Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Scripture InterpretationWhether 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.
Key scriptures: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22-23
Catholic (5)
Eastern Catholic (Byzantine Rite)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 affirmed as prophecy of virgin birth in Eastern patristic tradition
Maronite Catholic
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; Marian devotion honored
Old Catholic Church
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 messianic prophecy of virgin birth; fulfilled in Jesus Christ
Roman Catholic
Affirms
Affirms 'virgin' reading; foundational to Mariology and Virgin Birth doctrine
Saint Thomas Christians (Syro-Malabar Church)
Affirms
Virgin birth strongly affirmed as messianic prophecy
Orthodox (5)
Assyrian Church of the East
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies the virgin birth of the Messiah
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies Virgin Mary; Septuagint supports virgin meaning
Eastern Orthodox
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 is messianic prophecy; virgin birth central to Orthodox soteriology
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Affirms
The virgin birth prophecy; Mary's perpetual virginity affirmed
Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 fulfilled in Virgin Mary; Logos incarnate; Theotokos emphasis
Mainline Protestant (8)
Anglican / Episcopalian
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; fulfilled in Christ's incarnation
Calvinist / Reformed
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 messianic prophecy; Westminster/Heidelberg affirm virgin birth
Congregationalist (UCC)
Nuanced
Isaiah 7:14 may refer to young woman; virgin birth not dependent on Isaiah
Lutheran
Affirms
Virgin birth prophesied in Isaiah; affirmed
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; Matthew fulfills it
Methodist
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies Christ's virgin birth; supported by Gospel accounts
Presbyterian
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; messianic prophecy fulfilled in Matthew
Reformed Church in America
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; sign of God's miraculous redemptive act
Evangelical (15)
Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies the virgin birth; fulfilled in Matthew 1
Calvary Chapel
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 plainly foretells virgin birth; Jesus is the fulfillment
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virginal birth of the Messiah
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; text refers to Messiah's miraculous conception
Church of the Nazarene
Affirms
Affirms Isaiah passage as messianic prophecy and confirmation of virgin birth
Evangelical Covenant Church
Affirms
Virgin birth affirmed; Isaiah 7:14 predicts miraculous conception and birth
Evangelical Free Church of America
Affirms
Virgin birth affirmed as historic fact and theological necessity
IFCA International (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)
Affirms
Affirms Isaiah 7:14 as messianic prophecy; virgin birth of Christ confirmed
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Affirms
Virgin birth affirmed; Isaiah 7:14 predicts Christ's miraculous conception
Non-denominational Evangelical
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; fulfilled in Jesus' incarnation
Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)
Affirms
Isaiah prophesies virgin birth; 'almah' fulfilled in Mary's virginal conception
Presbyterian Church in America
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies Jesus' virgin birth; 'almah' fulfilled in Matthew 1:23
Reformed Baptist Churches (1689 London Baptist Confession)
Affirms
Virgin birth prophesied in Isaiah 7:14; fulfilled in Jesus's Incarnation
The Wesleyan Church
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophecy of virgin birth; attests Christ's sinlessness and unique redemptive work
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Affirms
Isaiah's virgin birth prophecy fulfilled in Jesus
Charismatic (5)
Charismatic Movement
Affirms
Affirms virgin birth; supernatural conception central to Messiah's identity
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Affirms
Virgin birth affirmed; Isaiah 7:14 prophesies Messiah's miraculous birth
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Affirms
Affirms virgin birth interpretation; almah understood as virgin in Isaiah context
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Affirms
Virgin birth affirmed; Isaiah 7:14 predicts supernatural conception and birth
Vineyard Churches
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophecy of virgin birth; attests to Christ's unique incarnation and divine mission
Anabaptist (5)
Amish (Old Order)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 refers to the virgin birth of Christ; fulfilled in Matthew 1
Brethren in Christ Church
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 points to virgin birth; fulfilled in Jesus's incarnation
Church of the Brethren
Nuanced
Affirms virgin birth from Gospels; Isaiah passage subject to scholarly debate
Hutterite Brethren
Affirms
Affirms virgin birth interpretation; a special sign of God's incarnate coming
Mennonite Church
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virginal birth of Messiah; fulfilled in Jesus
Adventist & Restorationist (5)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Varies
Isaiah 7:14 interpreted variously; virgin birth affirmed by most Disciples
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Affirms
Virgin birth prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ; Isaiah seven foretold Messiah coming
Churches of Christ
Affirms
Virgin birth affirmed; Isaiah 7:14 prophesies Jesus' miraculous conception
International Churches of Christ
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; 'almah' understood as virgin
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; sign of God's Messianic redemption plan
Other Protestant (8)
Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies the Messiah's virgin birth; sign of God's love
Plymouth Brethren
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; messianic prophecy fulfilled in Matthew
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; messianic prophecy fulfilled in Matthew
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Affirms
Affirms 'virgin' reading: Isaiah 7:14 predicts the virgin birth
The Salvation Army
Affirms
Virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14; foundational to Christ's redemptive work
True Jesus Church
Affirms
Virgin birth affirmed; prophecy of Christ's unique divine incarnation
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 predicts virgin birth; Messiah born of virgin; fulfilled in Jesus Christ
Waldensian Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophecy of virgin birth; affirms Christ's miraculous incarnation and sinlessness
Non-Trinitarian (6)
Biblical Unitarians
Denies
Isaiah 7:14 prophecy of a young woman, not necessarily a perpetual virgin
Christadelphians
Nuanced
Virgin birth affirmed but not stressed; 'almah' can mean young woman; miraculous conception
Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
Nuanced
Affirms virgin birth but questions almah translation; contextual interpretation cautious
Jehovah's Witnesses
Denies
Isaiah 7:14 does not prophesy virgin birth; 'almah' means young woman
Oneness Pentecostals (UPCI)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies Jesus' miraculous birth; God incarnate in Mary
Unitarian Universalist
Varies
No official interpretation; members range from symbolic to historical readings
Latter-day Saint (2)
Unique & Independent (7)
Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 refers to virgin birth; fulfilled in Jesus' miraculous conception
Church of Christ, Scientist
Nuanced
'Almah' = young woman; Jesus' earthly birth natural; virgin birth not essential
General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
Nuanced
Spiritual sense: virgin birth prefigures Christ as virgin wisdom from God
Iglesia ni Cristo
Nuanced
Acknowledges historical context; virgin birth accepted but not uniquely prophesied in Isaiah
Message Movement (Branhamism)
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 virgin birth prophecy fulfilled in Jesus's miraculous conception
Messianic Judaism
Nuanced
Isaiah 7:14 refers to sign for Ahaz; Yeshua fulfills virginal birth
New Apostolic Church
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophecy fulfilled in Virgin Mary; Jesus miraculous birth
African Independent (4)
Cherubim and Seraphim Church
Affirms
Affirms virgin birth; Mary's purity emphasized; virginal conception honored
Church of Jesus Christ on Earth through the Prophet Simon Kimbangu (EJCSK)
Affirms
Isaiah predicted virgin birth; fulfilled in Mary
Redeemed Christian Church of God
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 refers to virgin birth; Messianic prophecy fulfilled in Mary
Zion Christian Church
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophecy of virgin birth; Mary as vessel of divine action; Christ's sinlessness