Psalm 22

[Jay Ross]

All translations have strengths and weaknesses. The LXX is no exception. Caution is warranted with every translation.

Matthew and the early church believed the verse in question in the LXX was translated correctly by the Jewish scholars. Do you agree or disagree with Matthew and the early church? Do you believe, as they did, in the virgin birth of the Messiah?

Perhaps the following will explain my position: -



The LXX English and Greek text of this same verse states this: -



And in Matthew 1:23 it states this in the Greek text with the Strong definitions/meaning of the Hebrew Root words given: -



The consistent message is that Mary was a young woman, a virgin, which defined her character before God.

Now in my answer above I have not answered your question as to what I believe is true with regards to the virgin birth of Christ, but my opinion or belief, is, I believe, not in question.

@Eliyahu613 on his part is probably using the Jewish playbook to counter Christians and as such he may not be stating what he genuinely believes or has questioned whether the provided information in that playbook is actually true.

At present Jews worldwide are still rebelling against God and not repenting of their continual idolatrous worship, even during this present time.

Shalom

 

[Eliyahu613]

What is your evidence that Jews living in Judea in the 1st century were unable to read Hebrew?

What language were the scrolls used in synagogues written in?

When Jesus read from the scrolls, what language was he reading?

Bs"d

What percentage of the people could read in those days you think?

Besides that, Hebrew was not the going language, so most didn't speak it, and the vast majority couldn't read it.

Only the rabbis could read it, and they were not going to convert to Christianity.

 

[Matthias]

Bs"d

What percentage of the people could read in those days you think?

Besides that, Hebrew was not the going language, so most didn't speak it, and the vast majority couldn't read it.

Study confirms widespread literacy in biblical-period kingdom of Judah

Researchers have analyzed 18 ancient texts dating back to around 600 BCE from the Tel Arad military post using state-of-the-art image processing, machine learning technologies, and the expertise of a senior handwriting examiner, and concluded that the texts were written by no fewer than 12...

www.sciencedaily.com

Only the rabbis could read it, and they were not going to convert to Christianity.

False in New Testament times. (False also in modern times.)

 

[Matthias]

“In the middle of the second century AD, as Christians began to turn away from oral tradition towards a faith incorporated in written texts, they were faced with the momentous decision as to whether they should adopt the Septuagint, which was, after all, a purely Jewish text, as one of their own sacred writings.

( Charles Freeman, A.D. 381, p. 43)

Bold is mine @PanInVietnam.

 

[PanInVietnam]

if one could read Hebrew, why would one read greek? The point is in hebrew text says "young" nothing else matters. Personally if Matthew didnt quote from Isaiah 7:14, just stands alone applied to Mary, will have much less dispute.

 

[Matthias]

if one could read Hebrew, why would one read greek?

The Jewish scholars who translated the Hebrew into Greek were obviously able to read Hebrew. They translated the Hebrew scriptures into Greek for the benefit of Jews living in the diaspora who were no longer able to read Hebrew. The Jews in the diaspora were hellenized; they read Greek, not Hebrew.

The point is in hebrew text says "young" nothing else matters.

The Jewish translators understood that “young” meant “virgin” in the text. The Septuagint was used by the Jews for hundreds of years before Jesus was conceived by his “young / virgin” mother. There was no outcry among them about the text as rendered in the Septuagint.

Personally if Matthew didnt quote from Isaiah 7:14 …

Matthew did quote from Isaiah 7:14. That’s an historical fact that cannot be changed.

… just stands alone applied to Mary, will have much less dispute.

That’s not so. This issue aside, the unbelieving Jews will do everything they can to try to persuade you that Jesus (himself a Jew) is not the Messiah. The believing Jews will do everything they can to persuade you that Jesus is the Messiah.

When you read the New Testament you will find that Matthew is not the only writer who documents the supernatural begetting of Jesus in the womb of his mother.

Jesus is the Messiah, the only begotten Son of the God of Israel.

Most Jews have not and will not read the New Testament. I urge you, just as I would urge them, to read it.

 

[Matthias]

Interesting article.

Is Isaiah 7:14 about Hezekiah or Jesus?

jesusplusnothing.com

 

[Matthias]

There is an enormous amount of discussion about Isaiah 7:14 in both Jewish and Christian circles. This one caught my attention due to the alignment of atheism with the argument of unbelieving Jews.

This is from a Christian source. It addresses the two critical questions that both Jews and Christians have to answer: 1) Did Isaiah really speak of a virgin, or simply of a young woman? 2) How could the birth of Christ serve as a sign to Ahaz?

Is "Virgin" the Correct Translation of Isaiah 7:14? — Knowing Scripture

The claim that Hitchens and others make is that the Hebrew word behind “virgin” (עַלְמָה alma ) in this text simply means “young woman.” The implication is that nothing miraculous is being promised, and that therefore, universal Christian tradition regarding the virgin birth of Christ is b

knowingscripture.com

 

[Matthias]

”We saw that the Targum Jonathan clearly makes Isaiah 9:5-6 messianic. Then, by the fact that 7:14 speaks of the same child _ since both texts are part of the Book of Immanuel _ 7:14 must also be messianic. We saw that the Jews once, e.g. Hillel, did consider 7:14 messianic, but gave it up to deter Christians from using 7:14 as messianic. So the fact that the targum does not mark 7:14 as such is readily explained by the distortion later introduced into the targums by the Jews who wanted to keep Christians from using them _ a fact admitted by several major modern Jewish scholars.”

The Problem of Isaiah 7:14 | EWTN

EWTN is a global, Catholic Television, Catholic Radio, and Catholic News Network that provides catholic programming and news coverage from around the world.

www.ewtn.com