Christmas · Christmas Eve · Year C
Isaiah 7:10-14
The Sign of Immanuel
December 24, 2027
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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Commentary
Working Preacher: Isaiah 7:10-16 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis on Ahaz's refusal and the meaning of the Immanuel sign.
CEP: Isaiah 7:10-16 Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary urging the text be heard in its own historical setting first.
Enduring Word: Isaiah 7 Enduring Word · David Guzik
Verse by verse evangelical notes on the sign offered to Ahaz.
Precept Austin: Isaiah 7 Commentary Precept Austin
Verse level study helps and word notes on the virgin and Immanuel.
BibleHub: Isaiah 7:10 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on the sign given to the house of David.
Background & Word Study
BibleHub Interlinear: Isaiah 7:10 BibleHub
Hebrew text with parsing for the word translated virgin or young woman.
Enter the Bible: Isaiah Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the book's three major sections and setting.
Sefaria: Isaiah 7:10-14 Sefaria
Hebrew text of the sign given to Ahaz alongside an English translation.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is the sign of Immanuel?
When faithless King Ahaz will not ask for a sign, God gives one anyway: a virgin will bear a son called Immanuel, God with us, the promise the Gospels see fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.
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