Research on Mary as a virgin.
Aug. 1st, 2014 07:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
harroeToday was the first time I had heard the argument for Mary not really being a virgin. Well, not exactly, but it was the first time I had heard a specific reason for people to say that it wasn't so. Apparently the idea going around is that the original Aramaic and Hebrew word used for the prophecy found in Isaiah 7:14 meant "young woman" or "maiden" and that "virgin" is a mistranslation. Seeing as the place I came across this information was on tumblr, which is hardly a reputable source, I did my own research.
The Hebrew word in question is הָעַלְמָה ha-al'mah.
I tried finding the Aramaic term, but that's proving to be more difficult.
There were a lot of articles that left out a ton of context, so here are a couple that really dig deep, using well rounded reasoning and sources.
Fight the Good Fight Blog: http://growinthespirit.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-meaning-of-hebrew-word-almah-or.html
Andrews University Publication: http://www.andrews.edu/~davidson/Publications/Messianic%20Prophecies/Messianic%20Hope%20in%20Isaiah.pdf
In the gospels it's not even a question that Mary is referred to as a virgin. Here's the Greek word.
παρθένος,n \{par-then'-os}
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
Sites used: Wiktionary, The Online Greek Bible, Bible Hub.
I'd like to find my own offline sources too. Sounds like a trip to the library.~
May edit this for other sources and updated info later.
The Hebrew word in question is הָעַלְמָה ha-al'mah.
I tried finding the Aramaic term, but that's proving to be more difficult.
There were a lot of articles that left out a ton of context, so here are a couple that really dig deep, using well rounded reasoning and sources.
Fight the Good Fight Blog: http://growinthespirit.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-meaning-of-hebrew-word-almah-or.html
Andrews University Publication: http://www.andrews.edu/~davidson/Publications/Messianic%20Prophecies/Messianic%20Hope%20in%20Isaiah.pdf
In the gospels it's not even a question that Mary is referred to as a virgin. Here's the Greek word.
παρθένος,n \{par-then'-os}
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
Sites used: Wiktionary, The Online Greek Bible, Bible Hub.
I'd like to find my own offline sources too. Sounds like a trip to the library.~
May edit this for other sources and updated info later.
