Yeshayohu perek ט, posek ה

This is one of the passages that shows us very clearly the identity of Moshiach will be more than just a man. How can that be? It’s true that for the most part the gedolim have taught that Moshiach will be only a human being. But we have to look at the Tanach. This is the word of HaKadosh Baruch Hu and not just the word of man. Even wise men are imperfect but HaKadosh Baruch Hu is always perfect.

Let’s remind ourselves of the passage.

כִּי יֶלֶד יֻלַּד לָנוּ בֵּן נִתַּן לָנוּ וַתְּהִי הַמִּשְׂרָה עַל שִׁכְמוֹ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ פֶּלֶא יוֹעֵץ אֵל גִּבּוֹר אֲבִי עַד שַׂר שָׁלוֹם: לְםַרְבֵּה {לְמַרְבֵּה} הַמִּשְׂרָה וּלְשָׁלוֹם אֵין קֵץ עַל כִּסֵּא דָוִד וְעַל מַמְלַכְתּוֹ לְהָכִין אֹתָהּ וּלְסַעֲדָהּ בְּמִשְׁפָּט וּבִצְדָקָה מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם קִנְאַת ה' צְבָאוֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה זֹּאת:

“A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty HaKadosh Baruch Hu, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The HaKadosh Baruch Hu of armies is determined to do all this.”

(Yeshayohu perek ט, psukim ו-ה)

It’s really interesting to note that some Jewish translations of the Tanach into English do not translate the name of this child! Of course for Hebrew speakers this doesn’t matter. But why are these names the only names that are not translated?

This passage clearly talks about Moshiach from the line of HaMelech Dovid. This descendant of HaMelech Dovid will be born as a child but his identity will be much more than a king. His names show him to be equated with HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

Are we making a mistake? Let’s look at the other times the words אל־גבור appear in Tanach. There are really only two more times. The first is in Dvarim perek י, psukim כא-יב.

“Now, people of Yisroel, listen to what HaKadosh Baruch Hu your Ribbono Shel Olam demands of you: Worship Hakadosh Baruch Hu and do all that He commands. Love him, serve Him with all your heart, and obey all His laws. I am giving them to you today for your benefit. To HaKadosh Baruch Hu belong even the highest heavens; the earth is His also, and everything on it. But HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s love for your ancestors was so strong that He chose you instead of any other people, and you are still His chosen people.

So then, from now on be obedient to HaKadosh Baruch Hu and stop being stubborn. HaKadosh Baruch Hu your Ribbono Shel Olam is supreme over all gods and over all powers. He is HaKadosh Baruch Hu the great and the mighty, and He is to be obeyed. He does not show partiality, and He does not accept bribes. He makes sure that orphans and widows are treated fairly; He loves the foreigners who live with our people, and gives them food and clothes. So then, show love for those foreigners, because you were once foreigners in Egypt. Have reverence for HaKadosh Baruch your Ribbono Shel Olam and worship only Him. Be faithful to Him and make your promises in His name alone. Praise Him. He is your Ribbono Shel Olam, and you have seen with your own eyes the great and astounding things that He has done for you.”

וְאָנֹכִי עָמַדְתִי בָהָר כַיָמִים הָרִאשֹנִים אַרְבָעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָעִים לָיְלָה וַיִשְמַע ה' אֵלַי גַם בַפַעַם הַהִוא לֹא אָבָה ה' הַשְחִיתֶךָ: וַיֹאמֶר ה' אֵלַי קום לֵךְ לְמַסַע לִפְנֵי הָעָם וְיָבֹאו וְיִירְשו אֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶר נִשְבַעְתִי לַאֲבֹתָם לָתֵת לָהֶם: וְעַתָה יִשְרָאֵל מָה ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ שֹאֵל מֵעִמָךְ כִי אִם לְיִרְאָה אֶת ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ לָלֶכֶת בְכָל דְרָכָיו ולְאַהֲבָה אֹתוֹ וְלַעֲבֹד אֶת ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְכָל לְבָבְךָ ובְכָל נַפְשֶךָ: לִשְמֹר אֶת מִצְוֹת ה' וְאֶת חֻקֹתָיו אֲשֶר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְךָ הַיוֹם לְטוֹב לָךְ: הֵן לַה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ הַשָמַיִם ושְמֵי הַשָמָיִם הָאָרֶץ וְכָל אֲשֶר בָה: רַק בַאֲבֹתֶיךָ חָשַק 'ה לְאַהֲבָה אוֹתָם וַיִבְחַר בְזַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם בָכֶם מִכָל הָעַמִים כַיוֹם הַזֶה: ומַלְתֶם אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם וְעָרְפְכֶם לֹא תַקְשו עוֹד: כִי ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם הוא אֱלֹקֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וַאֲדֹשם הָאֲדֹנִים הָאֵל הַגָדֹל הַגִבֹר וְהַנוֹרָא אֲשֶר לֹא יִשָא פָנִים וְלֹא יִקַח שֹחַד: עֹשֶה מִשְפַט יָתוֹם וְאַלְמָנָה וְאֹהֵב גֵר לָתֶת לוֹ לֶחֶם וְשִמְלָה: וַאֲהַבְתֶם אֶת הַגֵר כִי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם: אֶת ה' אֱלֹהקֶיךָ תִירָא אֹתוֹ תַעֲבֹד ובוֹ תִדְבָק ובִשְמוֹ תִשָבֵעַ: הוא תְהִלָתְךָ וְהוא אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֲשֶר עָשָה אִתְךָ אֶת הַגְדֹלֹת וְאֶת הַנוֹרָאֹת הָאֵלֶה אֲשֶר רָאו עֵינֶיךָ:

It is very clear that there is no other possible translation of the phrase than referring to HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

Lastly, let’s look at Yeshayohu perek י, psukim כא-כ.

“And it will be in that day, the remnant of Yisroel and those who have escaped from the house of Yakov, will not rely any more on the one that struck them. They will truly put their trust in HaKadosh Baruch Hu, Yisroel's holy Ribbono Shel Olam. A remnant will return, a remnant of Yakov will come back to their mighty Ribbono Shel Olam.”

וְהָיָה בַיוֹם הַהוא לֹא יוֹסִיף עוֹד שְאָר יִשְרָאֵל ופְלֵיטַת בֵית יַעֲקֹב לְהִשָעֵן עַל מַכֵהו וְנִשְעַן עַל ה' קְדוֹש יִשְרָאֵל בֶאֱמֶת: שְאָר יָשוב שְאָר יַעֲקֹב אֶל אֵל גִבוֹר:

This comes right after the passage we read before from Yeshayohu. Again it is impossible to interpret this expression אל־גבור as meaning anything other than HaKadosh Baruch Hu. If we return to Yeshayohu perek ט, psukim ו-ה., we find that even rabbis such as Jose the Galilean interpreted this passage as referring to Moshiach and interpreting the names of Moshiach as “Avi Ad…Sar Shalom” (Midrash Perek Shalom) and in Dvarim Rabbah 1:20 we see written, “Moshiach is called by eight names, “Yinnon (Tehillim perek עב, psukim יז), Tzemach (Yermiyohu perek כג, posek ה), Pele, Yoetz, Moshiach, El, Gibor, Avi Ad Shalom (Yeshayohu perek ט, psukim ו-ה).

There is only one conclusion. Moshiach is identified with HaKadosh Baruch Hu, yet is born as a child. Who fits this picture?

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