Is Jesus God

Examination of the Verse: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders; and his name shall be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.’”

“The differences between the two English translations of the verse, shows a different understanding of the verse. Christians use Isaiah 9:6 as a proof text that the Messiah (Jesus) was one and the same with the Eternal Father (God). The rabbinic translation doesn’t take away from the person described, but states that he is “wonderful counselor of the mighty God”. What man or woman could be called a counselor to God? The person described in the verse is born as a child here on earth. It may even be that the correct understanding is midway between the two translations.”
“The Jewish understanding of the Messiah is that he is a man born here on the earth and that he will fulfill the prophecies, but that he is still a man and not God.”

“… and his name shall be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God (El), Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.’”

What does the word El (God) mean in Hebrew? Does the word El in Hebrew refer to the mighty and true God alone, such as Jehovah? Let us see the definition of the word El (God).

(1) God, god-like, mighty one

(a) Mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes

(b) Angels

(c) God, false god, (figments of the imaginations)

(e) God, the one true God, Jehovah

(2) Mighty thins in nature

(3) Strength, power

“Even the Jewish Targum (translation of part of the Bible in Aramaic) commentary on Isaiah 9:6 says Mighty God and not Mighty ‘judge’.

“In fact if one reads Ezekiel chapter 31 verse 11 we see that a tyrannical king is called mighty god: ‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou has lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one (?el) of the heathen.’”

“If one goes and consults the Hebrew one will find that the term used here (Ezekiel 31:11) is IDENTICAL to that of Isaiah 9:6.”

To complicate things further - for the Jews, how can all of this be reconciled with the text of Isaiah that reads, “The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear” (Isaiah 2:17-18). One can understand the riddance of the self-defied man, but does nothing to resolve the controversy concerning the "Mighty God"- the Messiah.

“Mighty God” translates the Hebrew El Gibbor. Literally this means “God of Might.” We know from Holy Scripture that “the Lord” – Jehovah – is the God of Israel. And Jehovah went on to say: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” – Exodus 3:6. And then in Isaiah 45:21-22 Jehovah is clear and emphatic that there is only one God – PERIOD! “…there is no God apart from Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God and there is no other.”

Consider Isaiah 44:6-9: “This is what the Lord says- Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God. Who then is like Me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established My ancient people, and what is yet to come- yes, let him foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are My witnesses. Is there any God beside Me? No, there is no other Rock, I know not one. All who make idols are nothing and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind, they are ignorant, to their own shame.”

“One of the most important rules when we attempt to interpret the Bible is to let the text speak in its plainest sense. In other words, as we read Isaiah 45:21-22, what is Isaiah attempting to explain to us? When he writes that besides Jehovah there is no other God, it becomes plain that he means to tell us that there is only one God. Jehovah Himself reiterates this in verse 22 when He announces I am God, and there is no one else. Apart from further indoctrination, no one would ever come to the conclusion that there is more than one God."

ONE GOD - Is (Jesus) the Messiah God?

Again, we reflect on the controversy that confronts us in the text of Isaiah.

“… and his name shall be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God (El), Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.’”

“Just because “El” can be referring to people other than God does not negate the fact that God is referred to as “El”. “El” can be, and is used of Deity. Taken together with the objective reality that God is called “El” it is abundantly evident that the context of Isaiah 9:6 has Jesus as God. Also, the fact Jewish Targum commentary notes that the proper context of Messiah’s title is Mighty God, and he who lives forever.

“You (Jesus) are the Christ, the SON of the living God.”

God is SON to NO ONE. Yet, God is Father to everyone, for the phrase, “son of God,” was simply a way for the Jew to express themselves as one of God’s children. Jewish kings where called “the Son of God” in recognition as God’s chosen king of Israel.”
“During his coronation, the new king was anointed with oil, thus, the anointed one was called the Messiah in Hebrew or the Christ in Greek. To Christens, “son of God” implies divinity; to first century Jews, it was like saying, “your royal highness”. To Jews, it would be blasphemy to deify Christ.”

