Why "Unto Us a Child Is Born" is Such an Incredible Bible Verse
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Christmas time brings performances of Handel’s Messiah with the classic song “Unto Us a Child Is Born.” You might catch strains of other familiar songs like “Joy to the World” with verses about the same phrase. But what does “unto us a child is born” mean?
The phrase comes from Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
This verse, penned hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, points to Christ as our Lord and Savior. On Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ, we sing about this prophecy and celebrate the child that was born.
But how did this prophecy come about? How did Jesus fulfill it? And why is the child born unto “us”? We will dive into those questions below.
What Does "Unto Us a Child is Born" Really Mean?
The phrase “unto us a child is born” is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah around the time the northern kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria. In a tumultuous time of warring superpowers threatening Judah, Isaiah offered messages from the Lord of both judgment and hope.
Isaiah 9:6 was a message of hope. In it, a coming king was promised. Isaiah 9:6-7 explains,
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”
Isaiah is known as a messianic prophet, predicting the coming of the Messiah, the anointed one who would save God’s people. This passage came to be understood as referring to the coming Messiah. To us as Christians, the messianic prophecies point to Jesus.
What Is the Context of Isaiah 9:6?
A blessed prince, a mighty king, a reign of peace—these promises would have sounded wonderful to Isaiah’s audience in the 8th century B.C. At this point, Judah was facing the threat of the Assyrian Empire. Likely, they expected the promised prince to grow into a great king to physically deliver them—perhaps the son of King Ahaz would be the one?
Ahaz’s son, Hezekiah, fit the bill in some respects. He set his mind to purging idolatry from Judah, and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, from whom God miraculously rescued Judah (2 Kings 19). However, Hezekiah died. His kingdom didn’t last forever, and Judah soon followed Israel into exile, this time to Babylon.
The words of hope in Isaiah 9 are sandwiched between words of judgment, warning, and condemnation from the Lord for Israel’s wickedness. The Lord intended to punish Israel, but Isaiah 9:2-7 shows that His anger was not forever. A true king would come, restoring God’s people.
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Why Was Jesus Born “Unto Us”?
The New International Version of Isaiah 9:6 says, “to us a child is born.” However, the King James Version, which would have been the predominant version when many of the famous songs were penned, renders the verse, “unto us a child is born.”
So why was the child born to, or unto, us? Ordinarily in the Bible, a child will be born unto a specific person (e.g. Genesis 17:17 in the KJV), the parent(s).
Jesus was born unto us because His birth was not simply a blessing to His parents. Jesus was not born “unto” Mary and Joseph the way Isaac was born “unto” Abraham. Instead, His birth was meant to ransom God’s people (Mark 10:45).
This birth was to be of great joy for Israel. The child would not just be a blessing to His parents, but to the entire world.
What Does Isaiah 9:6 Teach Us about the Christmas Story?
Each line of Isaiah 9:6 holds depths of meaning.
“For to us a child is born,” it begins. We have discussed what it means for a child to be born to us, collectively, a blessing to the world.
We may also note how unique it is that God would come in this way to save His people. Instead of riding in on a chariot of clouds or sending down lightning, God came as an infant to live among us, to be one of us. The Lord of the Universe stepped down to become intimately familiar with our pain and struggles.
“To us a son is given,” Isaiah continues. This child would not be just anyone; He would be a son. Specifically, He is God’s Son. The Father’s love for us was so great that He was willing to send His only Son as a suffering servant (Isaiah 53) to save us (John 3:16).
“And the government will be upon his shoulders.” The suffering servant would become the leader. The baby of the Christmas story would one day govern the cosmos. After His resurrection, Matthew 28:18 records, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”
“And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
In this sense, the word “wonderful” means incomprehensible, or beyond understanding, while counselor refers to someone with great wisdom. From Jesus’ birth to His ministry, He demonstrated His miraculous nature, and in His preaching and interactions He demonstrated His wisdom.
Isaiah made it clear that this coming child and king would be more than just a man. He would be Mighty God. Interestingly, the son would also be Everlasting Father—a nod to the doctrine of the Trinity.
Finally, Jesus would bring about peace, a sentiment echoed in Revelation: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Where Else Does Isaiah Make Predictions about Jesus?
Isaiah makes extensive prophecies about Jesus. We will explore a few here.
Isaiah 7:14 predicted that Jesus would be born of a virgin.
Isaiah 9:1 predicted He would be from Galilee.
Isaiah 9:6 (our key verse) predicted that the Messiah would be born a child, and that He would not only be king, but also “Mighty God.”
Isaiah 9:7 proclaimed that Jesus would be from the line of David.
However, the most extensive prophecy from Isaiah is found in Isaiah 53. In it, Isaiah painted a picture not of a mighty warrior king, but of a suffering servant who would bring salvation.
Isaiah 53:5-6 states,
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah’s picture of the Messiah was of someone who was both God and man, king and servant, ruler and sacrifice. It would be several hundred years before anyone could begin to understand exactly how all of these seemingly conflicting identities fit together—in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Is God’s Gift to Us
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” Christmas is often accompanied by the giving of gifts. But God set the ultimate precedent. Though we were entrenched in sin, Jesus came to live and die that we might be saved (Romans 5:8).
As we sing “unto us a child is born,” may we remember with thanksgiving what a great gift this truly is.
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This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!
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