Christmas · The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas Eve)
Isaiah 7:10-14
The Sign of Immanuel
December 24, 2025
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
Isaiah 7:10-16 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed reading of the sign of Immanuel given to Ahaz.
Enduring Word: Isaiah Chapter 7 Enduring Word · David Guzik
Evangelical commentary on the Immanuel prophecy.
Isaiah 7 Commentary Precept Austin
Verse-by-verse study with Hebrew helps and cross references.
Isaiah 7:10 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators on the Ahaz oracle and the sign.
Background & Word Study
Enter the Bible: Isaiah Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on First Isaiah's Assyrian-crisis setting.
BibleProject: Book of Isaiah Overview (1-39) BibleProject
Overview of Isaiah's judgment and hope in the first section.
Isaiah 7:10 Interlinear BibleHub
Hebrew text with parsing, including almah in verse 14.
Sefaria: Isaiah 7 Sefaria
Hebrew text with Jewish commentaries such as Rashi and Ibn Ezra.
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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