A Virgin Shall Bear a Son

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Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 (NRSV)

Isaiah was prophet to King Ahaz, among others, and it was to this young king Isaiah delivered the prophecy of a young woman with child. Isaiah’s prediction held near-term significance for the beleaguered Judean ruler. But we know today, nearly three thousand years later, the full import of Isaiah’s words.

Virgin or Young Woman?

My training as a Bible teacher begins with interpreting the Bible with the Bible whenever possible. Often a more difficult text to understand gains clarity in the broader historical context, examining the original language, and within the passage itself. Difficult texts also gain clarity when compared with similar, easier-to-understand passages that touch on the same material.

What makes understanding this prophecy difficult is the Hebrew word הָעַלְמָ֗ה | haʿalmâ Which can mean the virgin, or the young woman, or the woman of marriageable age, or even the newly married woman.

So, part of what we take into consideration is the historical context of Ahaz’s lineage. He was a descendant of the House of David, so this sign most likely was to have meaning in the context of this young king.

But we have an even better scriptural tool at our disposal, and it is a similar passage in which this very prophecy is identified as having been fulfilled.

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 

Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly.  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
    and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” 

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.(NRSV)

Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew lets us know the word haʿalmâ was meant to be understood as the virgin.

Near-Term, Far-Term

For King Ahaz, this sign was certainly meant to convey that a noteworthy child would be born as the first child to a young woman, and the child would be named “God is with us.”  His arrival would be confirmation that God’s word was true and God’s promises sure, that God would protect Judah, and David’s lineage and throne.

Today, the true meaning of “God With Us” is embodied in Jesus, the Savior of the World, full expression of God’s love and compassion.

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