Isaiah 7:10-16 Meaning: God's Sign to a Faithless King
10Yahweh spoke again to Ahaz, saying,
11“Ask a sign of Yahweh your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.”
12But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask. I won’t tempt Yahweh.”
13He 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?
14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
15He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.
16For before the child knows to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you abhor shall be forsaken.
10Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying,
11Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.
13And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
15Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
16For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
10And Jehovah spake again unto Ahaz, saying,
11Ask thee a sign of Jehovah thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah.
13And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also?
14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
15Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
16For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhorrest shall be forsaken.
10And Jehovah addeth to speak unto Ahaz, saying:
11`Ask for thee a sign from Jehovah thy God, Make deep the request, or make it high upwards.'
12And Ahaz saith, `I do not ask nor try Jehovah.'
13And he saith, `Hear, I pray you, O house of David, Is it a little thing for you to weary men, That ye weary also my God?
14Therefore the Lord Himself giveth to you a sign, Lo, the Virgin is conceiving, And is bringing forth a son, And hath called his name Immanuel,
15Butter and honey he doth eat, When he knoweth to refuse evil, and to fix on good.
16For before the youth doth know To refuse evil, and to fix on good, Forsaken is the land thou art vexed with, because of her two kings.
10And Jehovah spoke again to Ahaz, saying,
11Ask for thee a sign from Jehovah thy God; ask for it in the deep, or in the height above.
12And Ahaz said, I will not ask, and will not tempt Jehovah.
13And he said, Hear then, house of David: Is it a small matter for you to weary men, that ye weary also my God?
14Therefore will the Lord himself give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and shall bring forth a son, and call his name Immanuel.
15Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.
16For before the child knoweth to refuse the evil and to choose the good, the land whose two kings thou fearest shall be forsaken.
Meaning in one sentence
In Isaiah 7:10-16, God offers King Ahaz a sign. He refuses, but God promises Immanuel anyway. Why does God persist with the faithless?
Context
Isaiah prophesied during a national crisis. Syria and Israel had allied against Judah, and King Ahaz was terrified. Rather than trust God's promise of deliverance, Ahaz had already decided to seek help from Assyria. In this passage, God speaks again to Ahaz, offering him a sign, anything he wanted, to confirm that God would save Jerusalem. Ahaz refused with a pious-sounding excuse: he would not test the Lord. But the prophet saw through the cover. Ahaz's refusal was a dismissal of God himself. So Isaiah, burning with holy anger, announced that the Lord himself would give a sign anyway: a young woman would conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, 'God with us.' The prophecy looked beyond Ahaz's crisis, promising that God's presence would not be withdrawn even when human faith failed.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words anchor this passage. First, ‘sign’ (’ot). This often refers to a miraculous token confirming a divine promise, like Gideon's fleece or the plagues in Egypt. God offered Ahaz a sign of his choosing, with no limits. Second, the young woman (’almah) in verse fourteen. The word means a young woman of marriageable age. It does not necessarily mean 'virgin' in itself, but the ancient Greek translation (the Septuagint) used parthenos, the specific word for virgin, and the Gospel of Matthew takes it that way. Christians across traditions have seen here the prophecy of Mary's virgin conception. Third, the name Immanuel: 'God with us.' This is not just a name but a promise. The child's name declares that God has not abandoned Judah, even when its king had abandoned trust in him. God with us, that is the sign given, whether Ahaz wanted it or not.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read Isaiah 7:14 in two connected ways. Many, Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant traditions, see it as a direct prophecy of Jesus' virgin birth, citing Matthew 1:23. The Septuagint translation (parthenos, 'virgin') supports this reading. Others note that the passage originally addressed Ahaz's immediate situation: a young woman who was already married (perhaps the prophet's wife) would bear a son, and before the child reached moral awareness, the threat from Syria and Israel would be gone. Both readings are held with sincerity. In either case, the sign points to a deeper truth: God is with his people. The house of David receives a pledge that the covenant continues, and the promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume Ahaz was being devout when he refused to ask for a sign. He quoted Deuteronomy 6:16: 'You shall not test the Lord your God.' In fact, Ahaz was hiding his unbelief behind a scripture verse. God himself had commanded him to ask. His refusal betrayed his true plan: to trust Assyria, not God. Piety can become a mask for resistance.
Living This Out
Maybe you face a situation this week where you have already decided what to do, a relationship to end, a job to take, a worry to carry alone. God might be inviting you to ask for a sign of his presence, a quiet confirmation that he sees and will act. That feels vulnerable. But the Immanuel promise says that God gives himself before we are ready to receive him. You do not have to have perfect trust. You can start by simply noticing the places where he is already with you: in a kind word, an unexpected provision, the name of Jesus itself.
Main takeaway: God gives us the sign of his presence even when we refuse to trust him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Ahaz was very scared. God told him, “Ask me for a sign that I will help you.” But Ahaz said no. He didn’t want to trust God. God gave a promise anyway: a baby named “God with us” would come. That baby was Jesus.
For ages 9, 12
Ahaz sounded religious when he said he wouldn't test God. But he was hiding his lack of trust. God saw right through it and gave a sign anyway: a child named Immanuel, which means “God with us.” This promise came true when Jesus was born. It means God is with us even when we don't trust him well. You can ask God for help even when you feel unsure.
Questions People Ask
What is the meaning of Isaiah 7:14?
This verse is one of the most debated in the Old Testament. In its immediate context, God gives a sign to King Ahaz: a young woman will have a son named Immanuel. Christians have traditionally seen this as a prophecy of Jesus’ virgin birth, as Matthew 1:23 quotes it. Others see a more immediate fulfillment in a child born during Isaiah’s time. Both readings point to the central promise: God is with his people.
Why did Ahaz refuse to ask for a sign?
Ahaz claimed he did not want to test God, citing Deuteronomy 6:16. But the prophet Isaiah saw through this. Ahaz had already made up his mind to seek help from Assyria instead of trusting God’s promise. His refusal was not piety but a cover for his unbelief.
Does the Hebrew word 'almah mean virgin?
The word 'almah simply means a young woman of marriageable age. It does not necessarily specify virginity. However, the ancient Greek translation (the Septuagint) uses the word parthenos, which does mean virgin. The Gospel of Matthew follows this interpretation when applying the verse to Mary. Christians who hold to the virgin birth read 'almah here as pointing to a virgin conception, while others see the immediate reference as a young woman in Isaiah's day.
How does Isaiah 7:14 connect to Jesus?
The Gospel of Matthew (1:23) explicitly quotes Isaiah 7:14 as a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus’ birth. The name Immanuel, 'God with us,' describes who Jesus is: God dwelling among his people. For Christians, this verse is a key Old Testament promise that points to the coming of the Messiah. It assures believers that God keeps his covenant with the house of David.
For pastors & researchers
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