Term: Son of God

“For humans, the love between a son and his father was analogous to the love between man and God. In the Old Testament, the righteous man is God’s child whom God will deliver from the hand of his adversaries. He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord.”

Why would it be blasphemy for Jesus to say he was the son of God? It is not the ultimate destiny for any man to be called a son of God. On the other hand would it not be blasphemous for any man (with the possible exception of the Messiah) to make himself out to be God? Notice:

John 10:24-38 “The Jews therefore gathered around him (Jesus), and were saying to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ (NOTE: "Mighty God", via text of Isaiah), tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in my Father’s name, these bear witness of me. But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out
of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (? "Mighty God"?).’ The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them ‘I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy; and because you, being a man, make yourself out to be God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods (implying that Israel’s judges were claiming authority as though divine beings on earth, clothing themselves with delegated authority to judges among the sons of Israel- entrusted with the administration of justice)’? ‘If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (as the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say to him (the Messiah), whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? ‘”

Lamb to the Slaughter

It become obvious that when the Messiah (Jesus) claimed the title it would be accounted as blasphemy, the same as if he had made himself out to be equal with Jehovah ("Mighty God"). Thus, in the mind of the Jews he, being a man, would make himself out to be a God as the Jews understood the term. This constituted rank heresy and blasphemy.

More Controversy

How can it be possible for the Messiah to claim the title and not be accounted as one who would raise his throne above the stars of God…to ascend above the heights of the clouds; to make himself like the Most High. The Christian faith hinges on Jesus being God, to the Jews it is the worst of heresy and blasphemy.

Term Messiah

The Messiah is a messenger of God, in that he makes God known through the personification of His (Gods) Word. In the past God spoke to us in many ways. He has sent angels, He has spoken directly, He has given visions and dreams and through direct prophetic utterance, many of these are recorded in the Bible. The Old Testament begins with God’s creation of the universe and continues by describing the mighty acts of God in the and through His people. It (the book of the Old Testament) closes about 400 years before the birth of Jesus.

Again, we reflect on the controversy that confronts us in the text of Isaiah.

“… and his name shall be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God (El) [the embodiment of the Word of the Almighty God made flesh], Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Could it not be concluded that the “Embodiment of the Word of the Almighty God” is equated to the “Mighty God”?
In Word- the Messiah and God are the same. When others are called gods it signifies that they were either judges of Israel claiming authority as though divine beings on earth or ones who had some kind of tyrannical authority or status.

Jesus was called the “WORD OF GOD”, being the chief spokesman through whom God spoke. True Messiah, is the true personification- the embodiment of the “Word of God” - bestowed upon him though both honor and right of birth. He is the Living Bible of the New Testament.

(A Jewish Translation)
The Conflict Between Light and Darkness

John 1:1-5 “’In (the) beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’”

THE WORD WAS GOD

THE WORD.- “The most prevalent image by which biblical writers refer to the collection of words that became our Bible is word. The Bible is “the Word,” specifically the Word of God. The implication is that the Bible exists through the medium of language, whether oral or written. It is further implied that this word is a communication, inasmuch as the purpose of words is to convey meaning to the understanding of the listener or reader. Finally, to speak of the Bible as the Word of God (as the Bible itself does repeatedly) is to imply that the Bible carries authority for a person’s life because of the authority of its human authors as spokespersons of God and because of the authority of the ultimate author, God Himself.” – Images of the Bible

(A Jewish Translation from a follower of Jesus)

(Continuing John 1:1-5) Verse 2 “’This One [the personified entity of communication] was in (the) beginning with God [the author and creator of the word- God Himself]. All things came into being through Him and without Him not even one (thing) came into being that has come into being. In Him was [the wondrous phenomena of] life, and the life [force of conscious intellectual activity: thinking, reasoning and formulating opinions and judgment] was the [enlightening and guiding] light of men, and the light [of God’s word of holiness and moral purity] shines in the darkness [the obscurity of ignorance and chaos], and the darkness did not overtake it.’"

