Lecture Notes for Lutheran Theological Seminary— Nyamira, Kenya
Pastor Joseph Abrahamson Isaiah Course, Fall 2018
This presentation discusses the meaning of the Hebrew word הָעַלְמָ֗ה Ha`Almah The Virgin Omoiseke omwekungi and how this word is used in the Hebrew Bible and understood in the Greek New Testament. Learning the uses in the Hebrew Bible will enable us to correct misunderstandings and mistranslations which are widely promoted in academic and non-academic areas. It will also help us to correctly understand the use of the term הָעַלְמָ֗ה Ha`Almah in context for Ebiblia Ekegusi, whether the terms used are omwekungi, omoiseke, or omokungu oria. We will also look at the masculine form of the word הָעָֽלֶם omwana, lad, young man.
In the presentation we will also give the Greek version (The Septuagint) for comparison.
Several scholars have challenged the translation of the word הָעַלְמָ֗ה Ha`Almah as the Virgin. The basic assumption which these scholars share is a denial of miracles. They deny that God is able to do what He wills and has authority over the natural world—that He is Omnipotent. And they deny that God knows all things past, present, and future— that He is Omniscient.
In Isaiah 7:14 their twofold denial means that 1) they deny that any Scripture could actually be predictive of the future. Particularly, they deny that this passage speaks specifically of the future birth of Jesus Christ. And 2) they deny the miracle of Christ’s Virgin birth.
