OLD TESTAMENT

Isaiah 7:10–15

The Holy Bible · English
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10

The LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying,

11

“Ask a sign of the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 11. Above. Require it to thunder, (1 Kennicott. 12:17) or the earth to open. Numbers 16:28. Calmet.

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12

But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask. I won’t tempt the LORD.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 12. Lord. He was afraid of being forced to relinquish his evil ways. Saint Jerome—Though an idolater, he knew he ought not to tempt God.

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13

He said, “Listen now, house of David. Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God also?

14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 14. Virgin, halma, ( Bible.) one secluded from the company of men. Alma in Latin signifies “a holy person,” and in Punic “a virgin.” The term is never applied to any but “a young virgin.” If it meant a young woman, what sort of a sign would this be? Saint Jerome—It was indeed above the sagacity of man to declare that the child to be born would be a boy, and live till the kings should be destroyed. But the prophet undoubtedly speaks of Jesus Christ, the wonderful, and so forth (chapter 9:5) as well as of a boy, who should prefigure him, and be an earnest of the speedy destruction of the two kings. He was to be born of Isaias, (chapter 8:4) and of all the qualities belonging to the true Emmanuel, only that regards him, which intimates that the country should be delivered before he should come to years of discretion. verse 16. Calmet. Diss. Bossuet—The Fathers generally apply all to Christ.—Called. Or shall be in effect. Calmet. 1:26. Calmet.—The king hardly trusted in God’s mercies, whereupon the incarnation of Christ, and so forth is foretold. Worthington.

EXPLANATION

“Immanuel” means “God with us”.

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15

He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 15. Honey. Like other infants. Calmet.—The new baptized received some to remind them of innocence. Tert. cor. 3.—Christ shall be true man. Menochius.

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