Did God have a Son? OLD TESTAMENT
In Old Testament times, the coming of God's Son to this earth was yet future and so all the details are not given. However, there is enough to give us the IDEA that God does have a Son. Key verses are shown below.
Psalm 2:7 God says, "I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day I have begotten thee."
In this text "the LORD (YHVH - Jehovah/Yahweh) tells His Son that He was begotten. No more details are given, however, the psalm clearly says that unless the nations serve the Son with fear and rejoicing, they will be destroyed.
"Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and ye perish... Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." v12.
There is no question as to the authority of the Son begotten by the LORD God in this psalm. His authority is confirmed in Exodus 23:20-22, where He is called an Angel (of God - 43:19 or Angel of the Lord - Gen 22:11). God's Angel will go before Israel and bring them into the promised land.
We know this to be God's Son as confirmed in 1 Cor 10:1-4. In Psalm 2:6 He has been anointed as king. The word 'set' is the Hebrew word נסכתי (nasachti), meaning to pour [oil] for anointing.
Isaiah 9:6, God says, "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, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
This verse is very definite. God's Son would be the mighty God and the Prince of peace. He would sit on the throne of David and rule from it with true justice. It would be an everlasting kingdom.
The words 'everlasting Father' need to be discussed further, as does 'mighty God', simply because of its connotations in light of the Trinity belief.
Zechariah 6:12.13 says "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."
Here the LORD Jehovah is speaking of the man whose name is the Branch who would build the house/temple of the Lord, bear the glory and rule upon his throne. Unusually, he will be both king and priest. Obviously there was an agreement, as it was called the "counsel of peace."
The Branch is identified in Isaiah 11:1 as a son of Jesse. David was he son of Jesse who became the king of Israel (called Judah after the split) Many in New Testament times called Jesus the "son of David". Matthew 9:27. Matthew 15:22. Romans 1:3. The Messiah would be born of the tribe of Judah, as was David. Genesis 49:8-10.
Jeremiah 33:5.15. further identifies the Branch as a "righteous branch and a King" who would "execute judgment and justice in the earth." This has been confirmed in Isaiah 9:6.7.
Psalm 110:1 says, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make tine enemies thy footstool." Jesus asked the Pharisees 'What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?' They say unto Him, 'The son of David.' He saith unto them, 'How then doth David in spirit call him Lord (quoting Psalm 110:1), if David then call him Lord, how is he his son?" The rulers could not answer Him. This tells us that David was not the one being spoken about, but Christ. David is a type.
Zechariah says the Branch (the Messiah) would sit on His throne as priest and king. In Israel this was impossible as kings could only come from Judah and priests from Levi. However, God has given another priesthood to the Messiah. "The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." Psalm 110:4. Thus there was no problem with Him being a king and a priest upon His throne. The New Testament tells us Christ is High Priest of the sanctuary in heaven, and it is a Melchizedek priesthood. Hebrews 7:1-28.
Proverbs 30:4 asks questions -- "Who hath ascended up into heaven or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his sons's name, if thou canst tell?'
These are clear questions. In Matthew 12:23, the angel Gabriel says, "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." He is quoting Isaiah 7:14. Joseph is told in a dream that he must call Mary's son JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins.
The name Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua, which is throughout the Old Testament, both visibly and invisibly. The word translated salvation is yeshua, so every time the Bible speaks of salvation, the Jew will read yeshua. The name is also hidden in Bible code, which we will look at another time.
Proverbs 8 is a chapter on wisdom. Indeed a few of the chapters in Proverbs are about wisdom. As the chapter begins, it is clearly speaking of wisdom in the form of a woman crying in the streets. She is speaking to men, as do other chapters. "Hear, for I will speak of excellent things... all the words of my mouth are in righteousness... they are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge... The fear of the Lord is to hate evil... by me kings reign, and princes decree justice... My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold... I lead in the way of righteousness...." and so forth.
However, there are some verses that obviously are speaking of more than just wisdom as a virtue to possess.
"The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there was no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water., Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world, When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him."
These verses are speaking of a person. We can say wisdom is personified, but this is true of the previous verses as well. The above verses are more than a personification of wisdom. We ask: Of whom is this speaking? The text does not say, but clearly it tells us that someone was with the Creator prior to the creation of the earth. Is this His Son as is asked at the end of Proverbs?
A Jewish man who had been witnessed to by a Christian who believed God had a Son, after reading these verses said, ‘God does have a Son!’, and he immediately gave his heart to Jesus.
