Isa 9:6, 61:1 | JFB | STEP | 6. For —the ground of these great expectations, unto us —for the benefit of the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (compare "unto you, " ). son . . . given — ( ). God's gratuitous gift, on which man had no claim ( ). government . . . upon . . . shoulder —The ensign of office used to be worn on the shoulder, in token of sustaining the government ( ). Here the government on Messiah's shoulder is in marked antithesis to the "yoke and staff" of the oppressor on Israel's "shoulder" ( ). He shall receive the kingdom of the earth from the Father, to vindicate it from the misrule of those to whom it was entrusted to hold it for and under the Most High, but who sought to hold it in defiance of His right; the Father asserts His right by the Son, the "Heir of all things," who will hold it for Him ( ). name . . . called —His essential characteristics shall be. Wonderful —(See on ; , Margin; ). Counsellor — ( ). mighty God — ( ) HORSLEY translates: "God the mighty man." "Unto us . . . God" is equivalent to "Immanuel" ( ). everlasting Father —This marks Him as "Wonderful," that He is "a child," yet the "everlasting Father " ( ). Earthly kings leave their people after a short reign; He will reign over and bless them for ever [HENGSTENBERG ]. Prince of Peace —(See on ; ; Shiloh, "The Tranquillizer"). Finally ( ). Even already He is "our peace" ( ).

Isaiah 9:6

6. For—the ground of these great expectations,

unto us—for the benefit of the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (compare "unto you," Lu 2:11).

son . . . given— (Ps 2:7). God's gratuitous gift, on which man had no claim (Joh 3:16; Ro 6:23).

government . . . upon . . . shoulder—The ensign of office used to be worn on the shoulder, in token of sustaining the government (Isa 22:22). Here the government on Messiah's shoulder is in marked antithesis to the "yoke and staff" of the oppressor on Israel's "shoulder" (Isa 9:4). He shall receive the kingdom of the earth from the Father, to vindicate it from the misrule of those to whom it was entrusted to hold it for and under the Most High, but who sought to hold it in defiance of His right; the Father asserts His right by the Son, the "Heir of all things," who will hold it for Him (Da 7:13, 14).

name . . . called—His essential characteristics shall be.

Wonderful—(See on Isa 8:18; Jud 13:18, Margin; 1Ti 3:16).

Counsellor— (Ps 16:7; Ro 11:33, 34; 1Co 1:24; Col 2:3).

mighty God— (Isa 10:21; Ps 24:8; Tit 2:13) HORSLEY translates: "God the mighty man." "Unto us . . . God" is equivalent to "Immanuel" (Isa 7:14).

everlasting Father—This marks Him as "Wonderful," that He is "a child," yet the "everlasting Father" (Joh 10:30; 14:9). Earthly kings leave their people after a short reign; He will reign over and bless them for ever [HENGSTENBERG].

Prince of Peace—(See on Isa 9:5; Ge 49:10; Shiloh, "The Tranquillizer"). Finally (Ho 2:18). Even already He is "our peace" (Lu 2:14; Eph 2:14).

Isaiah 61:1

1. is upon me; because . . . hath anointed me—quoted by Jesus as His credentials in preaching (Lu 4:18-21). The Spirit is upon Me in preaching, because Jehovah hath anointed Me from the womb (Lu 1:35), and at baptism, with the Spirit "without measure," and permanently "abiding" on Me (Isa 11:2; Joh 1:32; 3:34; Ps 45:7; with which compare 1Ki 1:39, 40; 19:16; Ex 29:7). "Anointed" as Messiah, Prophet, Priest, and King.

good tidings—as the word "gospel" means.

the meek—rather, "the poor," as Lu 4:18 has it; that is, those afflicted with calamity, poor in circumstances and in spirit (Mt 11:5).

proclaim liberty— (Joh 8:31-36). Language drawn from the deliverance of the Babylonian captives, to describe the deliverance from sin and death (Heb 2:15); also from the "liberty proclaimed" to all bond-servants in the year of jubilee (Isa 61:2; Le 25:10; Jer 34:8, 9).

opening of the prison—The Hebrew rather is, "the most complete opening," namely, of the eyes to them that are bound, that is, deliverance from prison, for captives are as it were blind in the darkness of prison (Isa 14:17; 35:5; 42:7) [EWALD]. So Lu 4:18 and the Septuagint interpret it; Lu 4:18, under inspiration, adds to this, for the fuller explanation of the single clause in the Hebrew, "to set at liberty them that are bruised"; thus expressing the double "opening" implied; namely, that of the eyes (Joh 9:39), and that of the prison (Ro 6:18; 7:24, 25; Heb 2:15). His miracles were acted parables.