TODAY'S DEVOTION ON THE BIBLE
I’ll be the first to say that the Revised Standard Version’s translation of Isaiah 7:14 is a poor translation. The Hebrew word the King James translators translated “virgin” can also be translated “young woman.” Whereas the King James translators opted to translate it “virgin,” which I believe is certainly the correct translation, the Revised Standard translators, for whatever reason, opted to translate it “young woman,” which is easily proven incorrect.
The Prophet Isaiah is predicting in this verse that the coming of the Messiah will be marked by a miraculous sign. As you know, there is nothing miraculous about a pregnant “young woman.” A young woman with child is a common occurrence. However, a pregnant “virgin” is another thing all together. This would definitely be a miraculous sign to the world that the virgin’s child would prove to be Israel’s promised Messiah.
Without doubt, the King James translators got it right and the Revised Standard translators got it wrong. But does this prove the Revised Standard translators purposely mistranslated the verse to deny the virgin birth and deity of Jesus Christ? I don’t think so, and I’ll prove it in tomorrow’s post.
Don Walton
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