What Does the Bible Say About the Virgin Birth — In Biblical Context
The Bible teaches that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy and ensuring Christ was both fully God and fully man.
The Bible teaches that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy and ensuring Christ was both fully God and fully man.
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." — Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
The virgin birth is a foundational Christian doctrine prophesied in Isaiah 7:14: 'Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel' — meaning 'God with us.' Matthew 1:18-25 records the fulfillment: 'before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.' The angel told Joseph, 'that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.' Luke's account adds Gabriel's announcement to Mary: 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God' (Luke 1:35). The virgin birth is theologically essential — it ensures that Jesus was born without a sin nature inherited from Adam, while still being fully human through Mary. He is the unique God-man: truly divine, truly human. Without the virgin birth, Jesus could not be the sinless sacrifice for humanity's sin.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Isaiah 7:14, sits inside Isaiah 7. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Supporting Passages
"The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
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