Isaiah 7 and Mary
Question
Did Old Testament prophecy, specifically Isaiah 7, require Mary to be a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus?
Answer
No, Isaiah 7 is not about Jesus. Jesus only fulfills the prophecy typologically, meaning that his "fulfillment" was what the prophecy of Isaiah 7 foreshadowed. Also, the "prophecy" was not that the virgin (or "young woman," both are legitimate translations, and even "virgin" does not require virgin conception) would be with child — that was just the sign that the prophecy would come true.
The prophecy that Jesus fulfilled was that Pekah and Rezin would be defeated, and it was accompanied by a similar sign (Jesus' birth by virginal conception). So, no, Mary didn't have to be a virgin in order for Jesus to fulfill the type of the prophecy or of the sign of the prophecy that we find in Isaiah 7. The fact that she was a virgin is an added miracle that testifies to Jesus as the Son of God, and is a typological fulfillment beyond expectations of the type found in Isaiah 7.
answer by Ra McLaughlin
The prophecy that Jesus fulfilled was that Pekah and Rezin would be defeated, and it was accompanied by a similar sign (Jesus' birth by virginal conception). So, no, Mary didn't have to be a virgin in order for Jesus to fulfill the type of the prophecy or of the sign of the prophecy that we find in Isaiah 7. The fact that she was a virgin is an added miracle that testifies to Jesus as the Son of God, and is a typological fulfillment beyond expectations of the type found in Isaiah 7.
answer by Ra McLaughlin
