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

Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria

Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria

Orthodox

Affirms

Isaiah 7:14 prophesies Virgin Mary; Septuagint supports virgin meaning

The Coptic Orthodox Church affirms Isaiah 7:14 as a prophecy of the Virgin Mary and birth of Christ. The Coptic tradition, rooted in the Septuagint (Greek OT), reads parthenos ('virgin') rather than Hebrew almah. This Greek rendering was Scripture of the early church and is authoritative in Orthodox tradition. The Coptic liturgical tradition strongly emphasizes Mary's perpetual virginity as essential to proper Christology: Mary is Theotokos (God-bearer), and her virginity is foundational to Orthodox soteriology and veneration. Isaiah 7:14 is understood as a clear messianic prophecy fulfilled in the Incarnation.

Key Distinctions

Almah translation:
Greek parthenos ('virgin') affirmed
Prophecy fulfillment:
Marian doctrine:
Mary remained virgin before, during, after birth

Scripture References

  • Isaiah 7:14 (LXX)

Sources

  • Coptic Orthodox Liturgical Tradition
  • Patristic interpretation (Athanasius, Cyril)
  • Coptic Orthodox Church Traditions
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