If you want to understand Jesus more clearly, start with the names He is given in the Bible. Each one reveals something true about His heart and His character.
If Jesus had a résumé, it wouldn’t list job titles. It would list His names.
Names like Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Good Shepherd might sound poetic at first, but each one rose out of a real moment when people were scared, hurting, or trying to understand what God was like.
These names grounded people in hope then, and they still do today. Across Scripture, they offer us a bigger picture of who Jesus is and how He meets us with wisdom, strength, compassion, and peace.
Let’s look at seven names of Jesus today.
- Four come from Isaiah 9, a prophecy spoken during a national crisis.
- Three more come either from someone who encountered Jesus up close, or from Jesus Himself.
7 Powerful Names of Jesus
4 Names from Isaiah 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 Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NIV
When Isaiah spoke these names, Judah was staring down a massive disaster. Their northern neighbors had already fallen to Assyria and were closing in on them.
So when Isaiah wrote these words down, he certainly wasn’t saying, “Things look bleak now, but don’t worry, someone will come and figure this all out in five hundred years.” Instead, he wanted to give hope to his own generation.
Hope, in their day, came through Hezekiah, a king from the line of David who trusted God when others panicked.
For a moment, he looked like the one Isaiah described. But like all leaders before and after him, Hezekiah’s faithfulness didn’t last. His story pointed beyond himself to someone greater, someone who would bring God’s wisdom, strength, love, and peace in a way no one else could.
That’s why Christians see Jesus as the true and complete fulfillment of Isaiah 9. Where every other king fell short, Jesus didn’t. He brings these names to life in ways Isaiah’s first listeners couldn’t have imagined:
- The Wonderful Counselor who guides with wisdom
- The Mighty God who rescues and restores
- The Everlasting Father who cares with steady love
- The Prince of Peace who brings wholeness that lasts
Let’s explore each of these four names:
1. Wonderful Counselor
When Isaiah used the name “Wonderful Counselor,” God’s people were afraid. Their leaders kept scrambling for solutions, but none of them seemed to work. They needed someone different—someone who wasn’t willing to compromise, and who could lead with wisdom that came from God. King Hezekiah provided a temporary solution, but couldn’t sustain his wisdom over the long run.
Jesus helped people see what was true about God and true about themselves.
But Jesus was and is the counselor we need. People didn’t always understand His teachings, but they sensed something honest, personal, and grounded in the way He spoke. He wasn’t trying to impress anyone. Instead, Jesus helped people see what was true about God and true about themselves.
Jesus still meets us with that kind of wisdom today. When our anxious or intrusive thoughts spiral or our questions pile up, He guides us toward wisdom. He helps us recognize what is good and leads us in the right direction.
This name reminds us that Jesus doesn’t just give wisdom. He is wisdom you can trust with your whole life.
2. Mighty God
When Isaiah spoke this name, the people of Judah felt small and exposed. Their enemies were a lot stronger than they were, and their future looked uncertain. They needed to know God hadn’t forgotten them, and that He could still be their protector.
Jesus fully revealed God’s strength in a way no one expected. His power showed up in healing, forgiveness, and compassion. He calmed storms with a word, welcomed people who felt like outsiders, and lifted up those who had been pushed around.
We still need that kind of strength today. We face battles we can’t win by willpower, and we can’t fix the problems of the world on our own.
This name reminds us that Jesus is strong in all the ways we need, and His strength always moves toward healing.
3. Everlasting Father
In Isaiah’s world, calling a king a “father” meant he was expected to care for his people with loyalty, protection, and most of all, love. It was a way of talking about faithful leadership. Hezekiah temporarily filled that role, but God’s people still hoped for someone who could perfectly lead them with consistent kindness and care.
Jesus embodied that kind of care in His words and actions. His love brought diverse people together into one global family: the church.
He did this by focusing on the people who needed help the most—people in crisis, who felt invisible or like they were discarded by society. He made people feel safe and seen, like a good father.
