It's not a claim. It's a matter of context and meaning.
The author ''Matthew' tried to shoehorn a Christian interpretation into a narrative that has nothing to do with Christianity or a virgin birth.
While the New Testament connects Isaiah 7:14 to Jesus's virgin birth, many scholars and Jewish interpreters argue that the original context of the prophecy in Isaiah 7 refers to a sign given to King Ahaz during a time of war, specifically relating to the birth of a child to a young woman (almah) in Ahaz's time, not a future virgin birth. The prophecy was meant to reassure Ahaz that the immediate threat from the kings of Israel and Aram would be resolved before the child would reach an age of understanding.
Here's a breakdown:
The Immediate Context:
Isaiah 7:14 is part of a prophecy given to King Ahaz during a time when Judah was threatened by the kings of Israel and Aram. The prophecy assures Ahaz that the threat will be neutralized before a child born to a young woman ("almah") reaches a certain age.
The Hebrew Word "almah":
The Hebrew word "almah" is often translated as "virgin" but can also mean "young woman" or "maiden." The Septuagint (LXX), a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, uses the word "parthenos," which specifically means virgin.
The "Sign" for Ahaz:
The sign given to Ahaz was not about a miraculous virgin birth centuries later, but about a current birth that would demonstrate God's protection within a short timeframe. The child's name, Immanuel (meaning "God with us"), was a declaration of God's presence and deliverance for Judah during that specific crisis.
Matthew's Interpretation:
Matthew's Gospel uses Isaiah 7:14 to connect Jesus's birth to this prophecy, but this is understood by some as a later, secondary fulfillment of the prophecy, not the primary one intended for Ahaz. - AI overview.
Basically;
''These verses explain the sign God is giving Ahaz. A baby named Immanuel will be born, and before the kid is very old, the kings attacking Ahaz will be gone. This was fulfilled in Ahaz’s day, and the little boy named Immanuel was an ongoing sign that God delivered Ahaz and Judah. We find in the very next chapter of Isaiah that Immanuel was living during Ahaz’s reign (Isa. 8:8).
The main point of this sign in Isaiah is that a child would shortly be born, and his mom would name him Immanuel (God with us). If your city were under siege by Ephraim and Syria, you most likely wouldn’t name your kid “God with us”—maybe “God help us,” but not “God with us.” The sign of a baby being given the name Immanuel indicated that in a very short time, the war would be over.
The word used for “virgin” in Isaiah 7:14 is the Hebrew word alma. This word refers to a young woman, a maid, or a newly married woman. Though young women were usually virgins (if unmarried), this Hebrew word didn’t refer specifically to a virgin (someone who hasn’t had sex). That word is betula, and it’s frequently used in the Old Testament (Gen. 24:16, Deut. 22:19, Est. 2:2).[1]''
