Virgin(maiden, virginity)
“Virgin, from a root meaning to separate”
Summary
A virgin in Scripture refers to an unmarried woman of marriageable age, with the term having both literal significance in matters of marriage and purity, and profound theological importance in the virgin birth of Christ.
☩Hebrew Terms
Two Hebrew words are translated 'virgin.' Bethulah, from a root meaning 'to separate,' occurs forty-nine times and properly denotes a virgin maiden. Almah, from a root meaning 'to conceal,' signifies a young unmarried woman of marriageable age. The Septuagint renders almah as parthenos (virgin) in the crucial prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 and Genesis 24:43, though other occurrences use neanis (young woman). This distinction sparked debates among early Christian and Jewish interpreters regarding the Messianic prophecy.
☩Laws and Customs
Mosaic law provided various protections for virgins and regulations concerning them. Proofs of virginity were required and protected the reputation of newly married women. If a man seduced an unbetrothed virgin, he was required to pay the bride-price and marry her. A priest could only marry a virgin. Betrothed virgins had the status of quasi-married women, and violation of a betrothed virgin in a city carried the death penalty for both parties, while in the countryside only for the man. Royal virgins wore distinctive apparel as recorded in the account of Tamar.
☩The Virgin Birth of Christ
The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 that a virgin would conceive and bear a son named Immanuel found its fulfillment in Mary's miraculous conception of Jesus. Both Matthew and Luke independently record that Mary was a virgin when she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matthew explicitly cites Isaiah's prophecy as being fulfilled in Christ's birth. The virgin birth establishes Jesus' unique status as both human through Mary and divine through the Holy Spirit, and has been a central Christian doctrine from earliest times.
☩Figurative and Metaphorical Uses
Scripture uses 'virgin' metaphorically in several ways. Cities or nations are personified as virgins—the virgin daughter of Zion, the virgin daughter of Babylon, or the virgin of Israel. Paul describes the church as a chaste virgin betrothed to Christ. The parable of the ten virgins teaches readiness for Christ's return. In Revelation, the 144,000 are described as virgins, denoting spiritual purity and devotion. Paul advised that in view of present distress, virgins might do well not to marry, though he affirmed that marriage was not sinful.
Related Verses92 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Virgin," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Virgin Birth," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Virgin Virginity," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).