Yes, Mary was a Virgin!

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧?

One of the most fascinating questions in Christian theology concerns the birth of Yeshua (Jesus) and the nature of His conception. Specifically, people often wonder whether Miriam (Mary) was a virgin or merely a young maiden when the Holy Spirit came upon her. To find the answer, we need to look at various biblical texts and their translations.

𝐇𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬

The discussion begins with the prophecy found in Isaiah 7:14:

“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the young woman (הָעַלְמָה, ha-almah) shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, Hebrew Bible)

In this verse, the Hebrew term “הָעַלְמָה” (ha-almah) translates to “the young woman” or “the maiden.” While this term can imply virginity, it does not explicitly mean “virgin.” In ancient Hebrew culture, a young maiden was often assumed to be a virgin due to societal norms.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The Greek Septuagint (LXX), a translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek, offers a slightly different perspective. Isaiah 7:14 in the Septuagint reads:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin (παρθένος, parthenos) shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, LXX)

The Greek term “παρθένος” (parthenos) explicitly means “virgin.” This translation significantly influenced early Christian theology and is the version most often quoted in the New Testament.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭

The Gospel of Matthew directly references Isaiah’s prophecy when describing Yeshua’s birth:

“Behold, the virgin (παρθένος, parthenos) shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” (Matthew 1:23, ESV)

Here, the use of “παρθένος” makes it clear that Miriam was considered a virgin when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her, leading to the miraculous conception of Yeshua.

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝟐𝟏:𝟏𝟑

To deepen our understanding, let’s explore Leviticus 21:13, which outlines the requirements for the High Priest’s marriage:

“And he shall take a wife in her virginity (בִּבְתוּלֶיהָ, bi-vetuleha).” (Leviticus 21:13, Hebrew Bible)

This commandment emphasizes that the High Priest must marry a virgin, symbolizing purity and holiness. The Hebrew term “בִּבְתוּלֶיהָ” (bi-vetuleha) explicitly means “in her virginity.”

The Greek Septuagint translates this as:

“καὶ αὐτὸς γυναῖκα ἐν τῇ παρθενίᾳ αὐτῆς λήμψεται”
“And he shall take a wife in her virginity (ἐν τῇ παρθενίᾳ, en tē parthenia).” (Leviticus 21:13, LXX)

The use of “παρθενίᾳ” (parthenia) in the Septuagint aligns with the term used in Matthew 1:23, reinforcing the theme of purity and divine selection.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: Just as the High Priest’s marriage to a virgin symbolized purity and sanctity, Miriam’s virginity underscores the pure and holy nature of Yeshua’s conception. This parallel highlights Yeshua as the ultimate High Priest (Hebrews 7:26).

𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The requirement for the High Priest to marry a virgin signifies a divinely ordained standard. Similarly, Miriam’s selection as the mother of Yeshua reflects divine choice and intervention, ensuring that Yeshua’s birth fulfilled prophetic and covenantal requirements.

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: The High Priest’s marriage to a virgin foreshadows Yeshua’s birth from a virgin, fulfilling and transcending the Torah’s stipulations. This connection signifies the establishment of a new covenant through Yeshua, who embodies both priestly and kingly roles.

The question of whether the Holy Spirit entered a virgin or a young maiden finds its answer in the interplay between Hebrew and Greek scriptures. While the Hebrew term “almah” suggests a young maiden who is likely a virgin, the Greek “parthenos” explicitly confirms her virginity.

Therefore, based on the Septuagint’s translation and the New Testament accounts, it is clear that Miriam was a virgin when the Holy Spirit came upon her. This virgin birth signifies the purity and divine nature of Yeshua’s conception, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah and establishing a foundational truth in Christian belief.

By examining Leviticus 21:13 alongside these passages, we gain deeper insight into the continuity and fulfillment of G-d’s redemptive plan through Yeshua, our ultimate High Priest and Savior. This understanding bridges the messages of the Old and New Testaments, highlighting the miraculous and sacred nature of Yeshua’s birth, a truth that resonates deeply within both Jewish and Christian traditions.