MIGHTY GOD = Word of God

MIGHTY GOD = Word of God = Messiah = The Embodiment of the Ethos of God

A Living Bible

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews

JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS

REVELATION 19:11-16 “And I (John) saw Heaven having been opened, and behold, a white horse, and the (one) sitting on it being called faithful and true.”
Verse 12 “And in righteousness he judges and wars. And the eyes of him as a flame of fire, and on the head of him many diadems, having a name having been written [bestowing upon him the honored entitlement of: JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS] which no one knows [to be true- at the time] except him; being clothed (in) a garment having been dipped in blood, and is called the name of him, ‘The Word of God.’ And the armies of Heaven [divine agents having borne the prophetic witness of the word of God] followed him on white horse, having been dressed (in) fine linen, white and clean. And out of the mouth of him goes forth a sharp (word) sword [accomplishing the prophet word of God], that with [the fulfillment of] it he may [in a judiciary capacity] smite the nations [who have set themselves over and against the worship of the “True and Living God”]; and he will shepherd them with an iron rod. And he treads the press of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of Almighty God. And he has on the garment and on the thigh of him a name having been written: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

In conclusion, based upon the ascension of Jesus, it can be discerned how the Messiah could acquire an eternal rule without being equivalent to a god.

Every Eye Shall See Him

Every Eys Shall See Him
(Yours and Mine)

DANIEL 7:13-14 “I (Daniel) was looking in the vision of the night, and behold (one) like the Son of Man, and to the Ancient of Days [the Eternal God] he came.”
Verse 14 “And they brought him before Him [the Ancient of Days, the Eternal God]. And to him was given dominion [authority or power gained by conquest], and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, the nations and the languages shall serve him [in the posture of “sheep or goats”- yielding to the power of the prophetic word]. His dominion (is) an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

The Empty Tomb

The Eyes Of His Enemies Shall See Him

(Prophecies in the Book of the Scroll)

PSALM 16 (A Psalm Attributed To Jesus) “Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.’ As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.”
Verse 5 “Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Verse 9 “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let Your holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”

History & Prophesy

A Higher Perspective

The soldiers & Chief Priests Mocked Jesus

MARK 15:16-20 “The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Practorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.”
(Verse 31-32) “In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t same himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe. Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”

Is The Messiah God

The following was claimed on the Islamic newsgroup soc. Religion, Islam: ”…a closer examination of Isaiah 9:6 shows that actually the Jewish interpretation is correct (not surprising; they should know their own language after all)…”vayikro” is never a passive verb. It never means “will be called”’ it means simply “will call” hence “for unto us a son is born, a child is given, and the mighty God…shall call his name ‘Prince of Peace’.”

The following excerpt is a response of Dr. James D. Price, professor of Hebraic Studies:

“The Jewish Tanach that I have translates the verse as follows: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called “wonderful counselor of the mighty God, of the everlasting Farther, of the Prince of peace”. Obviously these Jewish translators had no problem rendering the verb as a passive. However, their insertion of the word “of” in several places is not justified by any rule of Hebrews grammar that I know, nor by the rendering of the verse in the Talmud (see below).
In the Talmud the verse is translated as follows: “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. Counselor, Mighty, Judge, Everlasting, Father, Prince of Peace.” Obviously this is an authentic Jewish translation.”


Let's examine the verse in question:

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 is a messianic prophecy about Jesus and for those that accept that Jesus is the Messiah, they have to critically examine verses like this that refute the Law of God.

The First and Second Commandment:
Exodus 20:3-5 “’You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…’”

Typically if commentators come across a contradicting verse they will give it a metaphorical interpretation within context in order not to misrepresent the text. To dismiss a text of the ancient prophets of Jehovah as corrupt is to nullify the word of God.

The complexity of this text- is the close association of the Messiah to the divinity, the quality of being God.

