Isaiah 9:6 – 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<\/strong> Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father {abiad; father [is] eternity}<\/em><\/strong>, The Prince of Peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remark: Isaiah 9:6 is the only verse in the Bible where Jesus appears to be called \u201cFather.\u201d The name used is Abiad, and it occurs only once in Scripture. Since no other passage directly identifies Jesus as \u201cthe Father,\u201d this verse must be examined carefully before drawing theological conclusions. In some translations, this verse is numbered as Isaiah 9:5.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Isaiah 9:1-2 – Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee<\/strong> of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 4:14-16 – That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias<\/strong> the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee<\/strong> of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remark: Matthew explicitly applies Isaiah 9:1\u20132\u2014immediately preceding Isaiah 9:6 and forming part of the same prophetic context\u2014to Jesus. This confirms that the broader passage is understood in the New Testament as referring to Christ. Furthermore, Isaiah 9:7 speaks of the everlasting throne of David, a promise directly connected to Jesus in Luke 1:32\u201333. Therefore, the child described in Isaiah 9:6 is identified in the New Testament as the Messiah.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Chronicles 13:1 – Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah {[my] father [is] Yah; <\/em><\/strong>or<\/em>YHWH}<\/em><\/strong> to reign over Judah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Samuel 25:3a – Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail<\/strong> {[my] father [is] joy}<\/em><\/strong> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remark: The Hebrew expression Abi-ad follows the same construction pattern as many other Hebrew names beginning with \u201cAbi-\u201d (\u201cmy father is\u2026\u201d). Like other biblical names formed this way, Abiad may consistently be understood as \u201cmy father is eternity\u201d or \u201cmy father is everlasting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n To determine how Abiad should be translated, it is helpful to compare it with other biblical names beginning with \u201cAbi-,\u201d as shown in the list below.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rendering Abiad as \u201cEverlasting Father\u201d reflects a theological interpretation commonly associated with Trinitarian doctrine. A strictly consistent translation of the name would instead suggest \u201cmy father is eternal.\u201d Under this understanding, the title describes the Messiah in relation to His Father, rather than identifying the Messiah as the Father Himself.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remark: Yes. Numerous biblical names follow this same \u201cAbi-\u201d (\u201cmy father is\u2026\u201d) construction. Examples include Abiel, Abiezer, Abimelech, Abiram, Abishag, Abishalom, and Abishua, among others. A representative list is provided below, along with references supporting this consistent translation pattern.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Abiasaph – (my) father has gathered \/ Exodus 6:24<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abida – (my) father took knowledge \/ Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abidan – (my) father is judge \/ Numbers 1:11; 2:20; 7:60, 65; 10:24<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abiel – (my) father is El \/ 1 Samuel 9:1; 14:51; 1 Chronicles 11:32<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abiezer – (my) father is help \/ Joshua 17:2; Judges 8:2; 2 Samuel 23:27; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abigail (f.) – (my) father is joy \/ 1 Samuel 25:3-42; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abihail – (my) father is might \/ Numbers 3:35; 1 Chronicles 2:29; 5:14; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abihu – (my) father is he \/ Exodus 6:23; 24:1, 9; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abihud – (my) father is majesty \/ 1 Chronicles 8:3<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abijah – (my) father is Yah \/ 2 Chronicles 13:1-22; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abijam – (my) father is (the) sea \/ 1 Kings 14:31; 15:1-8<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abimael – (my) father is God (El) \/ Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abimelech – (my) father is king \/ Genesis 20:2-18; 21:22-32; 26:1-26; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abinadab – (my) father is noble \/ 1 Samuel 7:1; 16:8; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abinoam – (my) father is delight \/ Judges 4:6, 12; 5:1, 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abiram – (my) father is exalted \/ Numbers 16:1, 12, 24-27; 26:9; Deut. 11:6; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abishag (f.) \u2013 (my) father is a wanderer \/ 1 Kings 1:3, 15; 2:17, 21-22<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abishai – (my) father is Jesse \/ 1 Samuel 26:6-9; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abishalom – (my) father is peace \/ 1 Kings 15:2, 10<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abishua – (my) father is rescue \/ 1 Chronicles 6:4, 5, 50; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abishur – (my) father is a wall \/ 1 Chronicles 2:28<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abital – (my) father is (the) dew \/ 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 3:3<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abitub – (my) father is goodness \/ 1 Chronicles 8:11<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow do we know that the passage refers to Christ?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How should the name \u201cAbiad\u201d be translated?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Are there any other places in the Bible where the name Abi + suffix is translated that way?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n