For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Ver. 6. For unto us a child is born.] That child foretold of. Isa 7:14 Christ shall be born in the fulness of time, as sure as if he were born already. This was "good tidings of great joy to all people." Luk 2:10 The Hebrew besher, for good tidings, cometh of bashar, for flesh; because, say some critics, there should be a taking of flesh, God manifested in the flesh, which should be the best tidings. Angels first brought it, and were glad of such an errand. Still they pry into this mystery, Trono capite et propenso collo 1Pe 1:12 and can never sufficiently wonder to see that μεγας Yεος should be μικρον Bρεφος, the "great God, a little child"; regens sidera, sugens ubera; that he who ruleth the stars should be sucking at the breast; that the eternal Word should not be able to speak a word; that he that should come in the clouds should appear in clouts a Luk 2:12 in vilibus et veteribus indumentis, saith Ludolphus, in old tattered rags, in such clouts as we cover wounds and beggars' sores withal, say others. Well might Synesius call Christ viscerum ingentium partum, the birth of huge bowels. For the time of his birth, Christ living just thirty-six years and a half, saith one, and dying at Easter, it must needs follow that he was born about the middle of the month Tisri, which answereth to part of our September, at the Feast of Tabernacles, &c., to which feast the word εσκηνωσεν, in Joh 1:14 probably alludeth.
Unto us a Son is given.] That "only begotten Son of God." Joh 3:16 begotten of the substance of his Father before all beginnings, after an unspeakable manner. The Scripture speaketh of it usually by way of circumlocution, Col 1:15 Rev 19:12 or giveth us only some glimpse by way of similitude. as Heb 1:3 This eternal Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, assumed our nature. Heb 2:17 He "overtook" it, as the Greek word signifieth, as the shepherd doth his sheep that has run astray. A shepherd with a sheep upon his shoulder engraved upon the communion cup in the primitive times of the gospel, imported the same notion.
And the government shall be upon his shoulders.] The power and majesty of the kingdom is committed to him by his Father, Isa 22:22 Mat 28:18 and he hath strength enough to manage it. Princeps est baiulus Reip. The Hebrews call a prince Nassi, because, Atlas-like, he is to bear up the commonwealth, and not to overload his subjects. Christ, both as prince of his Church, and as high priest also, beareth up and beareth out his people, "helping their infirmities." Rom 8:26 See Trapp on " Rom 8:26 "
And his name shall be called.] Heb., He shall call his name; (1.) God his Father shall; or, (2.) Every true believer shall call him and count him all this. And sure it is, had we but skill to spell all the letters in this name of Christ, it would be "a strong tower" Pro 18:10 unto us, better than that of David builded for an armoury, and completely furnished. Son 4:4 Compare this text with 1 Corinthians 1:30, and see all our doubts answered. Are we perplexed? He is our "Wonderful, Counsellor," and "made unto us of God wisdom." Are we in depths of distress? He is "the mighty God," our "redemption." Want we grace and his image? He is the "everlasting Father," our "sanctification." Doth the guilt of sin sting us? He is the "Prince of peace," our "righteousness."
Wonderful.] Heb., A miracle or wonder, b viz., in all his counsels and courses, especially for his; glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. Exo 15:11
Counsellor.] The Septuagint here calleth him "the Angel of the great Council." He is set forth as clothed with a "garment down to the foot," Rev 1:13 which is the dress of counsellors at law, who are therehence called gentlemen of the long robe. Rev 3:17 Pro 8:14 Jer 32:19 But because counsellors are but subjects, it is added in Christ's style,
The mighty God.] Able to effect his own counsels for the behoof of his subjects. St Paul calleth him "the great God," Tit 2:13 and "God above all to be blessed for ever." Rom 9:5 God the potentate, so the Septuagint renders this text: God the giant, so Oecolampadius.
The everlasting Father.] The Father of eternity; "the King eternal, immortal." 1Ti 1:17 Ferdinand the emperor, on his deathbed, would not acknowledge the title Invictissimus, most unconqerable, but commanded his counsellor to call him Ferdinand without more addition. Christ is also the Author of eternity to all his people whom he hath begotten again to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for them. 1Pe 1:3-4
The Prince of peace.] Pacis omnimodae, of all kinds of peace, outward, inward, or of country and of conscience, temporal and eternal. Of all these he is the Prince, as having full power to bestow them; for he is Son to the "God of peace"; Rom 16:20 he was brought from heaven with that song of peace; Luk 2:14 he himself purged our sins, and made our peace; Heb 1:3 Eph 2:14 returned up to heaven with that farewell of peace; Joh 14:27 left to the world the gospel of peace; Eph 2:17 whose ministers are messengers of peace; Rom 10:15 whose followers are the children of peace. Luk 10:6-9 Wherefore Christ doth far better deserve than our Henry VII did, to be styled the "Prince of peace." Especially since,
a "Swaddling bands," εσπαργανωμενον. Induit sordes nostras, He condescended to our rags.
b παραδοξασμος. - Symmach. Ipsa admirabilitas. - A Lap.