Just to clarify

Here's this week's brief Bible reflection:

Isaiah 7:14(NRSV):  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.

“Young woman” is a translation of the Hebrew word “almah,” which means, “young woman.”  The Hebrew word for virgin is “betula.”

Matthew 1:22-23 (NRSV) All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us.”

“Virgin” is a translation of the Greek word, “parthenos”  It can mean “virgin”, “maiden,” or “unmarried daughter.”  In Matthew 1:23 “virgin” is an acceptable translation of the Greek. 

However, Matthew is quoting from the prophet Isaiah.  Matthew’s translation from Hebrew to Greek is wrong.