1. February 3, 2011Isaiah 7:14 and the “Virgin Birth” Part 1 of 2 Page 1 of 9 Isaiah 7:14 – Part 1 of 2: An Accurate Grammatical Analysis A Counter-Missionary Education Lesson by Uri Yosef, Ph.D., Director of Education Virtual Yeshiva of the Messiah Truth Project, Inc. http://virtualyeshiva.com [The article on this topic is located here - http://thejewishhome.org/counter/Isa714_1.pdf]http://thejewishhome.org/counter/Isa714_1.pdf Copyright © Uri Yosef 2011 for the Messiah Truth Project, Inc. All rights reserved Counter-Missionary Education

2. February 3, 2011Isaiah 7:14 and the “Virgin Birth” Part 1 of 2 Page 2 of 9 Introduction The verse Isaiah 7:14 is one of the most popular items in the portfolio of Christian missionaries. Commonly referred to as the "Virgin Birth proof text", missionaries identify this verse as the prophecy in the Christian "Old Testament" that foretold the future conception and birth of a child by a virgin, the “fulfillment” of which is described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke with the accounts of Mary (the virgin) conceiving a child of the Holy Spirit and giving birth to Jesus. In this lesson, a detailed and accurate grammatical analysis of the Hebrew text of Isaiah 7:14 is presented, which demonstrates how some Christian translators have mistranslated key terms in the verse in order to change its original historical context and turn it into a “messianic” prophecy.

3. February 3, 2011Isaiah 7:14 and the “Virgin Birth” Part 1 of 2 Page 3 of 9 Versions of Isaiah 7:14

4. February 3, 2011Isaiah 7:14 and the “Virgin Birth” Part 1 of 2 Page 4 of 9 Comparison of Christian and Jewish Perspectives Christianity (  )Judaism (  ) Prophecy of the “Virgin Birth”An historical event recorded in the Bible Conception, birth, & naming of Jesus: Military crisis confronts Ahaz in 732 BCE Matthew 1:20-23(KJV) - (20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Existential threat to the House of David Jerusalem under siege by the allied armies of kings R e tsin (Aram) and Peqah (Israel) Isaiah & Sh e ar Yashuv are sent to reassure Ahaz of divine protection with a sign Divine fatherhood is established in v. 20 The sign is defined as follows: Name & mission are established in v. 21 - The name Immanu’el, God is with us, Divine nature & prophetic fulfillment are points to divine protection of the kingdom established in v. 22 - Kings R e tsin and Peqah will be killed Direct link to Isaiah 7:14, “the prophecy”, before Immanu’el knows right from wrong is established in v. 23 Prophecy fulfilled contemporaneously

5. February 3, 2011Isaiah 7:14 and the “Virgin Birth” Part 1 of 2 Page 5 of 9 Linguistic Analysis

6. February 3, 2011Isaiah 7:14 and the “Virgin Birth” Part 1 of 2 Page 6 of 9 Linguistic Analysis (Continued) Conjugation of the verb לַהֲרוֹת (to conceive/impregnate)

7. February 3, 2011Isaiah 7:14 and the “Virgin Birth” Part 1 of 2 Page 7 of 9 Linguistic Analysis (Continued)

8. February 3, 2011Isaiah 7:14 and the “Virgin Birth” Part 1 of 2 Page 8 of 9 Linguistic Analysis (Continued) Comparing two similar verses in the Hebrew Bible:

9. February 3, 2011Isaiah 7:14 and the “Virgin Birth” Part 1 of 2 Page 9 of 9 Linguistic Analysis (Continued) A key phrase in both verses as rendered in various translations: