Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

Jim,

You may be right but what you say is not relevant any more since no  
number of ALAMOT who have lost their head in an intense romantic  
situation opt nowadays for the simple medical procedure of virginity  
restoration.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Jul 9, 2007, at 6:47 PM, Rev. Jim Cunningham wrote:

> Hi,
>
>   I'm new here and I just read your posts. I've always considered  
> the issue of virgin vs young woman an interesting and important issue.
>
>   The Hebrew word used was Alma in the Old Testament, as you know.  
> As a Jew I can tell you that it does not simply mean "young woman",  
> although it is describing a young woman. Alma specifically means a  
> maiden or damsel - a young woman who has not been married/sexually  
> touched. There is no such thing as an "alma" who has had sex. She  
> ceases to be alma after sexual intercourse. Therefore, though  
> "virgin" is not the strict definition of alma, "alma" does most  
> certainly and emphatically refer to a virgin young woman. Besides  
> this, the point of the verse in question declares that this  
> pregnancy is a "sign", and the verse itself is a prophecy of that  
> pregnancy and birth. "Young women" give birth all the time. There  
> is no sign or miracle in that. "Unmarried young women" also give  
> birth all the time, so there is no miracle in that either. The  
> focus of the verse is that a miracle will take place, a sign - a  
> sexually untouched "maiden" girl will conceive and give birth to  
> Immanuel.
>  The New Testament writers, when quoting this verse, specifically  
> used the Greek word "parthenos" - a virgin (we see this word in use  
> with the Parthenon, referring to a vigin goddess). So in the minds  
> of the Gospel writers, who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy  
> Spirit, the young woman's virginity was indisputable.
>   Kindly,
>   Rev. Jim Cunningham
>   King James Bible Ministries
>
>
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