Sunday, August 20, 2023

Gerard Van Groningen on "Father of Eternity"/"Everlasting Father" in Isaiah 9:6 (Hebrew v. 5)

  

The third epithet is ābî-‘ad (father of eternity or everlasting father). The term ‘ad is a noun derived from the verb root ‘ādâ (pass on, advance). The basic reference is the concept is to time, either past or future, and is used to refer to continuous existence; Isaiah so uses the term in 26:4; 47:7; 65:18. The word is used to express Yahweh’s continuous existence (Isa. 57:15; 64:8).  Isaiah uses it as a parallel of the Hebrew term ôlām (for all ages, eternal; Isa. 36:8; 45:7; 57:17; cf. also Exod. 15:14; Pss. 9:6; 119:44; 145:1, 2, 21; Mic. 4:5). One must conclude that the force of the term here is that of everlasting, eternal. The term father is used to refer to God, to Yahweh in relation to his people. He brought them into existence; he loves them, provides for them, and protects them. Yahweh will never cease to be their security. The concept of eternal fatherhood is ascribed to the child or son: he is father and as such is the possessor of eternity. One of his virtues is that he is eternal. He is the same as Yahweh to the covenant people. It must be remembered that in the broader context the Davidic house is addressed. David and all his reigning descendants are to represent Yahweh, the royal father; as kings they are to demonstrate the fatherhood of Yahweh. Ahaz failed to do so; Isaiah pointedly reminds him and the people that Yahweh’s intention for and expectation of his vicegerent remains. (Gerard Van Groningen, Messianic Revelation in the Old Testament, 2 vols. [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1990 repr., Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf and Stock, 1997], 2:547)