No Virgin birth? Was the Virgin Mary really a virgin or was this a mistranslation of the Greek?

Question

Perhaps the most famous mistranslation of the Bible, the word virgin here comes from a mistranslated Greek word for virgin.

The original Hebrew version uses the word "almah" which means "young woman" which may or may not refer to a virgin. Of course the context of the original Hebrew Isaiah does not refer to a virgin at all, as scholars the world over agree, but only refers to a young woman.

Matthew 1:22-23, the author quoted from the mistranslated Isaiah version, and thus the error turned into a world-wide belief.

The Revised Standard Bible replaced the word virgin with "young woman." (Isaiah 7:14, RSV)

Answer 1

Anything is possible in a fairytale

Answer 2

"Almah" can mean either young woman or maiden, but there is a specific Hebrew word for virgin (bethulah) which is not used to describe the mother of the messiah; let's not forget that the Jewish messiah was supposed to have been a human being -- not a half god.

Those who wrote the Jesus background many decades after his death had to elevate him to the position of demigod somehow, which meant that he could have no father but "God", i.e. it follows that his mother would have to have been a virgin.

The idea that Mary remained a virgin forever after is a concoction of the early church.

Re Hebrew translations -- In Isaiah 23:4, 23:12, 37:22, 47:1 and 62:5, the Hebrew word "almah" (which can mean *either* young woman or virgin) is not used; the word "bethulah" (which means *only* "virgin") is used by Isaiah. This proves that Isaiah distinguished between "a young woman" and "a virgin".

Answer 3

certainly, i've got confidence it could be rendered as the two. The word, of somebody being the seed of a woman (see Genesis financial ruin 3) is amazingly unusual. Later, Jesus’ virgin beginning would provide which potential to this verse and practice that certainly, it exchange right into a prophecy of that far destiny adventure. additionally, a “youthful single female” conceiving does not often be a demonstration of something holly, events like that happen particularly normally in this worldwide. --------------- added.(Jeremiah 31:22) "How long wilt thou bypass approximately, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a clean factor in the earth, a woman shall compass a guy." "This “new factor” would be no longer something below the arrival marvelous concept and virgin beginning of the promised Savior. The be conscious for “compass” potential “enclose,” and no different interpretation of this promise would contain a “new factor.” notice the reference additionally to a “virgin of Israel” in the previous verse. here verses bring about the large promise of the “new covenant” in Jeremiah 31:31 and following HMM."

Answer 4

Almah young maiden...and there was no word for virgin in this context. There is word for young maiden. married woman and harlot...The scipture in Isaiah referred to a young maiden which implies virtue. if said young woman is unmarried and with child she would have been refered to as a harlot. Consider also that this is a sign of God that a young woman shall conceive a child....If this is the correct translation then the sign seems rather common huh? As I understand history and biology this happens many times every day thoughout history and is hardly sign of God that a young woman has a child.

Answer 5

you have presented sound information but it matters little what the translation means because Mary was a young woman and virginal as She declares to the Angel Gabriel that she has not known man in an intimate way.
another point that even some Christian denominations fail to see is that if God detests sin so very much how could Jesus Himself God and born without sin ,come from the womb of a non- virgin, who would have sinned by sexual intercourse outside the sacredness of marriage, and as all are born with original sin again how could the Almighty God nestle in the womb of Mary unless She was conceived immaculate by Gods desire.

Answer 6

Many people were upset by the Revised Standard Bible.

Answer 7

this is possible but the Bible also talks about Josheph not having sex with her yet. and it also talks about the spirit of God entering her to make her pregnant. so although it may be likely that word is mistranslated. it is also likely that she was a virgin.

Answer 8

Nope, she was a virgin. She was also the ark of the covenant. She carried the genetic material to bring forth Messiah from Adam's rib. God was the "quickening" power that brought the genetic material to life. She had and egg within an egg within an egg all the way back to Eve who was made from Adam's rib. Think!

Answer 9

Well certainly there are people who say that. Is it true? Who knows, but I have studied Solomon vastly and I can tell you that certian words are only clear when we see them used in other contexts. Maybe it's so for virgin. Do you know an authority on this? What is their name and what are their credentials?

Answer 10

The word can mean a young woman, but it can also mean a virgin, so you need to look to other scriptures to confirm what it means, and ther are plenty of them. Check out what Tony the Tiger said.

Answer 11

It would be a Greek word in the septuagint that clinches the suggestion. When the word Almah is used, it is translated as parthenos - meaning virgin.