Bible Study Discussions with Gary Panell

Question: You wrote an article claiming that Jesus did claim divinity with regards to Isaiah 7:14, but there's a problem with this verse...Quote from a web page: "ha'almah, a feminine noun with a definite article, "the young woman." This noun has traditionally been translated as "virgin," but research reveals that more likely it means "a young woman of marriageable age" (i.e., old enough to bear a child) without any specific indication of whether or not she is a virgin."

Answer: "Many critics have argued that the Hebrew word means simply 'young, unmarried woman,' rather than 'virgin,' and some translations have translated it as such. This is nothing but a device to avoid the miracle of Christ's virgin birth. The word is used some six or more times in the Old Testament and in all instances the context favors (or at least does not preclude) its rendering as 'virgin.' Conception by a 'young unmarried woman' would hardly be a sign of anything except sin, for such events occur frequently. A virgin conception would require a mighty act of creation by God Himself! The quotation of this verse in the New Testament (Matthew 1:23) should remove any lingering doubt, for the Greek word used there (parthenos) can only mean 'virgin.'" (The New Defender's Study Bible by Dr. Henry M. Morris)

(Originally this response provided a quote from the New Spirit Filled Life Bible, however we feel this quote from The New Defender's Study Bible provides a better answer)

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Keywords: Jesus, Christ, Messiah, divinity, divine, virgin, young woman, ha'almah