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The virgin birth of Jesus is one of the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. According to Scripture, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. But why does this doctrine matter, and what does the Bible actually teach about it?
To understand the virgin birth of Jesus, we need to look at Isaiah 7:14, Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, and the objections that have been raised against this prophecy. More importantly, we need to understand what the virgin birth reveals about the identity and mission of Jesus Christ.
Larry King, the CNN talk show host, was once asked who he would most want to interview if he could choose anyone from all of history. He said, “Jesus Christ.” The questioner said, “And what would you like to ask Him?” King replied, “I would like to ask Him if He was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me.”
Throughout history, the virgin birth of Jesus has been questioned by skeptics and debated by theologians. Yet Scripture presents it as an important part of the biblical testimony concerning the identity of Jesus Christ. It is one of their favourite topics to mock Jesus and the Christians. They question this fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith from any and every angle.
But the virgin birth of Jesus highlights the supernatural. In the words of John Piper
On one end of Jesus’ life lies his supernatural conception and birth; on the other, his supernatural resurrection and his ascension to God’s right hand. Jesus’ authenticity was attested to by the supernatural working of his Father.
Moreover, it shows the fully human and fully divine nature of Jesus!
What Does the Bible Say About the Virgin Birth of Jesus?
Isaiah 7:14 (TLV)
Therefore Adonai Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin [‘almah] will conceive [‘is with child’ or ‘will be with child’]. When she is giving birth to a son, she will call his name Immanuel.
But this verse is quoted only once in the entire New Testament, by Matthew, in chapter 1 verse 23.
Matthew 1:23 (TLV)
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.”
Let us look a little closer to the above scriptures.
The Virgin Birth of Jesus and Isaiah 7:14
Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the tribe of Judah went through a great crisis. They were being attacked by their brothers in the north, the Israelites, together with the Arameans. Moreover, these armies were heading towards Jerusalem to take the city, remove the king (in Judah the king was always a descendant of David), and put their own man on the throne.
Most importantly to understand, this was an attack on God’s established dynasty through which the promised Messiah would come.
However, Ahaz, the current king of Judah was a faithless man who relied more on foreign help than on God. Therefore, the Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to speak to him urging him to put his trust in YHWH (God) and assuring him that Judah’s enemies would be defeated (Isaiah 7:7-9).
Needless to
What Did Isaiah 7:14 Mean to Its Original Hearers?
In spite of Isaiah 8:8 and 8:10, the context does not make the matter clear. In the light of the text, the birth of the child has something to do with the future of the house of David— because the Lord says He will give a sign to the unbelieving house of David.
As Michael L. Brown says:
From our current vantage point, it is impossible to determine exactly what the prophecy meant to the original hearers when it was delivered, other than that it was a promise of a supernatural sign, a birth of great importance to the house of David, a token of divine intervention and deliverance, and a rebuke to unbelief and apostasy.
How Isaiah 7:14 Points to the Virgin Birth of Jesus
Isaiah 7:14 was God’s answer to the attack on the Davidic dynasty and was meant to demonstrate His power. Matthew saw the same thing as he looked back at Isaiah 7:14— he did see the birth of Immanuel as extremely significant in the context of Isaiah 7-8, and he saw the two Messianic prophecies in Isaiah 9 and 11. Moreover, Matthew saw that Jesus/Yeshua’s birth was a supernatural sign and that Yeshua was Immanuel— the fulfillment of the sign prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 (and many other prophecies)!
Does the Hebrew Word Almah Really Mean Virgin?
The main objection is against Matthew’s translation of the word ‘almah with ‘virgin’. I am sure that you are aware of the countless debates over this topic. However, the word ‘almah can refer to a virgin but it does not always mean virgin. Its basic meaning is primarily related to adolescence— young woman. Most importantly, in Biblical Hebrew language, there is no single word that always and only means ‘virgin’. Indeed, not even the word
And the Septuagint translates the Hebrew word ‘almah with
In other words, it is possible that the Septuagint indicated an expectation that the birth spoken in Isaiah 7:14 would be virginal and thus supernatural. So, no need for anyone to attack the Scriptures when the text allows you to give the above translations.
Why the Virgin Birth of Jesus Matters for Christian Faith
Therefore, the deepest meaning of the prophecy became apparent as the fullness of time arrived and Matthew pointed to any person who wants to see that Jesus/Yeshua fulfilled the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy. Matthew 1:18 (ESV)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
That was God’s plan from the beginning. It took seven hundred years for us to clearly see the fulfilment of the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy, in the Gospel of Matthew.
What the Virgin Birth Reveals About Jesus
Mark Driscoll says
If the virgin birth of Jesus is untrue, then the story of Jesus changes greatly; we would have a sexually promiscuous young woman lying about God’s miraculous hand in the birth of her son, raising that son to declare he was God, and then joining his religion. But if Mary is nothing more than a sinful con artist then neither she nor her son Jesus should be trusted. Because both the clear teachings of Scripture about the beginning of Jesus’ earthly life and the character of his mother are at stake, we must contend for the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
My aim is to help you strengthen your faith in the Word of God. And keep the doctrine of the virgin birth of Jesus at the foundation of Christmas.
The virgin birth is not simply a detail in the Christmas story. It points us toward the extraordinary identity of Jesus Christ. He entered human history through the supernatural work of God, fulfilling Scripture and revealing God’s faithfulness to His promises. The doctrine therefore helps us understand not only how Jesus was born, but who Jesus is.
Do you agree?
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I am a blogger, writer, pastor, Director of Zion Romania Bible School, husband to Olguta, a father and, most importantly, a child of God. I also completed my studies at the King’s University where I earned a B.A. in Theology with a concentration in Messianic Jewish Studies. I love Israel and I love the ‘Jewishness’ of the Bible.
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