And Jesus still does this today! Jesus doesn’t disappear when life shifts or we fail. His love stays consistent.
This name reminds us that Jesus holds us with a faithful love that doesn’t give up or walk away.
4. Prince of Peace
Peace felt inaccessible to Isaiah’s original audience in their place and time. While Hezekiah brought a short-lived peace in their day, they needed something more to experience a peace-filled future.
Jesus brings that kind of peace into the world and into the life of anyone who’s said “yes” to Him. To be clear, Jesus doesn’t promise an easy, pain-free life. But He does promise to be with us in the middle of whatever we’re facing. And just as a good friend can bring comfort and peace through their presence, Jesus does the same.
We don’t have to wait for our situations to calm down before peace is possible. Jesus brings peace right into the places that feel tense, uncertain, or overwhelming.
This name reminds us that Jesus brings peace that the world can’t give and circumstances can’t take away.
Find example prayers for peace.
3 Names of Jesus From the New Testament
As the story of the Bible continues into the New Testament, we encounter people who met Jesus in person. We get to hear the names that captured what they saw and experienced—and the names that Jesus Himself taught. Let’s take a look at three of those names:
- The Lamb of God who takes on the sin of the world
- The Good Shepherd who guides us and protects us
- The Light of the World who leads us out of spiritual darkness
5. Lamb of God
… “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 NIV
People in Jesus’ time knew what a lamb symbolized: innocence, gentleness, and an opportunity to experience God’s mercy. Lambs were brought to the temple every day as a way of dealing honestly with sin and finding a fresh start.
When John pointed to Jesus and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,” he was making a statement: that their salvation would come through a humble sacrifice. In Jesus’ day, people hoped for a savior—one who would bring peace by defeating His enemies. But Jesus was an unexpected kind of savior. He invited people to lives of humility, service, and gentleness.
As the Lamb of God, Jesus was telling people that He Himself would carry what weighed them down. Guilt, fear, shame, and distance from God would not have the final word. Jesus would take it all and offer freedom in its place.
This name reminds us that Jesus humbly takes on what breaks us and gives us a fresh start.
6. Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV
Calling someone a shepherd meant calling them trustworthy enough to follow.
Shepherds in Jesus’ day were consistent, unglamorous protectors who knew every detail of their flock. They watched for danger, tended to injuries, and guided their animals with care. Calling someone a shepherd meant calling them trustworthy enough to follow.
Jesus carried Himself with that kind of attentiveness.
Jesus noticed the overlooked. He cared for hurting people. He moved toward the ones who felt lost and guided them gently back into safety. Jesus knew what every person needed as soon as He saw them. Many needed attention and care, while others needed firm, loving correction.
We still need that kind of shepherding. We need someone who knows every part of our lives and helps guide us toward a whole, healthy, God-honoring life.
This name reminds us that Jesus leads us with care, patience, and a commitment to never let us walk alone.
7. Light of the World
… “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 NIV
In ancient Israel, light meant life, clarity, and safety. It showed people where to step and what to avoid. So when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” He was offering people a way out of confusion, misinformation, and spiritual darkness.
Everywhere Jesus went, things came into focus. He named what was hurting people and revealed what was true about God’s heart.
We still walk through moments that feel dark or confusing. We still need a light that shows us the next step when everything feels blurred or overwhelming.
This name reminds us that Jesus helps us see what is real, what is good, and what leads toward life.
Where to Go From Here
These seven names give us a clearer view of Jesus and the kind of presence He brings into our lives.
Each one reminds us that He isn’t far away or hard to reach. He meets us with wisdom when we feel confused, strength when we feel like giving up, and love when we feel alone.
As you finish reading this article, choose one name that resonates with what you’re facing right now. Sit with it this week. Read the verse again. Pray through it and ask Jesus to show you how that part of His character can shape your next step.