Seed of a Woman
Christian Argument: In that light, Genesis 3:15 and Isaiah 7:14 already provide a clue that the seed of a woman is to be reckoned with.
Response: The word for seed is zerah and it means physical descendants. It does not exclusively refer to male “seed.”
And I shall place hatred between you and between the woman, and between your seed and between her seed. He will crush your head, and you will bite his heel. (Genesis 3:15 – Chabad.Org)
The “seed” refers to mankind and not to a specific person. When this term is used in the case of generic offspring, it is implicitly plural but if it is referring to a specific offspring, the term is singular. When the term is used regarding offspring it always implies progeny – that is, biological descendants.
In Genesis 3:15, “her seed” is a generic reference to mankind since it is speaking of Eve’s descendants. It is understood as a plurality since there is no explicit reference to an individual and as a consequence the term “they” should be used instead of “he” in the English translations at the end of the verse.
There is a very simple explanation for the reference to the enmity between the snake and the offspring according to Uri Yosef.
“The enmity between snake and man, from mankind’s perspective, stems from the fact that in general, snakes are pests, even dangerous pests. From a snake’s perspective, it is an animal without the ability to reason and, thus, it acts on natural instincts – it must eat to survive, and its main job is to look for sustenance while protecting itself from predators.” (Uri Yosef, Ph.D., “The Seed of A Woman: A Kernal of Deception“)
Therefore, the Lord, of His own, shall give you a sign; behold, the young woman is with child, and she shall bear a son, and she shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 – Chabad.Org)
Sorry – but there is not a “virgin” referenced in this passage.
The word used is translated as young maiden (or young woman) and not virgin. Almah (הָֽעַלְמָ֗ה) means a young woman of marriageable age and has nothing to do with being a virgin or not.
Singers went first, minstrels afterwards, in the midst of maidens playing timbrels. (Psalm 68:26 – Chabad.org)
The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after;
Among them were the maidens playing timbrels. (Psalm 68:25 – NKJV biblegateway.com)
The Hebrew term for virgin is betulah (בְתוּלֽוֹת).
Be ashamed, for the sea said, the stronghold of the sea, saying, “I have not travailed, nor have I borne, neither have I reared young men nor have I raised virgins.” (Isaiah 23:4 – Chabad.Org)
Be ashamed, O Sidon; For the sea has spoken, The strength of the sea, saying,
“I do not labor, nor bring forth children; Neither do I rear young men, Nor bring up virgins.” (Isaiah 23:4 – NKJV biblegateway.com)
The Greek word parthenos (παρθένος) used in Matthew 1:23 can mean virgin but it can also mean maiden. The Greek word is ambiguous but the Hebrew term is absolute.
Some Christian Old Testaments translate the word in question as “young maiden.”
Well then, the Lord himself will give you a sign: a young woman who is pregnant will have a son and will name him ‘Immanuel.’ (Isaiah 7:14 – Good News Translation – biblegateway.com)
*Footnote: The Hebrew word here translated “young woman” is not the specific term for “virgin,” but refers to any young woman of marriageable age. The use of “virgin” in Mt 1.23 reflects a Greek translation of the Old Testament, made some 500 years after Isaiah.
The Lord will give you a sign in any case: It is this: the young woman is with child and will give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 – The New Jerusalem Bible Reader’s Edition)
*Footnote: Perhaps Ahaz’s wife, about to give birth to Hezekiah, but Isaiah sees it as symbolic of the fulfillment of royal messianic prophecies. For ‘young woman’ Greek read ‘virgin’, interpreted by Matthew of Mary.
Therefore Adonai himself will give you people a sign: the young woman will become pregnant, bear a son and name him ‘Immanu El [God is with us].’ (Isaiah 7:14 – The Complete Jewish Bible)
*Footnote: The Hebrew word ‘almah in Isaiah 7:14 means “a young woman,” and in the context of the Tanakh always “a young woman of unsullied reputation,” which is why the Jewish translators of the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Tanakh prepared 200 years before Yeshua’s birth, rendered this word into Greek as parthenos, “virgin”; this is the word used in Mattituahu 1:23.
The Christian Scriptures mistranslates this verse to make it appear as if it were a future prophecy (with regards to the pregnancy). We can plainly see that she was pregnant at the time of this prophecy.
Therefore, the Lord, of His own, shall give you a sign; behold, the young woman is with child, and she shall bear a son, and she shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 – Chabad.Org)
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 – NKJV biblegateway.com)
The prophecy is not about the virginity or non-virginity of the woman nor is the prophecy about the birth. In reality, the prophecy is what will happen during the child’s life.
Wail, O ships of Tarshish for your stronghold has been spoiled. And it shall come to pass on that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten for seventy years, like the days of one king; at the end of seventy years, it shall fare with Tyre like the song of the harlot. Take a harp, go around the city, O forgotten harlot; play well, sing many songs, so that you shall be remembered. (Isaiah 23:14-16 – Chabad.Org)
The child spoken of in Isaiah is the son of Isaiah. This prophecy was already fulfilled.
And Hoshea the son of Elah revolted against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and he struck him and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. (II Kings 15:30 – Chabad.Org)
And the king of Assyria heeded him, and the king of Assyria went up to Damascus and seized it, and exiled [its inhabitants] to Kir, and he slew Rezin. (II Kings 16:9 – Chabad.Org)
Jesus was not named Immanuel. The name Immanuel means God is with us. There is no problem with such a name within the Jewish context.
There are many names with similar meanings such as Michah which means Who is Like God. Jesus’ name most likely was Yehoshua – Joshua. This name means the Lord is salvation. This is not the same as God is with us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dioGMqp2gdc