The Messiah..born of a virgin...

[Vic]

Quote:Finally Vic also mentioned how when almah was used in

Gen 24:16 And the damsel (ha naarah) was very fair to look upon, a virgin,( betulah) neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
We see that the betulah needed the added clarification that she had known no man.If betulah had so obviously meant a virgin then that would have been redundant.

I think what is most significant in that is the clarification that Rebekah was indeed a virgin as we understand it, meaning never having had sex. And the phrase, " neither had any man known her" validating that is also precisely why we know Mary was also a true virgin.

Luk 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Luk 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Notice that just as with Rebekah, the context dictates the use for virgin, but it clearly means virgin in the sense we understand it:

To a virginG3933
G3933
παρθένος
parthenos
Thayer Definition:
1) a virgin
1a) a marriageable maiden
1b) a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man
1c) one’s marriageable daughter
2) a man who has abstained from all uncleanness and whoredom attendant on idolatry, and so has kept his chastity
2a) one who has never had intercourse with women
Part of Speech: noun feminine

Luk 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Luk 1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Luk 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

We see the full clarification of the meaning of virgin by Mary's statement to the angel,"seeing I know not a man", just as Rebekah's was clarified with " neither had any man known her"

seeing G1893
ἐπεί
epei
Thayer Definition:
1) when, since
1a) of time: after
1b) of cause: since, seeing that, because
Part of Speech: conjunction

I knowG1097
γινώσκω
ginōskō
Thayer Definition:
1) to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel
1a) to become known
2) to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of
2a) to understand
2b) to know
3) Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman
4) to become acquainted with, to know
Part of Speech: verb

not G3756
οὐ
ou
Thayer Definition:
1) no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer
Part of Speech: particle
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: a primary word, the absolute negative [compare G3361] adverb

a man G435
ἀνήρ
anēr
Thayer Definition:
1) with reference to sex
1a) of a male
1b) of a husband
1c) of a betrothed or future husband
2) with reference to age, and to distinguish an adult man from a boy
3) any male
4) used generically of a group of both men and women
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: a primary word compare G444

So we see, just as Rebekah's virginity was clarified to mean she had never had sex with any man, so too, Mary's statement clarifies she had never had sex with any man.

That fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 is found in the very words of, "The Lord Himself shall give you a sign;"

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Luk 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.