Could it be that the Jews distort the text because they don’t believe in Jesus as God? What is important to note about the context of Isaiah 9 is that the Prophet Isaiah is calling Jesus “Mighty God” here. Isaiah confirms the God like attributes of Messiah when he states in verse 7, “He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness for that time on and forever.” How can a man rule forever when eternal rule is only for God Almighty, unless we look to a higher realm and rule.

Digging For Truth

The Messiah Will Be Called The Mighty God

Should there be a denial or acceptance of the deity of the Messiah as it is expressed in the book of the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 9:

“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 Farther, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase 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.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

Tower of Strength

Towers.- A tower that was incorporated into the city wall projected out from the line of the wall so that defenders could direct arrows and other projectiles at attackers along the base of the wall. Referred to as a “projecting tower”, such a tower also served to strengthen the wall at intervals and at corners. The Israelites took satisfaction in counting the towers in the wall surrounding Jerusalem and considered them testimony “that this is God, our God forever and ever”.

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of Jehovah [by which His existence was known in the physical world- who exemplified the characteristics of holiness] (is) a tower of strength; into it the righteous run and is exalted.”

Henry Commentary.- Here is God’s sufficiency for the saints: His name is a strong tower for them, in which they may take rest when they are weary and take sanctuary when they are pursued, where they may be lifted up above their enemies and fortified against them. There is enough in God, and in the discoveries which He has made of Himself to us, to make us easy at all times. The wealth laid up in this tower is enough to enrich them, to be a continual feast and a continuing treasure to them.

ISAIAH 33:6 “And Jehovah is exalted for (He) lives on high; He has filled Zion (with) justice and righteousness. And He will be the security of your times, wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of Jehovah [the hatred of evil], it (is) his [a kings] treasure.”


JESUS
* Holiness to Jehovah
* Exclusive Covenant on Earth
* Produces Civil Government of Democracy on Earth

Anti-Christ
* God Manifest - Evil Incarnate
* Theocratic Opportunist on Earth
* Self-Deification Producing Terrorism on Earth

“The prophet here introduces a chorus of the God fearing Israelites, celebrating the praises of God for delivering them from the unjust rule of oppression and tyranny.”
“Jehovah has filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. That is, the effect of destroying His enemies will be to fill Jerusalem with reverence for His holy name. The revelation of Jehovah’s deliverance would be so signal, and the manifestation of the Divine mercy so great, that the effect would be that the redeemed of the nation would turn to God, and acknowledge His gracious interposition.”
“And Jehovah will be the security of the times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. Man’s governmental reign and rule of man would be characterized by the prevalence of piety and knowledge.”
“The fear of Jehovah, the hatred of evil, it is his treasure.”

See, a king will reign in
righteousness
And rulers will rule with
justice.
Each man will be like a
shelter from the wind
And a refuge from the storm,
like streams of water in the
desert
And the shadow of a great
rock in a thirsty land.
(Isaiah 32:1-2)

“Jehovah will be the security of the times, meaning that in those times knowledge and the fear of the Lord would be settled on a firm foundation. The times would be distinguished for great reforms.”
“He (Jehovah) the glorious Lord will display His glory for us and be a glory to us, such as shall eclipse the rival-glory of the enemy.”

EXCLUSIVE COVENANT
* Holiness to God
* Through Which God's Blessings Flow to the World

(VS)

SELF-DEIFICATION of Man In the Image of God
* Creating an Idolatrous god through willful disobedience to the Word and Law of God
* Rival Glory of the Enemy of both God and man

REVELATION 22:14 “Blessed [favored for success] (are) those doing the command of Him [fearing the Lord, walking in His ways and obeying Him], that will be the authority of them over the tree of life, and by the gates [of “Grace and Hope” for all humanity] they [(those) keeping to the paths of justice- safeguarding the rights and liberties of others, while maintaining the boundaries of the law] may enter into the city [of refuge]. But the dogs (are) outside [wickedly enraged and unpitying malicious wretches who hound the god fearers to their doom]…”

The First and Second Commandment
Exodus 20:3-5 “’You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…’”

Barnes Commentary.- Any sort of image is here intended.
As the First Commandment forbids the worship of any false god, seen or unseen, it is here forbidden to worship an image of any sort, whether the figure of a false deity or one in any way symbolical of Jehovah.


