From the inward parts of my mother he has made mention of my name.”​—Isaiah 49:1.

5. How is the Messiah named even before he is born as a human?

⁵ The prophecy says that Jehovah will name the Messiah before he is born as a human. (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31) Long before his birth, Jesus is named “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) Immanuel, likely the name of a son of Isaiah, also turns out to be a prophetic name of the Messiah. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23) Even the given name by which the Messiah will come to be known​—Jesus—​is foretold before his birth. (Luke 1:30, 31) This name comes from the Hebrew word that means “Jehovah Is Salvation.” Clearly, Jesus is not a self-appointed Christ.