The Pulpit Commentary said, “Wisdom speaks of her origin, her active operations, the part which she bore in the creation of the universe, her relation to God… The language used is not applicable to an impersonal quality, an abstract faculty of God. It describes the nature and office of a Person; and who that Person is we learn from the later Scriptures, which speak of Christ as the ‘Wisdom of God’. (Luke 11:49, 1 Cor 1:24)…"
Matthew Henry wrote, “The Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in the creation of the world….The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work…”
Geneva Study Bible. The verse “declares by this the divinity and eternity of this wisdom, which he magnified and praises through this book: meaning by this the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ our Saviour, whom John calls the Word that was in the beginning with God.”
These men are all trinitarians, so they believe the One personified is the second Person of the Trinity. Unfortunately, this part is eisegesis. We could look at many more commentaries, but let us consider the underlined sections in the text.
Although the text makes clear that it is speaking of a person, it does not say who this person is.
We will look at the various sections - 'the Lord possessed me'.
What does possessed mean? It is a primary root meaning, to erect, i.e.create, by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively sell); by implication to own - attain, buy(er), teach to keep cattle, get, provoke to jealousy, possess (-or), purchase, recover, redeem, x surely, x verily.
You can see the meaning of the word varies. It does mean to attain or procure something or someone, or to create, but mainly it refers to purchasing. Some in the past believed it related to the Father begetting a Son, however, most sites will argue that this is not the meaning. As most of the meanings refer to purchasing, we can understand their reasoning. Again, this verse needs further explanation. So we will leave it for the present.
I was 'set up'. The Hebrew word used in this verse is nasach, the same as in Psalm 2:6. (Strongs 5258) So we can safely say that whoever the verse is speaking of was ordained or anointed.
I was 'brought forth'. The Hebrew word used in this verse is
chul. (Strongs 2342) It is a primitive root meaning, properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert:--bear, (make to) bring forth, (make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously (with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain), tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded.
This word is translated to bring forth as in birth, but it also refers to any time of pain, sometimes said to be 'as a woman in childbirth'. There is no reason why this verses cannot be translated 'born' or 'begotten'. All we know is that someone was born prior to the creation of this earth.
The other words in the passage are clear whether in English or Hebrew -- I was there; I was by him; I was daily his delight; I was rejoicing always by him. Whoever is being spoken about was a joy to someone else.
To summarize:
Ps 2:7. God's Son was begotten.
Ps 2:6. God's Son has been anointed.
Ps 2:12. Refuse to kiss the Son (or obey) means to perish.
To trust in the Son is to be blessed.
Ex 23:20-22. God's Angel is to be obeyed.
If provoked He will not forgive.
God's name is in Him.
Obey His voice, He will fulfil His promises.
Obey and He will be your adversary.
He will deliver Israel from Egypt into the promised land.
Isa 9:6. A son would be born to Israel who would be the
Prince of peace, the mighty God and everlasting
Father. His name is Immanuel - God with us.
Isa 9:7. The government would be on His shoulder. It
would be an everlasting government of peace.
It would be established on the throne of David,
with true judgment and justice.
Zech 6:12.13. God speaks to the Branch, saying
He would build the temple and bear the glory.
He would sit on His throne a king and priest.
The 'counsel of peace' would be between them both -
God and the Branch, and/or king and priest.
Gen 49:8-10. Messiah would be born of the tribe of
Judah.
Jer 33:5.15. The Branch is a righteous king who would
execute justice and true judgment in the earth.
Isa 11:1. The Branch would be a Son of David.
Ps 110:1. The Lord will make His enemies His footstool.
Ps 110:4. The Lord swears He will be a priest of the Order
of Melchisadek.
Prov 30:4. What is the Creator's name. And what is His
Son's name?
Prov 8:22-30. Wisdom is personified in a special way.
The Lord 'possessed' him.
He was 'set up' - anointed.
He was 'brought forth' - born of the Lord.
He was there before the creation of this earth.
He was by the Lord. He was daily His delight.
He caused rejoicing always before Him.
The New Testament tells us that:
1 Cor 10:1-4. Christ led Israel from Egypt to promised land.
Matt 9:27. Christ is the Son of David. Matthew 15:22.
Romans 1:3.
Heb 7:1-28. Christ is of the Order of Melchisadek.
Matt 1:23. Christ is called Immanuel.
Luke 11:49. Christ is called the wisdom of God.
1 Cor 1:24. Christ is called the wisdom of God.
You make your decision --
Is there evidence in the Old Testament that God would have a Son?
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