The Name of Jehovah is a Tower of Strength
PSALM 97:7-10 “All are ashamed who serve graven images [whether of an idol or a symbolical image in the likeness of Jehovah], those [are ashamed] who [defiantly disregard God to] boast themselves in idols [forbidden objects of worship]; bow down before Him all [self-defied] gods [worshiped in the universe]. Zion heard and was glad; and rejoiced the daughter of Judah because of Your judgments, O Jehovah. For You, O Jehovah, (are) high above all the earth; for You are exalted above all the gods [forbidden objects of worship in the universe].”


(NEXT):
A CONFLICT - A MAJOR CONTROVERSY

"You Shall Have No Other gods Before You" VS "Prince of Peace the Mighty God"

ARMAGEDDON

ARMADEDDON - Proclamation of War on Terrorism

Cedars of Lebanon

ISAIAH 2:12-22 “For the day of Jehovah of hosts (will be) against all the proud and lofty ones; and against all that is lifted, and it will be abased [on the grounds that they have placed their trust in that which is deceptive and empty]; and against all the high and lifted up cedars [lofty leaders from the rich pasture land] of Lebanon [who defiantly disregard God, to place their trust in that which is false]…”

Cedar Trees.- Human self-expatiation and arrogance is illustrated by the proud and lofty trees: “all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and all the oaks of Bashan”. The qualities symbolized by trees- strength, power, glory, wealth, honor- are the very qualities that are easily abused by sinful rebellious humanity. So it is no surprise to find that this dark side of humanity, and all the consequences flowing from it, should be readily portrayed through the figure of the tree.

Barnes Commentary.- This is a beautiful specimen of the poetic manner of writing, so common among the Hebrews, where spiritual and moral subjects are represented by grand or beautiful imagery taken from objects of nature. Mount Lebanon bounded Palestine on the north. It was formerly much celebrated for its large and lofty cedars. These cedars were from thirty-five to forty feet in girth, and very high.

Young Commentary.- Isaiah now begins to enumerate the objects which will be affected by the divine judgment. In so doing he seeks to give specimens of these things upon which the judgment will fall, and does not merely mention them as symbols of the type of object that will perish. Nor does he use these terms in a metaphorical sense to designate or to signify the leaders of the nation. The things mentioned will themselves feel the punishing hand of God. All nature is bound up with man in one common history; in every sense of the word this is a fallen creation, and because of man’s sin, nature must suffer.

Cedars of the Lord.- Cedars are among the last survivors of the immense forests that lay across Mount Lebanon in ancient times. The most famous cedar forest is the one located in North Lebanon and also known as the Cedars of the Lord.

The citizens of ancient Tyre and Sidon used “Cedars of Lebanon” to build houses and fashion masts of their ships. From Lebanon’s cedar forests, King Solomon got the timber to build his temple and palace in Jerusalem, which the Egyptian Pharaohs used the wood to carve their sarcophagi (stone coffins) and sun-ships (crafting thought to resemble the Sun in radiance). Also, Phoenicians and Greeks used its wood through the centuries in their homes, temples, sarcophagi, and galleys.

Corporate Unity of Man with God

HOSEA 14:9 “’I (Jehovah) am as a green cypress. From Me your fruit [the state of bearing a tree of like kind] is found [viewed in a word to be the doing of “judgment” for the maintenance of righteousness].”

Cedars of Lenanon

Young Commentary.- These cedars were particularly admired by the Jews of Old Testament time. The cedar was used by Solomon in the building of the Temple at Jerusalem; it was also used in the building of the second Temple. The trunk of the cedar was employed for masts of ships. The cedar is conifer (cone-bearing tree), having large cones, and also evergreen leaves which do not fall off in the wintertime. Lebanon is used in the Bible as a symbol of beauty.

