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From: christian@topaz.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.religion.christian
Subject: Isaiah 7:14
Message-ID: <9753@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Mon, 2-Mar-87 05:59:11 EST
Article-I.D.: topaz.9753
Posted: Mon Mar  2 05:59:11 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 3-Mar-87 21:07:56 EST
Sender: hedrick@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU
Organization: Rutgers Univ.
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Approved: christian@topaz.UUCP

Since this is my first posting to this newsgroup, let me begin by saying that 
I have enjoyed following the postings in this group for the last three or so
months.  It is refreshing to have a place where Christians can discuss their
faith openly in an atmosphere of acceptance which is not available in the
world at large.

Now down to business.  I have been watching the postings concerning Vasu's
questions and I felt like I had to get my two cents worth in concerning the
interpretation of Isaiah 7:14.  It is true that there is great controversy
over the interpretation of this verse.  The Hebrew word 'almah' which is used
in this verse can be translated as 'virgin' or 'maiden'.  In either case, it
is always used to refer to an unmarried young girl.

There is one major reason (other than the context of the passage which
implies that a 'miraculous' sign will be given to the House of Juday) why
a translation of 'almah' to 'virgin' is warranted.  About the year 250 B.C.,
the leading Jewish rabbi's of the day undertook to translate the Hebrew
scriptures into Greek for the benefit of the many Greek speaking Jew's of 
that era.  The result is an Old Testament translation called the Septuagint.
In the Septuagint, the Greek word 'parthenos' is used to translate the Hebrew
word 'almah'.  This Greek word can only mean 'virgin'.  Had they wanted to
translate the word to mean 'maiden', they could have done so as there is a
separate Greek word which has this meaning.  What conclusion do I draw from
this?  At least one group of Jewish scholars who were not tainted by a 
desire to discredit the messianic claims of Jesus and his followers felt 
that the sign signified that a virgin would conceive.

For those of you who would like to study more about the fulfilment by Jesus
of Old Testament messianic prophecy, I would suggest as an introduction the
book "The Promise" by Hal Lindsey (in paperback from Bantam Books at about
$3.50).  It contains a discussion of the major messianic prophecies which
Jesus fulfilled and would be a good introduction to the subject for anyone
who does not have an academic background in Christian studies.

May the Lord bless you all,

Shane Bruce
(bruce@topaz.rutgers.edu)