If Isaiah’s prophecy was meant to reassure King Ahaz centuries before Jesus’s birth, why do some believe it refers to Jesus in Matthew?

Historical Context of Isaiah’s Prophecy

Isaiah 7:14 states: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.” Spoken during the reign of King Ahaz (8th century BC), this prophecy came at a time when the kingdom of Judah was threatened by surrounding forces (Isaiah 7:1–2). The immediate historical setting focuses on a divine sign meant to reassure Ahaz and the House of David that God would preserve Judah from destruction.

The child named “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us,” signified a promise of divine presence and protection. In Isaiah’s immediate context, the prophecy authenticated God’s commitment to protect His covenant people. However, centuries later, the Gospel of Matthew interprets the words of Isaiah in reference to the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:22–23), which raises the question: If Isaiah 7:14 provided immediate reassurance to King Ahaz, why do many believe it also speaks prophetically of the Messiah?

Understanding Dual Fulfillment

Scripture often presents prophecies with elements that address both near-term events and long-term futures. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as “dual fulfillment,” applies particularly to messianic prophecies. In Isaiah’s day, the promise of “Immanuel” offered hope to a nation under threat. Yet the passage also contains language that surpasses the events of the 8th century BC.

Even ancient Jewish interpreters recognized certain prophecies in Isaiah that anticipate a future Deliverer or Messiah (cf. Isaiah 9:6–7; Isaiah 11:1–10). The name “Immanuel” itself took on deep theological significance far beyond the scope of King Ahaz’s crisis, suggesting that God would dwell with His people in a profound and ultimate way.

Matthew’s Interpretation and the Virgin Birth

Matthew’s Gospel, written in the first century AD, applies Isaiah 7:14 directly to the miraculous birth of Jesus, stating: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel’ (which means, ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:22–23).

Key to this interpretation is the Greek term παρθένος (parthenos, “virgin”) used in Matthew’s quotation, which corresponds to the Hebrew term עַלְמָה (ʿalmâ) from Isaiah 7:14. While עַלְמָה can indicate a young woman of marriageable age, the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures completed centuries before Jesus’s birth) renders it as parthenos, explicitly meaning “virgin.” Thus, Matthew underscores the extraordinary nature of Jesus’s birth, fulfilling Isaiah’s words on a far greater level—one no ordinary human birth could accomplish.

Prophecy as a Sign of God’s Sovereign Plan

The concept of prophecy in Scripture goes beyond mere prediction. Biblical prophecy consistently highlights God’s sovereignty and His redemptive plan unfolding throughout history. In Isaiah 7, King Ahaz was challenged to trust that God controls the destinies of nations. In the broader biblical timeline, the ultimate sign of God’s faithful presence among His people is found in Jesus, who is literally “God with us,” fulfilling the name “Immanuel.”

Thus, a divine reassurance to Ahaz becomes a worldwide reassurance to all who place their faith in Christ. Matthew sees in Isaiah’s words the greater resolution of Israel’s hope for deliverance—not just from earthly foes, but from sin and death itself (Matthew 1:21).

The House of David and Messiah’s Lineage

Isaiah’s reassurance to Ahaz concerned the lineage of David. According to 2 Samuel 7:12–16, God promised David an enduring throne. The survival of the Davidic line was crucial, not only for Judah’s stability but also for bringing forth the Messiah. Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is legally descended through David’s line (Matthew 1:1–17), fulfilling Old Testament promises.

Jesus’s ancestry confirms that the child of Isaiah 7 is part of a broader biblical tapestry: the immediate fulfillment in Isaiah’s time safeguarded the royal family from destruction, while the final, ultimate fulfillment brings salvation to “all people” (Luke 2:10).

Textual Evidence and Consistency

The Isaiah scroll (1QIsaa) among the Dead Sea Scrolls, dated to at least the second century BC, contains essentially the same text of Isaiah 7:14 as we have today. This attests to the preserved integrity of the book of Isaiah. Early Jewish translators who produced the Septuagint also identified Isaiah 7:14 as a crucial prophecy highlighting a remarkable sign—a “virgin” bearing a son.

When comparing the Gospel of Matthew’s citation of Isaiah in the earliest Greek manuscripts, we see a consistent and intentional echo of the Septuagint’s use of parthenos. These manuscript traditions bolster the argument that Matthew’s understanding of Isaiah’s prophecy aligns with a long-held Jewish expectation of a supernatural birth for the ultimate Savior.

Typology and Prophetic Patterns

A typological reading of Scripture sees certain events, individuals, or institutions in the Old Testament as “types” that point ahead to “antitypes” or greater realities in the New Testament. Isaiah’s child served as an immediate sign, but also foreshadowed the true “God with us.” This typological thread is woven throughout the Bible—for instance, the Passover lamb (Exodus 12) prefigures Christ, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29).

In Jesus’s case, the “type” in Isaiah’s time is overshadowed by the final fulfillment in the Incarnation, where the child is literally divine. This shift from a temporary reassurance in Isaiah’s day to an everlasting salvation in Christ underscores the interconnectedness of Scripture.

Theological Significance of “Immanuel”

The name “Immanuel” captures the central hope of Scriptures: the Creator dwelling with His creation. In times of immediate peril, King Ahaz looked to a sign of hope. In the grand scope of redemptive history, the Messiah’s coming brings God’s abiding presence.

The New Testament identifies Jesus as the ultimate realization of this presence, uniting the human and the divine (John 1:14). He fulfills prophecy, secures salvation, and remains with believers through the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17). Therefore, the virgin birth symbolizes not only comfort in crisis but also a cosmic shift where God’s intention to reconcile mankind is revealed.

Conclusion

Though Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 assured King Ahaz of Judah’s survival, it also points beyond the immediate historical setting to the Messiah. Matthew’s Gospel highlights this deeper significance by quoting Isaiah to demonstrate that Jesus’s miraculous birth is the culminating fulfillment of the Immanuel promise.

Both the near-term reassurance to Ahaz and the long-term spotlight on the Messiah illustrate the multifaceted nature of biblical prophecy. The historical context of crisis in Isaiah’s day and the timeless hope offered in Christ converge to reveal that God’s redemptive plan weaves throughout Scripture, culminating in Jesus, whose very existence proclaims “God with us.”