Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom
Encyclopedia
The name Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom (Hebrew: פֶּלֶא יֹועֵץ אֵל גִּבֹּור אֲבִיעַד שַׂר־שָׁלֹֽום) is a prophetic name or title which occurs in Isaiah 9:6 in the Hebrew Bible. It is one of a series of prophetic names found in Isaiah ch.7-9, including most notably Emmanuel "God with us", and Maher-shalal-hash-baz
(Hebrew: מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז) - "He has made haste to the plunder!" - in the previous chapter , which is a reference to the impending plunder of Samaria
and Damascus
by the king of Assyria
. The meaning of Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom is variously interpreted as "Wonderful in counsel is God the mighty, the Everlasting Father, the Ruler of Peace" (Hertz 1968), or "his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (KJV).
The name is translated in the Latin Vulgate
and most English Bibles. Though the name could be left untranslated, and is so in the Jewish Publication Society of America Version
(1917), though this caused discussion among the translators and led to an English translation in the New Jewish Publication Society of America Version
(1985). The Latin Vulgate reads that his name will be called "Admirabilis consiliarius, Deus fortis, Pater futuri saeculi, Princeps pacis" (the Douay-Rheims version translates this as 'Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace').
Edersheim (1883) notes that this verse is applied to the Messiah in the Aramaic Targum
. In rabbinical interpretation, such as Joseph Herman Hertz (1968) citing Rashi
and Luzzatto
, the name is taken as referring to the 'crown prince.' Rashi, having applied Emmanuel to Hezekiah
also applies the Pele Yoez, "Wonderful Counsellor" prophecy to Hezekiah, saying that God "called the name of Hezekiah "Prince of Peace"." In the Greek Septuagint the name is translated, "Messenger of Great Counsel" as a description of the prince: "he shall be named Messenger of Great Counsel, for I will bring peace upon the rulers, peace and health to him."
In Christian interpretation, based partly on the proximity of a quote of Isaiah 9:2 found in Matthew 4,
the name is taken as referring to Jesus and Messianic prophecy. The full verse "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 Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." is quoted in the libretto of Handel's Messiah
.
The uncommon term "El-gibbor" is typically translated as "Mighty God."
Maher-shalal-hash-baz
Maher-shalal-hash-baz - "Hurry to spoil!" or "He has made haste to the plunder!" - was the second mentioned son of the prophet Isaiah. The name is a reference to the impending plunder of Samaria and Damascus by the king of Assyria. Maher-shalal-hash-baz is mentioned in the Bible in , which section...
(Hebrew: מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז) - "He has made haste to the plunder!" - in the previous chapter , which is a reference to the impending plunder of Samaria
Samaria
Samaria, or the Shomron is a term used for a mountainous region roughly corresponding to the northern part of the West Bank.- Etymology :...
and Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
by the king of Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
. The meaning of Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom is variously interpreted as "Wonderful in counsel is God the mighty, the Everlasting Father, the Ruler of Peace" (Hertz 1968), or "his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (KJV).
The name is translated in the Latin Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
and most English Bibles. Though the name could be left untranslated, and is so in the Jewish Publication Society of America Version
Jewish Publication Society of America Version
The Jewish Publication Society of America Version of the Tanakh was the first Bible translation published by the Jewish Publication Society of America and the first translation of the Tanakh into English by a committee of Jews...
(1917), though this caused discussion among the translators and led to an English translation in the New Jewish Publication Society of America Version
New Jewish Publication Society of America Version
The JPS TANAKH, published in 1985, is a modern Jewish translation of Hebrew Scripture into English.This translation emerged from the collaborative efforts of an interdenominational team of Jewish scholars and rabbis working together over a thirty-year period...
(1985). The Latin Vulgate reads that his name will be called "Admirabilis consiliarius, Deus fortis, Pater futuri saeculi, Princeps pacis" (the Douay-Rheims version translates this as 'Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace').
Edersheim (1883) notes that this verse is applied to the Messiah in the Aramaic Targum
Targum
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
. In rabbinical interpretation, such as Joseph Herman Hertz (1968) citing Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
and Luzzatto
Luzzatto
Luzzatto is an Italian surname. According to a tradition communicated by S. D. Luzzatto, the family descends from a German Jew who immigrated into Italy from the province of Lusatia, and who was named after his native place.It may refer to:...
, the name is taken as referring to the 'crown prince.' Rashi, having applied Emmanuel to Hezekiah
Hezekiah
Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz and the 14th king of Judah. Edwin Thiele has concluded that his reign was between c. 715 and 686 BC. He is also one of the most prominent kings of Judah mentioned in the Hebrew Bible....
also applies the Pele Yoez, "Wonderful Counsellor" prophecy to Hezekiah, saying that God "called the name of Hezekiah "Prince of Peace"." In the Greek Septuagint the name is translated, "Messenger of Great Counsel" as a description of the prince: "he shall be named Messenger of Great Counsel, for I will bring peace upon the rulers, peace and health to him."
In Christian interpretation, based partly on the proximity of a quote of Isaiah 9:2 found in Matthew 4,
the name is taken as referring to Jesus and Messianic prophecy. The full verse "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 Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." is quoted in the libretto of Handel's Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
.
The uncommon term "El-gibbor" is typically translated as "Mighty God."