Birth & AdventModerate

Born of a Virgin

Written: ~735 BCFulfilled: ~5 BC

Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and called Immanuel, meaning "God with us."

Prophecy & Fulfillment

Old Testament Prophecy

Isaiah 7:14

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

New Testament Fulfillment

Matthew 1:22-23

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us")."

Commentary

The Hebrew word almah refers to a young woman of marriageable age, with the implication of virginity. Matthew quotes the Septuagint (Greek translation) which uses parthenos (virgin) explicitly. The sign of a virgin birth would be supernatural, marking the child as uniquely divine.