Isaiah 7:14-6. In comparison with Matthew ,Song of Solomon 1:3; 6:8; 1 Chronicles 15:20.
Genesis 24:43; Exodus 2:8; Isaiah 7:13; Proverbs 30:19. Joel 1:8.
Was the prophet Isaiah speaking of a virgin conceiving or not?
In Deuteronomy 22 a betrothed virgin is man's "wife" (isah).
The Gospel of Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14 linking Jesus' conception to the sign the prophet Isaiah has given centuries earlier. Those who believe the gospel account regards Isaiah 7:14 as a messianic passage fulfilled by the birth of Jesus. Some disagree. Did the prophet intend that word to mean virgin" or merely "young maiden"? Are Christian interpreters reading too much into this verse? Zhava glaser presents the case for you to decide for yourself.
The word almah is rare - usually translated as "maiden" it appears only ten times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Six of this in the plural Android in the singular. Some even say the word almah is the feminine of elem, or "young man".
In the few verses verses where the word almah appears, the word clearly denotes a young woman who is not married but is of marriageable age. Although almah does not implicitly denotes virginity. It is never used in the scripture to describe a young, presently married woman. It is important to remember that in the Bible,a young Jewish woman of marriageable age was presumed chaste.
The prophet could have chosen a different word had he wanted to describe Immanuel's mother as a virgin. Betulah is a more common way to refer to a woman who has never known a man ( both in Bible and modern Hebrew).
In the Hebrew Scriptures there are two types of betulot- the true virgin, and the " betrothed virgin" (betulah m'orashah). In Deuteronomy 22, a betrothed virgin is described as man's "wife" (ishah). The state betrothal was just as serious and sacred as the marriage state and the difference between the two appears in some instances to be a mere formality. The word betulah, commonly understood as virgin is still not precise.
Joel 1:8, presents another example of the word betulah in a context which down not convey the usual meaning of virginity: "Mourn like a virgin (betulah) in sackcloth, grieving for her husband of her youth."
Some commentators say this refers to a betrothed virgin, thus making the lamentation all the more poignant because the marriage has never been consummated. The use of ba'al (husband) in this verse,however, seems to imply the opposite. The word ba'al is never used in the Jewish scriptures of the betrothed state, but only of a married man. Therefore even if the prophet Isaiah had used the word betulah, it could have been argued that he didn't intend to say that this woman had never had a sexual relations with a man. One cannot assert that the prophet was speaking of a virgin technically on the basis of the word almah. Nor can a serous student lightly dismiss the word as having no possible reference to a miraculous conception.
Genesis 24:43; Exodus 2:8; Isaiah 7:13; Proverbs 30:19. Joel 1:8.
Was the prophet Isaiah speaking of a virgin conceiving or not?
In Deuteronomy 22 a betrothed virgin is man's "wife" (isah).
The Gospel of Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14 linking Jesus' conception to the sign the prophet Isaiah has given centuries earlier. Those who believe the gospel account regards Isaiah 7:14 as a messianic passage fulfilled by the birth of Jesus. Some disagree. Did the prophet intend that word to mean virgin" or merely "young maiden"? Are Christian interpreters reading too much into this verse? Zhava glaser presents the case for you to decide for yourself.
The word almah is rare - usually translated as "maiden" it appears only ten times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Six of this in the plural Android in the singular. Some even say the word almah is the feminine of elem, or "young man".
In the few verses verses where the word almah appears, the word clearly denotes a young woman who is not married but is of marriageable age. Although almah does not implicitly denotes virginity. It is never used in the scripture to describe a young, presently married woman. It is important to remember that in the Bible,a young Jewish woman of marriageable age was presumed chaste.
The prophet could have chosen a different word had he wanted to describe Immanuel's mother as a virgin. Betulah is a more common way to refer to a woman who has never known a man ( both in Bible and modern Hebrew).
In the Hebrew Scriptures there are two types of betulot- the true virgin, and the " betrothed virgin" (betulah m'orashah). In Deuteronomy 22, a betrothed virgin is described as man's "wife" (ishah). The state betrothal was just as serious and sacred as the marriage state and the difference between the two appears in some instances to be a mere formality. The word betulah, commonly understood as virgin is still not precise.
Joel 1:8, presents another example of the word betulah in a context which down not convey the usual meaning of virginity: "Mourn like a virgin (betulah) in sackcloth, grieving for her husband of her youth."
Some commentators say this refers to a betrothed virgin, thus making the lamentation all the more poignant because the marriage has never been consummated. The use of ba'al (husband) in this verse,however, seems to imply the opposite. The word ba'al is never used in the Jewish scriptures of the betrothed state, but only of a married man. Therefore even if the prophet Isaiah had used the word betulah, it could have been argued that he didn't intend to say that this woman had never had a sexual relations with a man. One cannot assert that the prophet was speaking of a virgin technically on the basis of the word almah. Nor can a serous student lightly dismiss the word as having no possible reference to a miraculous conception.
