(Con't From Part 1 Of this Mini-series)
Almah: This word occurs 7 times in the OT scriptures. Although it is difficult to follow this word, we find that it never means anything that “bethulah” does not mean. In fact we find that the use of Almah is a more specific term than “bethulah”
Almah appears to deal more with “childbearing age or ability” rather than physical condition of the person. Further, the LXX (Greek Old Testament) translates this word in Isaiah 7:14 as “Parthenos”, which is a further and more specific way in which to say “virgin” in the Greek.
Parthenos is a Greek word that applies in nearly every instance and context, to the marriageable age, or qualification for marriage by maturity. The word applies to both male and females.
For example we find that it applies to men in Revelation 14:4:
“These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. (Parthenoi) These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.”
1- The use of this word by Isaiah was more specific than Bethulah would have been. Almah appears to pin down the specified detail of the context. It suggests more strongly than bethulah the following things:
a- The woman or person was young
b- The woman or person was of marriageable age
c- The woman or person was always single and never married
d- The woman had not been “defiled” through previous or prior sexual activity
Read more!
