THE VIRGIN WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON
by Kristen West McGuire
Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. 19 Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: 23 Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife. 25 And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Context: The Jews in 1st century Israel understood being engaged differently than we do. The first step of marriage, known as betrothal (erusin), was a legal term. By Jewish law, betrothed couples were married. Only divorce could separate them, which was an option only open to the husband.
The betrothal was a time of preparation for both bride and groom, and lasted up to a year. The final step of marriage was the home-taking ceremony (nissuin), during which the groom was finally allowed to have conjugal relations with his wife. Thus, it’s understandable that Joseph was troubled to find Mary, his betrothed, pregnant before their nissuin.
Translation: Isaiah 7:14 states, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” St. Matthew quoted from the Greek Septuagint edition of the Hebrew scriptures. Some biblical scholars disagree over the Messianic interpretation of this prophecy.
The Hebrew word found in Isaiah 7:14, almah, means young maiden, not betulah which meant virgin. St. Matthew quoted from the Greek Septuagint, parthenos, which was also translated by St. Jerome in the Latin Vulgate as virgo, virgin. For clarity, St. Matthew shows in verse 25 that St. Joseph “knew her not.” This was to emphasize the virgin birth. The root of the word “to know” (yada), was used also as a euphemism for sexual intimacy. (See Genesis 4:1, 4:17.)
Vocabulary (Greek/Hebrew):
Virgin– parthénos: maiden, virgin Virginity was presumed of maidens.
a just man - dikaios: just, innocent, holy
expose her - deigmatizó: to expose one to disgrace, as an example publicly
knew her not: ginóskó: “to know her” is a Greek translation of the Hebrew word, yada. Among other meanings, it also connotes a knowledge of God.
Jesus- Iēsous: Greek for a Hebrew word, Yehoshua, meaning “The Lord is Salvation.”
Meditation: There was a sketch on Seinfeld where a situation with sexual innuendo was described as “yada, yada, yada…” Perhaps older readers will also recall similar jokes about knowing a girl, “in the biblical sense.” But yada in Hebrew implies a covenantal union, born of love and the knowledge of God.
There is another Hebrew word used to indicate a less than chaste liaison (shakab). But in our culture, it’s all smirks and contempt for chaste Christians.
St. Matthew firmly places the origins of the Holy Family among the Davidic heirs, Joseph and Mary. The baby Jesus is born into a family with a Messianic pedigree, foretold by the prophets to be Emmanuel, God with us. Joseph receives the message of the angel and steps up to be the father.
After clearly showing how men have failed women over the centuries in the last chapter, St. John Paul presents St. Joseph as not only the just man, but the protector and guardian of Mary and Jesus, and by extension, of His Church.
Biblical purity and virginity deserve to be protected and even celebrated. St. Joseph “knew” Mary in the most wholesome way—as the Mother of God. And in fact, armed with God’s love, St. Joseph can and will protect each one of us as His own family.
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