Christograph

Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"

Whether the Hebrew word 'almah' in Isaiah 7:14 should be translated as 'virgin' (as in the Septuagint and Matthew 1:23) or 'young woman,' and the implications for the doctrine of the virgin birth.

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Overall consensus83/100

Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)

Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)

Unique & Independent

Affirms

Isaiah 7:14 refers to virgin birth; fulfilled in Jesus' miraculous conception

Armstrongism affirms the traditional reading of Isaiah 7:14 as prophecy of the virgin birth of Christ. Despite their non-Trinitarian Christology, Armstrongists maintain the claim that Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit without a human father. This is consistent with their affirmation of Christ's unique role in God's plan.

The virgin birth is understood not as proving eternal divinity (as traditional theology holds) but as establishing Jesus' unique origin in God's redemptive plan. Mary's virginity and the miraculous conception are affirmed as central to the narrative of Jesus' coming.

Key Distinctions

Almah translation:
unique origin; miraculous conception without human father
Prophecy fulfillment:
plainly fulfilled in Matthew's account of Jesus' birth
Marian doctrine:

Scripture References

Sources

  • Herbert W. Armstrong, The Incredible Human Potential (1978)
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