Isaiah 7:14

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Phish_Phan

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Does the Hebrew word “Almah” mean Virgin or Young Women?
 
I do not know Hebrew, but I am learning Greek. The Greek of Isaiah 7:14 reads:

διὰ τοῦτο δώσει Κύριος αὐτὸς ὑμῖν σημεῖον· ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει, καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Εμμανουήλ·

The word “παρθένος” means “maiden” or “a chaste young woman” or “virgin.”

I am sharing the Septuagint wording as that is the translation that was used by the Gospel writers.

Considering that this translation was completed a few centuries before the birth of Christ, it seems rather moot as to whether or not the Hebrew means “virgin” or “young woman.” The Greek means both simultaneously.

Remember: that in many places, the Hebrew we translate from in the Old Testament is not the original Hebrew. I would compare the translations of the Masoretic texts with the Septuagint to find the meaning of the original. There is little doubt where the two translations agree that those points are authentic to the original. Where they differ, I would lean towards the Septuagint myself, considering the Masoretic texts are a much later document.

I hope this helps, even in a small way.
 
Phish_Phan said:
Does the Hebrew word “Almah” mean Virgin or Young Women?
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The word “almah” in Hebrew technically means a young, unmarried woman (damsel, maiden) who has reached puberty. Sometimes its implicit meaning is a virgin, but not always. The same is true for the word “betulah,” often used to mean virgin but sometimes simply a young woman. The Septuagint translated the word into the Greek “parthenos,” meaning a virgin. However, there is no precise word for virgin in Hebrew without the connotation of a young woman. The use of this verse from Isaiah as one example of a proof-text for the Virgin Mary’s giving birth to Jesus, the Messiah and the Son of G-d, can neither be supported nor refuted by the definition of “almah.” Therefore, Jewish biblical scholars have instead drawn attention to the context of the passage from Isaiah, which makes no mention of a Messiah but rather discusses a more immediate future event involving a King and Isaiah. Furthermore, they note that the Hebrew tense is in the present, that is, she is pregnant with child, and not in the future, she will become pregnant.
 
Phish_Phan said:
Does the Hebrew word “Almah” mean Virgin or Young Women?
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…I’m no linguist/scholar… I’m truly pedestrian… what I find interesting with the scholars and linguists is that they see something where there’s nothing to see and they ignore anything that is truly being revealed…

Consider this: what truly miraculous event is there in a young woman giving birth (I think that I heard that somewhere in Latin America or China a girl younger than 10 years old had been impregnated)… unless that is the last fertile young woman in a whole region? Conversely, a virgin bith could only but stand out and point to an epic event: the Incarnation of the Word!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
meltzerboy said:
The word “almah” in Hebrew technically means a young, unmarried woman (damsel, maiden) who has reached puberty. Sometimes its implicit meaning is a virgin, but not always. The same is true for the word “betulah,” often used to mean virgin but sometimes simply a young woman. The Septuagint translated the word into the Greek “parthenos,” meaning a virgin. However, there is no precise word for virgin in Hebrew without the connotation of a young woman. The use of this verse from Isaiah as one example of a proof-text for the Virgin Mary’s giving birth to Jesus, the Messiah and the Son of G-d, can neither be supported nor refuted by the definition of “almah.” Therefore, Jewish biblical scholars have instead drawn attention to the context of the passage from Isaiah, which makes no mention of a Messiah but rather discusses a more immediate future event involving a King and Isaiah. Furthermore, they note that the Hebrew tense is in the present, that is, she is pregnant with child, and not in the future, she will become pregnant.
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…but the relationship is established by Jesus contemporaries (St. Luke) as opposed to a present day revisit of the prophecy… incidentally, are prophecies not constructed with various layers–some dealing with the immediate time of the prophecy’s pronouncement while simultaneously applied/developing hundreds of years later?

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Matthew translated Isa 7:14 In the following

Matt1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,23 Behold, a virgin [parthénos] shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
 
Dave_Noonan said:
Young woman–culturally presumed to be a virgin.
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Exactly.

To the Jews of the day, the “young maiden” would be understood to be virgin. In 21th century United States, sadly, that can no longer be understood.

But the 3rd century Greek speaking Jews understood the term to mean “virgin” when they translated the Hebrew Scriptures. It should once again be noted that the Holy Spirit-inspired Matthew understood the term to mean “virgin” when he quoted the Scripture in his Gospel.
 
How is the Isaiah 7:14 about the Messiah when reading Isaiah 7 in context Isaiah 7:14 refers to the time of Ahaz and Isaiah?. How does Isaiah 7:14 fit the Christ ?

How can this verse refer to Jesus after 700 years ?.

