A Virgin Shall Conceive

In Isaiah 7, another major revelation about the advent of the Messiah was given. Like the prophecy of Genesis 3:15, it also was given in the context of a rebuke. In this case, God announced that the one who was to come would make his appearance through the miraculous means of being born to a virgin. The fact that God spoke of this one as Immanuel (“God with us”) was a strong indication that this was the promised Redeemer. And yet, many scholars have questioned whether it was indeed Jesus who was in view here. Some believe this was a reference to a child who would be born to Isaiah himself, or to someone else in that same general time. Furthermore, many have questioned whether the Hebrew word rendered as “virgin”is properly translated here. Language experts point out that bethula, the Hebrew word that specifically means “virgin,” is not used here. Rather, it is almah, a word that can mean “young woman.” Other scholars argue that “young woman” is too broad a term, and that almah should be translated “maiden,” a word that certainly implies virginity. So the controversies that surround this passage are deep and extensive.

However, all arguments must cease when we turn to the New Testament, for Matthew specifically quotes this verse in reference to the birth of Jesus. In fact, he goes so far as to say that the Virgin Birth happened as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Matt. 1:22–23). To bolster his case, Matthew reports that Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but they had not yet come together when she was discovered to be pregnant. Joseph assumed that she had had sexual relations with another man, and made plans to break off the betrothal. But God intervened by sending an angel to tell Joseph to proceed to take Mary as his wife, and to tell him the incredible truth that “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20). Joseph obeyed, but he did not have relations with Mary “till she had brought forth her firstborn Son” (Matt. 1:25). Likewise, Luke affirms that Mary was a virgin (Luke 1:27). When she heard that God would give her a Son, she protested that she had never been intimate with a man (Luke 1:34). She could not imagine such a miracle. But the angel reminded her that nothing is impossible for God. At that point, Mary submitted and believed the “impossible”—and we would do well to do the same.