Ibid.).
Where did the government or authority upon the child's shoulder (the child being referred to is Christ) come from? Was it innate in the child? Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself made this clarification: Matthew 28:18, Ibid.
The authority that Christ has was given to Him. He said, "My Father has given me all things" (Mt. 11:27, Today's English Version).
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