Isaiah 7:14
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)
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The word used for "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14 ('almâh) doesn't exclusively mean virgin in the strictest sense; it generally refers to a young woman of marriageable age. This subtle distinction is important because it highlights that the miraculous nature of the sign wasn't solely in the woman's marital status, but in the astounding fact that she would conceive and bear a son, a divinely orchestrated event demonstrating God's presence.
King Ahaz of Judah is in a panic because an alliance of Syria and Israel is threatening Jerusalem. The prophet Isaiah, sent by God, urges Ahaz to trust in the Lord for deliverance. When Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign of God's power, God promises to give one anyway. This sign will be the birth of a child to a young woman, whose name, Immanuel, means "God with us," signifying God's presence and protection during this crisis.
King Ahaz is facing an invasion and is terrified. God offers him a sign, but Ahaz refuses. Why would God offer a sign, and why would Ahaz refuse something seemingly so helpful?
The prophet Isaiah is sent to King Ahaz because Judah is under threat from the combined forces of Syria and Israel. Ahaz is terrified, but Isaiah tells him not to fear. God offers to give Ahaz any sign he wants, deep in the earth or high in the heavens, as proof that He will deliver them. However, Ahaz, in his fear and perhaps arrogance, refuses to ask for a sign. He claims he doesn't want to 'test the Lord.'
This refusal is significant. It shows Ahaz’s distrust not just of Isaiah, but of God Himself. He’s not open to God’s intervention and prefers to rely on his own strength or political alliances (which he later seeks with Assyria). God, however, is not deterred. Because Ahaz will not ask, the Lord himself will provide a sign, unasked and unsolicited, demonstrating His sovereign grace and power.
The sign God gives is the birth of a child named Immanuel. What does this name, meaning 'God with us,' signify in the immediate context and for all time?
The sign God provides is extraordinary: 'Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.' This name, Immanuel, is packed with meaning: 'God with us.'
For Ahaz and Judah:
In the immediate context, the birth of Immanuel served as a sign of reassurance to Ahaz and the house of David. It signified that God was with His people, even in their darkest hour. The child's development (knowing good from evil) would mark the time before the immediate threat from Syria and Israel would be removed. The very fact that God would bring a child into the world under these circumstances, and that this child would be named 'God with us,' was a pledge that Judah would not be utterly destroyed.
For Us Today:
But the significance of Immanuel extends far beyond this historical event. This prophecy points forward to Jesus Christ. The New Testament explicitly states that Jesus' birth fulfilled this prophecy (Matthew 1:23). Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, Immanuel. His coming means that God is not distant or detached, but has personally entered human history to be with us, to save us, and to dwell among us. The name encapsulates the entire gospel message – God’s intimate presence with humanity through His Son.
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 is given in a moment of severe political crisis for Judah. While it served as an immediate sign of impending deliverance from the immediate Syrian-Ephraimite threat, its ultimate fulfillment points to a future, divine intervention through the Messiah, God with us.
c. 734 BC
Syrian-Ephraimite War Begins
Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel form an alliance and attack Judah, aiming to depose King Ahaz and install their own candidate.
c. 734 BC
Isaiah's Warning to Ahaz
Isaiah, accompanied by his son Shear-jashub, delivers a message from God to King Ahaz, urging him not to fear the invading coalition.
c. 734 BC— this verse
Ahaz Refuses a Sign
God offers Ahaz a sign to confirm His promise of deliverance, but the king, distrustful and relying on Assyria, refuses to ask for one.
c. 734 BC
Prophecy of Immanuel
In response to Ahaz's unbelief, Isaiah declares that the Lord Himself will give a sign: a young woman will conceive and bear a son named Immanuel.
This passage directly quotes Isaiah 7:14 in the New Testament, explicitly linking the virgin's conception to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, named Immanuel.
Luke 1:26-35The angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary about her miraculous conception of Jesus mirrors the prophecy, emphasizing God's divine intervention in a virgin's pregnancy and the child's divine identity.
John 1:14This verse speaks of the 'Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us,' which is a profound theological reflection on the meaning of Immanuel ('God with us'), the very name given in Isaiah's prophecy.
Micah 5:2-3This prophecy foretells the birthplace of the Messiah and mentions a 'woman in labor who is to give birth,' which echoes Isaiah's sign and connects the birth of the Deliverer to a specific lineage and future hope.
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 word used for "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14 ('almâh) doesn't exclusively mean virgin in the strictest sense; it generally refers to a young woman of marriageable age. This subtle distinction is important because it highlights that the miraculous nature of the sign wasn't solely in the woman's marital status, but in the astounding fact that she would conceive and bear a son, a divinely orchestrated event demonstrating God's presence.
King Ahaz of Judah is in a panic because an alliance of Syria and Israel is threatening Jerusalem. The prophet Isaiah, sent by God, urges Ahaz to trust in the Lord for deliverance. When Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign of God's power, God promises to give one anyway. This sign will be the birth of a child to a young woman, whose name, Immanuel, means "God with us," signifying God's presence and protection during this crisis.
King Ahaz of Judah is in a panic because an alliance of Syria and Israel is threatening Jerusalem. The prophet Isaiah, sent by God, urges Ahaz to trust in the Lord for deliverance. When Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign of God's power, God promises to give one anyway. This sign will be the birth of a child to a young woman, whose name, Immanuel, means "God with us," signifying God's presence and protection during this crisis.
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The prophecy states 'a virgin shall conceive.' What is the significance of this specific detail, and how does it set this sign apart?
The word used in Isaiah for 'virgin' is 'almah.' While sometimes translated as 'young woman,' its primary and most common meaning in Scripture refers to an unmarried young female, a virgin. The scholarly discussions highlight that while the word can refer to a young woman of marriageable age, the context here strongly points to a virgin. The Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses the Greek word for 'virgin' ('parthenos'), indicating how it was understood early on.
Why is this detail crucial? A miraculous conception by a virgin is a sign that only God could orchestrate. It sets this prophecy apart as a divine intervention, not a natural occurrence. It’s a supernatural stamp on the sign, pointing to the extraordinary nature of the child and the one who sends him.
This miraculous conception is essential to the prophecy's fulfillment in Jesus Christ, as Matthew records. It underscores that Jesus is not merely a man, but the divine Son of God, born in a unique way to bring God's presence and salvation to humanity. It’s a powerful reminder that God’s plan of salvation often involves the impossible, requiring our faith in His unique power.
c. 734 BC
Prophecy of Mahershalal-hash-baz
Isaiah's own son is given a name that signifies impending judgment, and the prophet predicts the swift defeat of Syria and Israel.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, fulfilling the prophecy of its destruction.
c. 605 BC - 539 BC
Babylonian Exile
Judah is eventually conquered by Babylon, and many are taken into exile, a period that highlights the long-term significance of God's presence and faithfulness.
"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 word used for "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14 ('almâh) doesn't exclusively mean virgin in the strictest sense; it generally refers to a young woman of marriageable age. This subtle distinction is imp…