(Continuing Isaiah 2:12-22) Verse 12 “For the day of Jehovah of hosts (will be) against all the proud and lofty ones; and against all that is lifted, and it will be abased [on the grounds that they have placed their trust in that which is deceptive and empty]; and against all the high and lifted up cedars [lofty leaders from the rich pasture land] of Lebanon [who defiantly disregard God, to place their trust in that which is false]; and against all the oaks of Bashan…”

“However high the independent endeavors or celebrated pasture lands of mortal man, they shall be humbled- for the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.”

Mighty trees of Bashan– Bashan is the region south of Damascus, east of the Jordan River. The oaks of this district were apparently quite famous, as were also the pastures and flocks. The cedars and oaks were notable specimens of trees, and the point of the verse is that these things, which to men seemed to be high and lifted up, would in the judgment of God become low. [Because of man’s sin (equated to rebelling against Jehovah through self-deceit, or placing their trust in that which is false) even the great and beautiful things of creation were to be “humbled”.]

(Continuing Isaiah 2:12-22) Verse 14 “…and (the day of Jehovah of hosts will be against) all the high mountains [places of strength and trust]; and against all the lifted up hills [unlawful illicit sites of worship]; and against every tall tower; and against every fortified wall; and against all the ships of Tarshish; and against all the desirable craft.”

Tall Towers.- Although in literature generally the tower can be an image of intellectual contemplation and spiritual aspiration, the fifty references to towers in the Bible are virtually all to parts of a military fortress. The main exception is the tower of Babel, which is less a defensive structure than a symbol of human aspiration beyond the limits God has imposed on the human race. In the Bible we mainly find literal reference to such towers, which occasionally become metaphoric for God and the protection that believers find in Him.

PSALM 11:3-7 “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Verse 4 “The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord is on His heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; His eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence His soul hates. On the wicked He will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face.”

Destructive Pride Abased

ISAIAH 2:12-22 “For the day of Jehovah of hosts (will be) against all the proud and lofty ones; and against all that is lifted, and it will be abased…”

Barnes Commentary.- “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.”

PRIDE.- In Scripture pride is frequently used to refer to a very negative character trait that can be described as arrogant, conceited and haughty. Classical Greet and Roman culture had a particular aversion to it, stigmatizing it as hubris (excessive arrogance) and making virtually all their literary tragedies a variation on the theme of the self-destructive effects of pride.

As a character trait, pride produces a gallery of memorable characters in the pages of the Bible. We find people who ostentatiously (brazenly) flaunt their power and wealth. The most certain feature of pride in the Bible is that it precedes a downfall.

The embodiment of pride is the nation and ruler of Tyre. Not only kings are natural candidates for pride, so are nations, often represented by their rulers, as we see repeatedly in the Old Testament prophetic books.

The biblical images of pride are most obviously of rulers and nations, but pride is a vice within reach of any individual with enough money or power to provide a platform for it. From Jesus comes the satiric portrait of the banquet quest who ostentatiously seats himself in a place of honor, only to be moved to a lower place, accompanied by the aphorism that “he who exalts himself will be humbled” (Lk 14:7-11).

As these brief pictures show, pride keeps some very bad company. It is associated with such varied vices as perverted speech, boastfulness, defiance of God, indifference to the poor and needy, self deceit, the lust of the flesh and of the eyes and false trust in riches.

A survey of the numerous biblical passages on pride will yield the following conclusions. Pride in the Bible is not just an abstraction but instead yields a series of vivid images. It is especially linked to certain body parts: the heart, the mouth and the eyes. It is also treated as generic evil or wickedness. Material prosperity and its accompanying power are prerequisites to pride. Morally the most common manifestation of pride is oppression of less fortunate people. Spiritually its root sin is disregard for God or defiance of Him. The leading self-delusion of proud people is their false security in themselves and their resources. The most important thing about proud people is that God opposes them, and the most predictable thing we know about pride is that God will bring it down. Indeed, pride in the Bible seems always on the verge of being humbled. The biblical image of pride add up to such a repulsive picture that they would lead one to abhor it, yet the frequency with which it appears in the bible suggests something of its perennial (recurring or enduring) appeal to the sinful heart.
-Dictionary of Biblical Imagery

