Pele Yo'etz El Gibbor Avi Ad Sar Shalom
Maybe the longest name in the bible. #
So says the wikipedia entry for Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
Isaiah 9:6 has a compound name for the messianic child: 驻诇讗 讬讜注抓 讗诇 讙讘讜专 讗讘讬 注讚 砖专 砖诇讜诐 (pele yo'etz el gibbor avi ad sar shalom). Breaking this down word by word:
- 驻诇讗 (pele) = wonder, miracle, extraordinary thing
- 讬讜注抓 (yo'etz) = counselor, advisor
- 讗诇 (el) = God, god, mighty one
- 讙讘讜专 (gibbor) = mighty, strong, warrior
- 讗讘讬 (avi) = father of (construct state)
- 注讚 (ad) = forever, eternity
- 砖专 (sar) = prince, ruler, chief
- 砖诇讜诐 (shalom) = peace, wholeness
Some English translations have it as: "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (NIV, ESV, NASB). Others (note the comma) have something like: "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (KJV, ASV).
They don't know how to combine a bunch a parts here. It's a giant name. Who knows?
Interestingly, Hebrew grammar permits an entirely different parsing: "Miracle Advisor to [God of Power and Father of Eternity] and Prince of Peace."
Grammatical Plausibility #
This alternative reading is possible because Hebrew prophetic literature often omits prepositions that would clarify relationships, relying instead on context and construct chains. The key constraints are:
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讗讘讬 注讚 (avi ad) forms a locked construct relationship meaning "father OF eternity"
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Hebrew typically uses prepositions like 诇 (le, "to/for") to indicate advisory relationships, but prophetic speech often leaves these implied
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The lack of conjunctions (讜, "and") between titles allows for grouping flexibility
Hebrew prophetic literature frequently employs this kind of compressed, multi-layered language that requires careful grammatical analysis. This doesn't seem like a particularly wild read.
It's About Delegation #
This alternative parsing aligns remarkably well with consistent New Testament themes about delegated divine authority:
- Jesus explicitly states "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18)
- People marvel that such power was "given to men" (Matthew 9:8)
- Jesus repeatedly emphasizes the Father's priority: "The Father is greater than I" (John 14:28), "The Son can do nothing by himself" (John 5:19)
- The sending language is pervasive: "The Father sent the Son" (1 John 4:14)
It's like when something goes wrong in a business, you might ask to speak to the manager. You'd not ask to speak to the owner, even though, yes, there's some delegation involved in that. The delegation isn't really important to what you're up to, but it clarifies what's happening. That's all I'm trying to do here -- not change your relationship with Jesus, just clarify the comments. The eternal Father delegates specific advisory and princely functions to the messianic figure.
How We Pray #
Jesus teaches his followers to pray "Our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9) while simultaneously instructing them to ask "in my name" (John 14:13-14, 16:23).
If Jesus functions as the designated "Miracle Advisor" with delegated authority, this creates a coherent organizational structure rather than a theological puzzle. You're advised to submit your beseeching to the God of Power as a member of the body of Christ, or in other words, filed from the Department of Miracle Advice.
Epistemic Status #
It has been said, that "it is hazardous to read too far into a prophecy, even if you have heard it yourself. They are things of exceeding frustration." Consider this to apply in full measure. I do not seek to persuade per se, but merely present my analysis as a recommendation for the underlying process: I'm hoping I'm being attentive enough to be confused, then pondering and being reflecting on details without relying on prior speculation. This is an advanced technique and should be avoided by the incautious (in general, not just with scripture).