lectionary.com

Christmas · Christmas Eve · Year C

Isaiah 7:10-14

The Sign of Immanuel

December 24, 2027

Madonna del Parto, Piero della Francesca
Madonna del Parto, Piero della Francesca, about 1455Museo della Madonna del Parto, Monterchi
Two angels in green and red pull back the sides of a brocade tent. Inside it a young woman stands alone in a plain blue dress, visibly pregnant, with one hand resting on her side and the other at the seam of the dress where it has been unlaced to make room.Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.Piero della FrancescaPiero della Francesca, who painted this in a country chapel near his mother’s village and made the most ordinary thing in the world look like an announcement.Museo della Madonna del Parto, MonterchiThe Museo della Madonna del Parto at Monterchi in Tuscany.Museo della Madonna del Parto, Monterchi
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 1:18-25Mt 1:18-25
Epistle1 John 4:7-161 Jn 4:7-16
Old TestamentIsa. 7:10-14Is 7:10-14
PsalterPs. 110:1-4Ps 110:1-4

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.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Isaiah 7:10-14

Commentary

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

Luther Seminary exegesis on Ahaz's refusal and the meaning of the Immanuel sign.

CEP: Isaiah 7:10-16CEP: Is 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 7Enduring Word: Is 7 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical notes on the sign offered to Ahaz.

Precept Austin: Isaiah 7 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Is 7 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse level study helps and word notes on the virgin and Immanuel.

BibleHub: Isaiah 7:10 CommentariesBibleHub: Is 7:10 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on the sign given to the house of David.

Background & Word Study

BibleHub Interlinear: Isaiah 7:10BibleHub Interlinear: Is 7:10 BibleHub

Hebrew text with parsing for the word translated virgin or young woman.

Sefaria: Isaiah 7:10-14Sefaria: Is 7:10-14 Sefaria

Hebrew text of the sign given to Ahaz alongside an English translation.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Isaiah 7Catena: Is 7 Catena

Patristic comment chain on the Immanuel sign and its fulfillment in Christ.

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.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Matthew 1:18-25
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.