portrait of the banquet quest who ostentatiously seats himself in a place of honor, only to be moved to a lower place, accompanied by the aphorism that “he who exalts himself will be humbled” (Lk 14:7-11).
As these brief pictures show, pride keeps some very bad company. It is associated with such varied vices as perverted speech, boastfulness, defiance of God, indifference to the poor and needy, self deceit, the lust of the flesh and of the eyes and false trust in riches.
A survey of the numerous biblical passages on pride will yield the following conclusions. Pride in the Bible is not just an abstraction but instead yields a series of vivid images. It is especially linked to certain body parts: the heart, the mouth and the eyes. It is also treated as generic evil or wickedness. Material prosperity and its accompanying power are prerequisites to pride. Morally the most common manifestation of pride is oppression of less fortunate people. Spiritually its root sin is disregard for God or defiance of Him. The leading self-delusion of proud people is their false security in themselves and their resources. The most important thing about proud people is that God opposes them, and the most predictable thing we know about pride is that God will bring it down. Indeed, pride in the Bible seems always on the verge of being humbled. The biblical image of pride add up to such a repulsive picture that they would lead one to abhor it, yet the frequency with which it appears in the bible suggests something of its perennial (recurring or enduring) appeal to the sinful heart.
-Dictionary of Biblical Imagery

PRIDE. Pride is more easily recognized than defined and is more easily detected in others than in self. The concept embraces many synonyms that reflect attitudes as well as acts- such as arrogance, presumption, conceit, and esp. vanity and self-satisfaction. Pride is incessantly selfish, and a proud person thus loses any balance that might grow out of a recognition of his true position as over against God or over against the ability and worth of others. Since man’s true nature is understood primarily in his dependence and- contingence "God- ward" and finds further fulfillment and enrichment "man-ward", it follows that pride is a self-isolating and independent attitude that cuts a man off from his necessary "godly" relationship and prevents his true humanity; thus pride is sin. Although pride usually is thought of as a character trait by which an individual is constantly contrasting himself to others- to his own satisfaction, it is not really understood unless it is seen that its very scorn of all others- that is profoundly indifferent to the options and favors as well as the virtues of others. In this cold and hateful indifference it is most deadly.


Morally the most common manifestation of pride is “oppression of the less fortunate”. Spiritually its root sin is disregard for God or defiance of Him. The leading self-delusion of pride in people is their false security in themselves and their resources.

PRIDE.- Old Testament Heb. Roots uniformly mean “to lift up,” “to be high.” New Testament words reflecting a wide range of synonyms and equivalents allow such translations as “empty display” or “swagger”, “glorying” or “boasting”, “haughtiness” or “arrogance”. The pride condemned in the Bible is “an insolent and empty assurance which trusts in its own power and resources and shamefully despise and violates divine laws and morally virtuous human laws.”

Many of the Hebrew and Greek words, point to the root of pride” being lifted up high, whether literally or figuratively. Pride can be attributed metaphorically to natural phenomena that are literally high. Thus the waves of the sea are said to be proud because they are high and majestic. When attributed to human beings, this sense of exaltation may be either positive or negative, depending on the relative height attributed to the holy standard of God.

Pride is equated with rebelling against Jehovah. It refuses to listen when Jehovah speaks and is unwilling to learn from God’s chastening.

The Psalms and wisdom literature picked up these themes as well: pride is tied to ignorance of God and prefers to trust in what is deceptive and empty. But here the focus is more often on pride in relationship to other people. Pride is associated with wickedness and injustice and is antithetical (opposed) to wisdom, patience and humility. The proud tell contemptuous lies against the righteous. At ease in their riches they represent the antithesis (direct opposite) of the lowly poor, which identifies the sin of Sodom as pride and a complacent prosperity that ignores the needy.

