Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophecy's sign is more than just a future child; it's a deliberate, unasked-for demonstration by God Himself. The name "Immanuel" (God with us) isn't just a label but an active declaration that God intends to be present and protective, even when the king's faith has failed. This emphasizes God's initiative in providing reassurance, even to those who refuse to seek it.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Ahaz of Judah is facing an invasion by a formidable alliance of Syria and Israel. Despite the prophet Isaiah's initial reassurance of deliverance, Ahaz has refused to ask for a sign from God to confirm the prophecy. Instead, God, in His grace, declares that He will provide His own sign, a sign centered on the birth of a child named Immanuel, meaning "God with us."
King Ahaz is given a choice for a sign, but he refuses, fearing his enemies more than trusting God. Yet, God, in His grace, offers a sign anyway.
A Sign of Grace, Not Demand
When King Ahaz and his people were in deep distress, facing invasion, God, through Isaiah, offered them a sign. This wasn't just any sign; it was an unsolicited gift. Ahaz, consumed by fear, refused to ask for a sign, claiming he didn't want to 'tempt the Lord' (Isaiah 7:12). This was a hollow excuse; his real issue was a lack of faith.
Despite Ahaz's refusal, God, out of His own abundant grace and faithfulness, declared, 'Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign' (Isaiah 7:14). This demonstrates a core truth: God's promises and His signs are not dependent on our worthiness or our requests, but on His sovereign goodness and His commitment to His people. Even when we fail to trust, He remains faithful.
The name 'Immanuel'—'God with us'—carries profound meaning, pointing to a divine presence that transcends ordinary human experience.
More Than Just a Name
The child born is to be named Immanuel, meaning 'God with us'. This name is not merely a label but a divine declaration.
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Understand the original words
almah · Hebrew Noun
A young woman of marriageable age, often interpreted as one who is chaste or unmarried; in the context of this prophecy, it signifies a miraculous, supernatural conception.
Immanuel · Hebrew Proper Noun
A compound name meaning "God with us," signifying the divine presence and intervention among His people, ultimately fulfilled in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
The prophecy of Immanuel to King Ahaz occurs amidst a brutal war and the looming threat of the Assyrian Empire. While offering immediate reassurance of deliverance from the Syrian-Ephraimite coalition, the name and future implications of the child point toward a deeper, Messianic hope, underscoring God's enduring presence and ultimate salvation for His people, even in their darkest hours.
Late 8th century BC
Syrian-Ephraimite War begins
Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel form an alliance to attack Judah and depose King Ahaz. They lay siege to Jerusalem.
Mid-8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Expansion
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III, aggressively expands its territory, posing a growing threat to the kingdoms of the Levant.
c. 734 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Prophecy to Ahaz
The Lord sends Isaiah to King Ahaz of Judah during the siege of Jerusalem, offering a sign of deliverance in the form of a virgin conceiving a son named Immanuel.
c. 734-732 BC
Assyrian Intervention
Ahaz appeals to Assyria for help against the invading forces. Tiglath-Pileser III intervenes, conquering Damascus and northern Israel, thus relieving Jerusalem but bringing Judah under Assyrian suzerainty.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, and its people are exiled, fulfilling part of Isaiah's prophecy about the destruction of Ephraim.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion under Sennacherib
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, capturing many cities and besieging Jerusalem. Hezekiah, Ahaz's son, trusts in the Lord and Isaiah's prophecies, leading to a miraculous deliverance of the city.
This passage directly quotes Isaiah 7:14 to explain the miraculous conception of Jesus, highlighting the fulfillment of 'Immanuel' – 'God with us' – in His birth.
John 1:14This verse echoes the 'God with us' theme of Immanuel by stating that 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,' underscoring the profound reality of God's presence in human form.
Genesis 3:15This foundational promise, that the 'seed of the woman' would crush the serpent's head, foreshadows a divine intervention in human history, a theme powerfully realized in the virgin birth and the coming of Immanuel.
Micah 5:2-3This prophecy of the ruler whose 'origin is from of old, from ancient days' and who will give birth until the 'time when she who is in labor bears,' directly connects to the Messianic expectation and the unique birth foretold in Isaiah.
barnesIsaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Therefore - Since you will not "ask" a pledge that the land shall be safe, Yahweh will furnish one unasked. A sign or proof is desirable in the case, and Yahweh will not withhold it because a proud and contemptuous monarch refuses to seek it. Perhaps there is no prophecy in the Old Testament on which more has been written, and which has produced mor…
pooleIsaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Therefore; because you despise me, and the sign which I now offer to you, God of his own free grace will send you a more honourable messenger, and give you a nobler sign, to try whether that will cure you of your infidelity. Or, nevertheless , as this particle seems to be understood, Isaiah 30:18 Jeremiah 16:14 30:16 . Although you deserve no sign n…
The prophecy's sign is more than just a future child; it's a deliberate, unasked-for demonstration by God Himself. The name "Immanuel" (God with us) isn't just a label but an active declaration that God intends to be present and protective, even when the king's faith has failed. This emphasizes God's initiative in providing reassurance, even to those who refuse to seek it.
King Ahaz of Judah is facing an invasion by a formidable alliance of Syria and Israel. Despite the prophet Isaiah's initial reassurance of deliverance, Ahaz has refused to ask for a sign from God to confirm the prophecy. Instead, God, in His grace, declares that He will provide His own sign, a sign centered on the birth of a child named Immanuel, meaning "God with us."
King Ahaz of Judah is facing an invasion by a formidable alliance of Syria and Israel. Despite the prophet Isaiah's initial reassurance of deliverance, Ahaz has refused to ask for a sign from God to confirm the prophecy. Instead, God, in His grace, declares that He will provide His own sign, a sign centered on the birth of a child named Immanuel, meaning "God with us."
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." — The prophecy's sign is more than just a future child; it's a deliberate, unasked-for demonstration by God Himself. The name "Immanuel" (God with us) isn't just a label but an active declaration that…
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Last reviewed October 2026