ISAIAH 7:13-15

Q: Isaiah prophecies the virgin will be with child and will be called Immanuel. The Daily Bible commentary notes this prophecy is messianic referring to Jesus. He was prophesied to be called Immanuel, but was named Jesus. Is this a discrepancy? Is Immanuel instead a sort of title as opposed to name?

Most Jewish names also have meanings in Hebrew. Since many of these names contain “el” (God) or “jah/iah” (Jahweh) as prefixes or suffixes. Immanuel (Emmanuel in the New Testament) can be taken as either a proper name or the descriptive phrase “God (is) with us.” In the original context of the prophecy, the birth of a particular child was said to herald the fact that God was still with His people in the midst of attacks from enemies. Then, in Isaiah 8:5-8, the same word Immanuel appears in the more somber context of an Assyrian attack decimating Israel, followed by a hymn in verses 9-10 concerning a later victory by Israel over her enemies since “God is with us.”

The more important meaning for Christians concerns the longer term fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy referring to the coming of the Messiah. If the Gospel writers had recognized a discrepancy between the actual name of the Messiah, Jesus, and the name Immanuel predicted in Isaiah, they would probably not have referred to the Isaiah prophecy at all. But, in fact, Matthew 1:22-23 specifically quotes from Isaiah 7:14 and 8:8 to prove that the prophecy applies to Jesus who was, in fact, God dwelling with mankind. John probably alludes to the same prophecy indirectly in John 1:14 when he says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...”

Finally, we have Luke's witness, recorded in verse 31 of Chapter 1, of the angel's proclamation to Mary: “And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.” This is practically a paraphrase of Isaiah 7:14, with the actual name Jesus substituted for the descriptive title Immanuel.

Getting back to Isaiah, it is also instructive to consider Isaiah 9:6 for another example of what the child shall be named, “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Obviously, the Messiah can't be literally given all these names at the same time, as well as Immanuel.

Concluding with a quote from the New Bible Dictionary (p. 557): “In His birth the presence of God is to be found. God has come to His people in a little Child, that very Child whom Isaiah later names “Mighty God.”