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Lenten Season · Annunciation of the Lord · Year A

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

The Sign of Immanuel

March 25, 2026

The Annunciation, Jean Hey (the Master of Moulins)
The Annunciation, Jean Hey (the Master of Moulins), 1490–95Art Institute of Chicago
A French panel of unusual restraint: the angel kneels, the Virgin reads, and the room is painted with Netherlandish precision in Bourbon colours.Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.Art Institute of ChicagoFounded in 1879 as both a museum and a school, and the home of American Gothic and of a famous Impressionist collection.Art Institute of Chicago
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 1:26-38Lk 1:26-38
Second ReadingHeb. 10:4-10Heb 10:4-10
First ReadingIsa. 7:10-14; 8:10Is 7:10-14; 8:10
Responsorial PsalmPs. 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 (8a, 9a)Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 (8a, 9a)

Overview & Insights

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

The heart of 6:1–9:7 is story and prophecy focusing on a crisis in Jerusalem about 733 B.C., soon after Isaiah’s commission. Ahaz is now king. Jotham may have died before his father and only ever been co-regent. Northern Israel (see Additional Notes on 1:3) and Aram (Syria) had been forced to become part of the Assyrian empire, and they had now combined forces to try to compel Judah to join them in their efforts to gain independence from Assyria. They failed to do so and both capitals were sacked. The first verse of chapter 7 summarizes the context in which the events in 7:1–8:10 take place, but we have to live through them with Ahaz, not knowing their outcome.

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Take it further: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 7:10-16Commentary on Is 7:10-16 Working Preacher

The RCL page on the Immanuel sign given to King Ahaz, urging careful preaching.

Isaiah 7:10-16 CommentaryIs 7:10-16 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed reading of the sign of the young woman and its Advent fulfillment.

Isaiah 7 Commentary: Shear-Jashub and ImmanuelIs 7 Commentary: Shear-Jashub and Immanuel Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse on the sign of Immanuel in its historical setting.

Isaiah Commentaries & SermonsIs Commentaries & Sermons Precept Austin

A deep collection of study links and sermons covering Isaiah 7.

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord Agape Bible Study

A Catholic reading of the Immanuel prophecy fulfilled in Mary's conception.

Background & Word Study

Isaiah 7 (Hebrew and English)Is 7 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria

The Hebrew text with Jewish commentary, including the almah reading of the sign.

Isaiah 7:14 InterlinearIs 7:14 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew word-by-word of the Immanuel verse with parsing.

The Church Fathers

Isaiah 7 - Catena Bible & CommentariesIs 7 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment on the Immanuel prophecy from the Church Fathers.

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