Introduction
After the Immanuel sign of v. 14, v. 15 describes the child's ordinary growth: real food, real moral development. The Messiah will not arrive as an instantaneous adult; He will eat and learn like a true Hebrew boy.
Historical Context
'Butter and honey' was the diet of devastated Israel (cf. v. 22), when crops failed and people lived on what livestock and wild bees produced. The child grows up in the very poverty Judah's unbelief is bringing on.
Original Language Insights
'Know to refuse... and choose' — a Hebrew idiom for the age of moral accountability. The Messiah enters human moral life from the inside, learning to choose good as we must learn it.
Theological Significance
Christ's incarnation is genuine, not theatrical. Hebrews 5:8 echoes this verse: 'though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience.' Immanuel is fully God and fully one of us.
Practical Application
Your humanity does not embarrass Christ. He chose hunger, learning, and growth — so you can bring your own to Him without shame.