Thus the proud person offends against God by self-deception. The delusion increases until one fancies oneself so high as to be invulnerable. “’Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, thence I will bring you down’, says the Lord”.

Although there are occasional passages in the Old Testament and New Testament which seem to accept various forms of natural pride, the distinctive biblical trust is overwhelmingly against human presumption and self-glorification-on the level of warnings against boasting on the basis of the logic of practical Wisdom.

Jehovah in His wrath destroys the proud nations, as well as the arrogant man. Thus pride and boastfulness characterize the “wicked” in the Psalms and wisdom literature.

Jehovah alone is glorious and exalted, and He achieves, by His ultimate victory over the proud, and through the establishment of the poor and humble remnant. Thus the tangible landmarks of pride in the land must be destroyed, in order that Israel’s new age of humble obedience may come, bringing with it a proper pride in the fruits of Jehovah’s redemptive acts. This abasement is of the proud and exaltation of the humble. Thus Israel’s only proper boast is in the righteous deeds of Jehovah.


Barnes Commentary.- “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.” This does not mean that he shall be brought to be humble, or to have a humble heart, but that- that on which he so much prided himself would be taken away. God will so deal with them as to vindicate His honor; to turn the attention entirely on Himself, and to secure the reverence of the people.

Young Commentary.- At the time when men shall be abased, Jehovah will be exalted and He alone. The primary reference is to the time when Jehovah will be exalted.

A Ship Wreck at Sea

An Apocoliptic Interpretaton

PSALM 48:9 “You (Jehovah) break the ships of Tarshish [regarded as the caravans that bore the merchandise of the mistress of the sea] with an east wind.”

The word Tarshish is associated with ships and ports and the name of the Phoenician colony in the Western portion of the Mediterranean Sea with which the Phoenicians traded- being the farthest limits of the western world- remote yet rich and powerful in commerce. The ships of Tarshish trade were regarded as the caravans that bore the merchandise of the mistress of the sea.


Expounded Hypothetically:
(Fig. usage of elements: silver, iron and lead derived from previous studies)
The products of Tarshish included silver [refined “words”- from far distant places, relating stories of discoveries from specialized journals and publications], iron [fig., symbolizing words of great power, good or bad, right or wrong], lead [used to symbolize a Permanent Record of Words, of either immutable truth or words of error and falsehood] and tin [trading with words that gave strength to a currently held belief of opinion], which were imported by Tyre.

The merchant ship Tyre was depicted as a highly efficient business machine, trading in all kinds of costly goods. The seemingly interminable list of her trading partners makes clear the astonishing array of her wares. For her crew was secured with the best trained veteran seamen from Phoenician cities. Tyre became a “mart of the nations,” a place of trade- allowing access to far off places- perfected in beauty having acquired a vast port of entry.

Barnes Commentary (Paraphrased).- The ships of Tarshish are often mentioned in the Old Testament, but the meaning of the expression is not quite obvious. It is evident that Tarshish was some distant land from which was imported silver, iron, lead, tin, etc. It has been mentioned as an important place of trade, and important that silver was procured there. It was said that the ships of Tarshish returned every three years bringing gold and silver, ivory, apes and peacocks. These are products chiefly of India, but they might have been obtained in trade during the voyage. The precise situation of Tarshish is not necessary to be known in order to understand the passage here. The phrase, “ships of Tarshish,” denotes clearly ships employed in foreign trade, and in introducing articles of commerce, and particularly of luxury.

The Lord Almighty has a day in
Store
For all the proud and lofty,
For all that is exalted
(and they will be humbled),
For all the cedars of Lebanon,
Tall land lofty,
And all the oaks of Bashan,
For all the towering mountains
And all the high hills, for every lofty tower
And every fortified wall.
For every trading ship
And every stately vessel.
The arrogance of man will be
Brought low
And the pride of men
Humbled;
The Lord alone will be exalted
In that day,
And the idols will totally
disappear.

(Isaiah 2:12-18)