The name “Mighty God” is an Old Testament title here applied to the coming Messiah. It is the compound Hebrew term El Gibbor, and both parts of the name need to be understood.

God. The first part of the title is El. Even though Jesus Himself pointed out that the title is sometimes used of mighty sons of men (John 10:34), El is so often used of God, and only God, that the prophet Hosea used El to set God in contrast to man in Hosea 11:9.

Isaiah 9:6 was predicting One who would be far more than a man. This is indicated not only by the third name “Everlasting Father” and by other prophetic references such as Isaiah 2:1-4, but by the New Testament record of Christ. Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). He is the One of whom John wrote:

Mighty. The other part of the name is Gibbor, which means “strength, power, hero.” What a statement! In a world where heroes are determined by their athletic prowess or financial power, we are told that the only One truly worthy to be adored is the One whose might is unparalleled! Isaiah 10:21 describes Him as the refuge of the remnant, and Deuteronomy 10:17 declares that He is the “great God, mighty and awesome.”

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The focus of Isaiah’s prophecy is El Gibbor, the Mighty God who is our true Hero. What this prophet in the seventh century BC anticipated, the New Testament confirms. Because the Messiah would be God, He would have God’s power. But to Isaiah, the amazing thing was that the Messiah would not only have the power of God, He would be the God of power!

In other parts of his prophecy, Isaiah gave more details of what this mighty power would look like. For instance, in a messianic section of his prophecy, Isaiah declared:

Jesus used Isaiah 61:1-3 to make His claim as the Messiah (Luke 4:16-21). But because He only partially fulfilled this prophecy in His first coming, He was only partially recognized. By His resurrection, perfect life, sacrificial death, and many mighty signs He showed we could trust Him to return one day to rule the world. Most of His own people rejected Him. John wrote, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).

In many cases, however, Jesus was recognized as the long-awaited Messiah. Nicodemus, a rabbi of Israel, recognized Him (cp. John 3 with John 19). The disciples recognized Him (cp. Matthew 8:27 with 16:16). Mary Magdalene recognized Him, and her life was transformed (Luke 8:2). Others’ lives were changed as well, even the life of the church’s most feared persecutor, Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9).

These and thousands of other first-century Jews believed—and for good reason. Jesus Christ proved Himself to be El Gibbor as He displayed His life-changing might and power.

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For those who see their need of a Savior, the evidence of Christ’s mighty power is overwhelming. For those who sense their own weakness and inability to live up to God’s standard, the apostle John wrote, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

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What the New Testament provides is an opportunity to see the fullness of the “Mighty God” Isaiah was predicting. The clear statement of the Word of God is that Christ displayed His might in the creation of the world before He physically entered the world. John 1:3 says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Colossians 1:16 agrees: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

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In the midst of evidence that shows Christ to be the Mighty God, it is important to remember that this is more than just theological data. It is divinely inspired evidence that urges us to see and respond to Christ as He is—our “Mighty God.”

In view of the predictive evidence of Isaiah and the historic record of the Gospels, how can we see our Lord Jesus Christ as anything less than the Mighty God, El Gibbor?