Did The Old Testament Foretell Of God Having A Son?

Many people assume that the term 'Son of God' is a New Testament concept that contradicts the Old Testament writings. However, the concept of Jesus as the Son of God is actually rooted in the Old Testament. You may be surprised to discover that there are at least three references in the Old Testament that affirm God having a Son.

The following passages from Psalms, Daniel, and Proverbs are particularly compelling as they point to a divine Son.

Acknowledgment OF THE SON

Psalms 2

Psalm 2 is a royal psalm, traditionally recognized as celebrating the coronation of a Davidic king. Since the Messiah was expected to come from this lineage, the psalm is widely viewed as a messianic prophecy, ultimately pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant.

Psalms 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 

Notice that the Lord, the God of Israel, is declaring that He has a Son. In Psalm 2:7, the decree, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee,” clearly reflects the relationship between God and His Anointed One. This phrase is directly applied to Jesus multiple times in the New Testament, establishing Him as the divine Son of God, whose kingship is eternal.

Acts 13:33  God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Hebrews 1:5  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son

Hebrews 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Psalms 2:11-12 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Serving the Lord is closely linked with the act of "kissing the Son." Psalm 2:12 reinforces the Son’s divine status by admonishing people to "kiss the Son"—a gesture of reverence and submission—or face God’s wrath. The warning, along with the promise of blessing for those who take refuge in the Son, further underscores the Son's divine status, a status ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Jesus affirmed this unequivocally when He called for the same honor to be given to Him as to His Father (God).

John 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30:4  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 son's name, if thou canst tell?

Proverbs 30:4 poses a profound question that hints at the existence of both God and His Son. The rhetorical inquiry, "What is His name, and what is the name of His son?" suggests that God indeed has a Son, a concept fully revealed in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus.

The mention of the Son within a context that highlights God’s creative and sovereign power foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Jesus as the divine Son who shares in God’s authority over creation (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16).

This passage serves as a subtle but significant pointer toward the identity of Jesus as the Son of God, one who existed with God and participated in His divine work from the beginning.

Daniel 3

Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

In this account, King Nebuchadnezzar sees four men in the fiery furnace, one of whom he describes as “THE son of God.” If you notice, the verse is refers to a specific person 'the' and not 'a' Son of God. Christians understand this figure as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, often referred to as a "Christophany."

The mysterious "fourth man" who delivers Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the furnace is seen as a divine being with characteristics of the Son of God, foreshadowing Jesus, who is later fully revealed in the New Testament as the Son of God who saves His people from destruction.

This narrative hints at the protective and redemptive role that Jesus, the Son of God, would ultimately fulfill on behalf of humanity.

These Old Testament passages, when interpreted in light of the New Testament, provide a strong case for the anticipation of a divine Son, who is fully revealed in Jesus Christ. Psalm 2 emphasizes the Son’s kingship and divine authority, Daniel 3 presents a Christophany highlighting Jesus’ role as Savior, and Proverbs 30 hints at the mysterious identity of God’s Son. Together, they underscore the continuity between the Old and New Testaments in presenting Jesus as the Son of God.

Prophesies Concerning the son

The first prophesy of the coming Messiah was in the Garden of Eden by God Himself when He preached the good news to Eve 'Your seed shall crush the head of the very serpent that caused you to sin'.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

A seed is always mentioned as being from a man, who carries the seed (sperm). But here God said it would be a woman's seed, emphasizing that this Person does not have a human father.

Someone may argue that even Adam was created without a father and mother, does that make him divine? The answer lies in your statement 'Adam was created', Jesus is not created. The Bible testifies of Jesus that He pre-existed with God as God (John 1:1), that He has been from everlasting (Micah 5:2). When He came to Mary as 'the Word of God' that was an act of incarnation, putting on flesh like someone puts up a tent for dwelling.

And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us [John 1:14a, AMPC]

Moreover, Adam and Jesus cannot be equal as the shadow is not greater than the substance.

Romans 5:14 reads "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." 

The term "type" (Greek: τύπος, tupos) is a significant theological concept in Scripture, often used to describe a pattern or foreshadowing of something greater that already exists in the divine plan of God. This is reflected in passages such as Hebrews 8:5, Hebrews 10:1, and Colossians 2:16-17.

The word for 'figure' here is 'tupos' which means a "die (as struck), i.e. (by implication) a stamp or scar; by analogy, a shape". This concept is akin to striking metal with a design, much like how coins bear the image of a king, implying the king's pre-existence and authority.

In Romans 5:14, when Adam is described as a "type" of Christ, it signifies that Adam’s creation and role were intended to reflect a pre-existing reality—Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4), the eternal Son of God. Jesus, as the "last Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45), was not an afterthought but the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose, existing as the archetype after which Adam was modeled.

Just as the earthly tabernacle was patterned after the heavenly one, Adam was created in the image of Christ, the eternal image of God. The use of "type" indicates that Adam’s life foreshadowed the greater reality of Christ, Who is the ultimate fulfillment and the One who existed before Adam.

Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The Peshitta Holy Bible translates this verse to reveal its full meaning from the original language, highlighting the profound truth of this prophecy.

Matthew 1:21-23 “And she shall bring forth a Son, and she shall call his name Yeshua, for he shall save his people from their sins.” Now all this happened, that the thing which was spoken from THE LORD JEHOVAH by the Prophet would be fulfilled: “Behold the virgin shall conceive, and she shall bear a son, and they shall call his Name Emmanuail, which is translated, 'Our God is with us'“. [Peshitta Holy Bible Translated]

Isaiah prophesied the coming of a Son who would be called "God with Us." Not merely a messenger of God, a prophet of God, or a servant of God—but God with Us. This means that this person is literally going to be God walking and talking among His people.

John 14:6-9 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Which Old or New Testament prophet was ever called "God with Us"? And which prophet unequivocally declared "If you have seen me, you have seen God"?

Isaiah 9:6-7  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, Counsellor, 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.

Look at the divine titles given to this Son who was going to be born.

1. Wonderful,

2. Counsellor,

3. The Mighty God,

4. The Everlasting Father,

5. The Prince of Peace.

   
   

This is the reason Jesus was worshipped even from His birth because it was revealed by God's inspiration that He was God in the flesh.

Matthew 2:10-11  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.