Mary, Virgin or Young Woman According to Isaiah 7:14?
As Christmas approaches, I thought it would be fitting to consider an issue I've heard raised in a few places over the years. The most famous example might be when the Hasidic-clad diamond thieves are discussing the Virgin Mary at the start of the movie, "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", written and directed by Guy Ritchie who was married to Madonna at the time. I believe without a doubt that this was expressive of her view of Isaiah 7:14 as interpreted by the Kabbalah, which she was/is following.
In any case, the issue, briefly summarized, is this. In Isaiah 7:14, the scripture says, "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 Hebrew word here translated "virgin" is 'almah, which arguably means girl or young woman of marriageable age. So some have claimed that 'virgin' is not necessarily part of the essential meaning of the word and so it ought not to be translated 'virgin' but 'girl' or 'young woman'. This is thus an attack on the virgin birth because it attacks the Old Testament prophecy of a virgin birth.
But there are two problems with this. One is that the word 'almah is the feminine form of 'elem, both of which come from a primitive root meaning "to veil or hide, or otherwise in reference to a secret thing". The Bible often uses the phrase, "he knew his wife" to refer to sexual relations (Gen 4:1, 1 Sam 1:19), both the first time and subsequent times, and thus a secret, veiled, or hidden girl is one who has not been known, i.e. a virgin. As Mary would later say to the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man" (Luke 1:34).
So the word 'almah itself essentially does mean a virgin girl and not just a young girl who might typically be considered a virgin.
Secondly there is an argument from context, a logical argument that is found in the first part of the verse (and also in verse 11):
"Therefore the LORD Himself shall give you a sign; "
The conception of the 'almah is a sign or miracle from God. For a girl or young woman of marriageable age to become pregnant is not a sign from God unless the girl is a virgin. Everyone understands this.
So the proof that the word 'almah is correctly translated "virgin" is shown from both the root meaning of the word itself and the context in which it is used.
The matter is sure and there is no basis for casting doubt upon it. And as the New Testament reveals, this sign was given in the conception of Mary, of whom it was said:
"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35
This also connects with Isaiah 7:14 and the name Immanuel, since it is because the Holy Ghost came upon her that she conceived and thus Jesus is called the Son of God or Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (Matthew 1:20-25).
Praise the Lord for His inviolable Word! Merry Christmas!
In any case, the issue, briefly summarized, is this. In Isaiah 7:14, the scripture says, "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 Hebrew word here translated "virgin" is 'almah, which arguably means girl or young woman of marriageable age. So some have claimed that 'virgin' is not necessarily part of the essential meaning of the word and so it ought not to be translated 'virgin' but 'girl' or 'young woman'. This is thus an attack on the virgin birth because it attacks the Old Testament prophecy of a virgin birth.
But there are two problems with this. One is that the word 'almah is the feminine form of 'elem, both of which come from a primitive root meaning "to veil or hide, or otherwise in reference to a secret thing". The Bible often uses the phrase, "he knew his wife" to refer to sexual relations (Gen 4:1, 1 Sam 1:19), both the first time and subsequent times, and thus a secret, veiled, or hidden girl is one who has not been known, i.e. a virgin. As Mary would later say to the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man" (Luke 1:34).
So the word 'almah itself essentially does mean a virgin girl and not just a young girl who might typically be considered a virgin.
Secondly there is an argument from context, a logical argument that is found in the first part of the verse (and also in verse 11):
"Therefore the LORD Himself shall give you a sign; "
The conception of the 'almah is a sign or miracle from God. For a girl or young woman of marriageable age to become pregnant is not a sign from God unless the girl is a virgin. Everyone understands this.
So the proof that the word 'almah is correctly translated "virgin" is shown from both the root meaning of the word itself and the context in which it is used.
The matter is sure and there is no basis for casting doubt upon it. And as the New Testament reveals, this sign was given in the conception of Mary, of whom it was said:
"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35
This also connects with Isaiah 7:14 and the name Immanuel, since it is because the Holy Ghost came upon her that she conceived and thus Jesus is called the Son of God or Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (Matthew 1:20-25).
Praise the Lord for His inviolable Word! Merry Christmas!