Thanks
 
meltzerboy said:
The word “almah” in Hebrew technically means a young, unmarried woman (damsel, maiden) who has reached puberty. Sometimes its implicit meaning is a virgin, but not always. The same is true for the word “betulah,” often used to mean virgin but sometimes simply a young woman. The Septuagint translated the word into the Greek “parthenos,” meaning a virgin. However, there is no precise word for virgin in Hebrew without the connotation of a young woman. The use of this verse from Isaiah as one example of a proof-text for the Virgin Mary’s giving birth to Jesus, the Messiah and the Son of G-d, can neither be supported nor refuted by the definition of “almah.” Therefore, Jewish biblical scholars have instead drawn attention to the context of the passage from Isaiah, which makes no mention of a Messiah but rather discusses a more immediate future event involving a King and Isaiah. Furthermore, they note that the Hebrew tense is in the present, that is, she is pregnant with child, and not in the future, she will become pregnant.
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I think you have been very fair in your summation. Although the Babylonian Talmud in Sanhedrin 94a may have considered Isaiah 7:14 as Messianic, since it refers to Isaiah 9:6 as being Messianic and as applying to Hezekiah.

come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_94.html

Thus, this prophecy may have had a present day fulfillment in Hezekiah, and also a future fulfillment. Which might explain why the Jewish translators of the Septuagint in the 3rd century B.C. translated the Hebrew word, ‘almah’ (young maiden) as the Greek word, ‘parthenos’ (virgin).

Post Hezekiah, the Jewish scribes of the Septuagint may have been looking forward to a future messianic fulfillment of this scripture.
 
Phish_Phan said:
Does the Hebrew word “Almah” mean Virgin or Young Women?
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Almah can mean virgin or young women depending on the context and intent in which it is used. The correct translation for Isaiah 7:14 should render almah to mean virgin.

Evidence of this is the Septuagint. The 70 JEWISH elders around 200BC ho translated the hebrew scriptures into greek translated almah as “parthenos” which is greek for virgin.
 
mercytruth said:
I think you have been very fair in your summation. Although the Babylonian Talmud in Sanhedrin 94a may have considered Isaiah 7:14 as Messianic, since it refers to Isaiah 9:6 as being Messianic and as applying to Hezekiah.

come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_94.html
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‘come-and-hear’ isn’t a site I’d have thought you’d have chosen (it’s a Jew-hate organisation). Perhaps you might consider an alternative source?
 
Psalm110 said:
How is the Isaiah 7:14 about the Messiah when reading Isaiah 7 in context Isaiah 7:14 refers to the time of Ahaz and Isaiah?. How does Isaiah 7:14 fit the Christ ?

How can this verse refer to Jesus after 700 years ?.

Thanks
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The problem with Scriptures is that they are not set to be read as a novel (sci-fi) or a biography (based on real life); further, Scriptures do not have the regular constraints as other forms of writings because they are the Word of God (Revelations that stand within time and outside of time)… here’s one particular passage that can help you understand better:
1 Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, to all those living as aliens in the Dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen, 2 in the foresight of God the Father, to be made holy by the Spirit, obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into a heritage that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away. It is reserved in heaven for you 5 who are being kept safe by God’s power through faith until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the final point of time. 6 This is a great joy to you, even though for a short time yet you must bear all sorts of trials; 7 so that the worth of your faith, more valuable than gold, which is perishable even if it has been tested by fire, may be proved – to your praise and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 You have not seen him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him you believe in him and so are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described; 9 and you are sure of the goal of your faith, that is, the salvation of your souls. 10 This salvation was the subject of the search and investigation of the prophets who spoke of the grace you were to receive, 11 searching out the time and circumstances for which the Spirit of Christ, bearing witness in them, was revealing the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow them. 12 It was revealed to them that it was for your sake and not their own that they were acting as servants delivering the message which has now been announced to you by those who preached to you the gospel through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even the angels long to catch a glimpse of these things. 13 Your minds, then, must be sober and ready for action; put all your hope in the grace brought to you by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 Do not allow yourselves to be shaped by the passions of your old ignorance, 15 but as obedient children, be yourselves holy in all your activity, after the model of the Holy One who calls us, 16 since scripture says, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ 17 And if you address as Father him who judges without favouritism according to each individual’s deeds, live out the time of your exile here in reverent awe. 18 For you know that the price of your ransom from the futile way of life handed down from your ancestors was paid, not in anything perishable like silver or gold, 19 but in precious blood as of a blameless and spotless lamb, Christ. 20 He was marked out before the world was made, and was revealed at the final point of time for your sake. 21 Through him you now have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for this very purpose – that your faith and hope should be in God. 22 Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves so that you can experience the genuine love of brothers, love each other intensely from the heart; 23 for your new birth was not from any perishable seed but from imperishable seed, the living and enduring Word of God. 24 For all humanity is grass, and all its beauty like the wild flower’s. As grass withers, the flower fades, 25 but the Word of the Lord remains for ever. And this Word is the Good News that has been brought to you. (1 St. Peter 1:1-25)
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…as you can see, Scriptures attest that God’s Word is Eternal; that Salvation, in Jesus, is Eternal; that God’s Gospel (Good News) is Eternal–the message given to the prophets (sages) revealed only a small portion of temporal importance while the girth of Salvation was kept hidden untill the Revelation of Christ: the Messiah: the Immanuel!

…the importance of Isaiah’s particular revelation is not that a young woman gives birth (something that is known to happen even with girls as young as 10 years of age) but that the Birth was a Virgin Birth:
31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; 33 he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ 34 Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?’ 35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. 36 And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, 37 for nothing is impossible to God.’ (St. Luke 1:31-37)
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Maran atha!

Angel
 
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