BibleAsk Team

Where does the Old Testament refer to the Messiah as God’s Son?

The Messiah – Son of God

The Scriptural witness to the Messiah as the Son of God did not begin in the New Testament. It first appeared in the Old Testament. The following is a list of seven direct references to that truth:

1-Psalm 2:7

“I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: “He said to Me, ‘Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee.”

This verse is quoted in Acts 13:33 as a reference to Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. The last part is quoted in Hebrews 1:5 as a reference to the Son of God and His superiority over angels. Also, the final part is quoted in Hebrews 5:5 as a reference to Jesus Christ as called by God to be the High Priest for the believers. This verse is never used in the Bible to refer to any son of David other than Jesus who is more than a human (Matthew 22:41-45).

2-Psalm 2:11-12

“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”

This verse is a reference to the Messiah, whom Jehovah has declared to be His Son. The psalmist counsels those who desire to reject the Son, to recognize Him as King and to submit to His authority (John 5:23).

3-Proverbs 30:4

“Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name?”

In this verse, the Son of God is not only seen with the Creator but as also being involved in Creation, thus being equal with the Creator (John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:13-17; Hebrews 1:3).

4-Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

This is a prediction of the Messiah, given about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. The “Son” will be “Immanuel,” which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23; Matthew 1:18-25).

5-Isaiah 9:6-7

“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 will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”

This is a prophecy about the Messiah, given about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. The child is the “son to be given” the “Mighty God,” the “Eternal Father,” and the one who rules over all creation (Revelation 19:16).

6-Daniel 3:25

“He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”

Early Christian interpreters (Hippolytus, Chrysostom, and others) saw the fourth personage in the fire as the second Person of the Godhead – the Son of God. The majority of conservative Christians teach this view.

7- Hosea 11:1

“When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.”

The last part of this verse is quoted in Matthew 2:15 as a reference to Jesus Christ the Son of God and His return to the land of Israel from Egypt after the death of King Herod who attempted to destroy Him.

In His service,
BibleAsk Team

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