Almah

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Almah ("עלמה") or plural: alamot ("עלמות") is a Hebrew feminine noun, for a girl who has reached puberty but is still under the shielding protection of her family; she is a young, marriageable (i.e. unmarried) girl. In Bibles, almah is typically translated as virgin, maiden, young woman, damsel or girl. For theological reasons, the meaning and definition of this word (especially the definition of "virgin") can be controversial, particularly when applied to Isaiah 7:14.

Contents

[edit] Definitions and etymology

The masculine root of almah is elem ("עלם") meaning "youth" or "young man of the age of puberty".[1] Feminizing these terms would result in "young woman" or "young woman of the age of puberty", but the actual definition is: "girl of marriageable age". [2] This sense of the word continues to the modern Hebrew where almah still means "damsel" (a young woman or girl) and "miss" (a young or unmarried woman).[3]

Almah seems to be the only word in the Biblical Hebrew language which unequivocally signifies an unmarried woman[4] and children born to an almah would be illegitimate.[5] The English word that corresponds most closely to this concept is maiden or maid which means "an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)".[6] As with "maid", the word almah does not necessarily or certainly mean "virgin" but, in cultural context, it would be abnormal for an almah to be anything other than a virgin. [7]

As already indicated, the notion of marriageability is typically part of the definition of almah. In the ancient Near East girls had value as potential wives and bearers of children [8] which may explain a recurring sense of marriageability regarding alamot or girls who had entered puberty. This same sense of marriageability does not accrue to the masculine elem even though they also have entered puberty, but it does apply to "bachur" or "young warrior", when boys have matured to the point of being able to support a new household.

Some authorities believe that almah is derived from alma, a verb meaning "to hide, to conceal".[9] Adam Clarke speculated upon the association between alma and almah: "A virgin ... had not been uncovered, she had not known man." [10].

Almah is a modern Egyptian word for belly dancer or singer [11] and some linguists see this as derived from the ancient semetic word almah for "girl".

In Roman alphabets almah is correctly spelled with an initial spiritus asper mark (‘almah), indicating the word is spelled with an initial ayin. The ayin is either silent or pronounced as an initial soft glottal stop (like a breathy "kh" sound). This pronunciation is also suggested by the Ugaritic cognate word glmt, meaning "damsel". [12]

[edit] The age of an almah

Alfred Edersheim describes 'almah' as one of a list of sequential "terms, each depicting a fresh stage of life"[13] (spellings per Gesenius translated to English):

  • yeled or yaldah - newborn boy or girl.
  • yonek or yanak - suckling baby.
  • olel - suckling who also eats food. Translated as "young child" in Lamentations 4:4 (KJV).
  • gamal - weaned child (under 3 years old).
  • taph - young child, one who still clings to mother. Derived from the word for brisk, small, tripping steps of young children.
  • elem or almah - firm and strong child
  • na'ar (masc) or na'arah (fem.) - "independent or free child" (from a root meaning "to shake off"). Also "handmaid", "servant" or just "girl".

In relative order and by its connotation of firmness and strength, the almah (or elem) in Edersheim's list suggests the period of rapid growth in adolescence (particularly early adolescence) but prior to independent responsibility or freedom.

[edit] Bible usage

The meaning of almah is most often determined by referring to its uses in the Bible. Unfortunately, there are only nine passages that use this term (and only two more use the masculine form elem). This results in a very small number of examples from which we may extract a definition. This small number is further reduced because only few of these verses contain clear and unambiguous meanings. These few instances do not necessarily clarify the meaning of almah in the remaining passages. The problem is further compounded when one considers that these various texts were recorded by different authors living centuries apart. Languages tend to evolve over time and ancient Hebrew was no different.

[edit] Genesis (Bereshis) 24:43

A servant of Abraham recounts how he met Rebeccah. He prayed to the Lord that if an almah came to the well, and he requested a drink of water from her, that should she then provide him with that drink and also water his camels he would take that as a sign that she was to be the wife of Issac. In this passage Rebeccah, a young, unmarried virgin is that almah and most Bibles use "virgin" or "maid" as the translation.

[edit] Exodus (Shemot) 2:8

The older sister of a baby boy is an almah. She is old enough to be entrusted to watch the baby Moses and she takes thoughtful action to reunite the baby with his mother by offering to bring the baby to a hebrew nurse maid (her mother). Most translations use the word "girl" to describe Moses' sister.

[edit] 1 Chronicles (Divrey HaYamim Alef) 15:20 and Psalms (Tehilim) 46 (intro)

In both of these passages the psalm is to be played "on alamot" -- a musical meaning that has become lost with time. It most probably refers to a certain type of 10 or 12 stringed lute instrument, so named because of its pitch resembling that of girls' singing voices. [14] It may also refer to a feminine manner of singing or playing, such as a girls choir. A third theory is that "alamoth" refers to an instrument made in the city of "Alameth". [15]. Translators have difficulty with this term and many simply transliterate the Hebrew into English as "alamoth". However, a few versions make speculative attempts such as "soprano voices", "high voices" or "small harps", while other versions simply ignore this reference and do not include it in the translation. (The Latin Vulgate, and consequently the Douay-Rheims Bible, uniquely translates the word as "mystery").

[edit] Psalms (Tehilim) 68:25/26

In a victory parade, the participants are listed in order of appearance: 1) the singers; 2) the musicians; and 3) the "alamot" playing cymbals or tambourines. Most Bible versions translate this instance of alamot as "maidens" or "young women".

[edit] Song of Songs (Shir Hashirim) 1:3

A poetic chant of praise toward a man, declaring that all the alamot adore him. Thus, he is attractive to marriagable "maidens" or "young women" according to most translations.

[edit] Song of Songs (Shir Hashirim) 6:8

The woman, who is the object of this love poem, is favorably compared to a harem of 60 Queens (wives of the King) 80 Concubines (Secondary Wives) and numberless alamot. These alamot are not numbered as wives and they may be unmarried ladies in waiting or daughters of the wives. Many translations call them "virgins".

[edit] Proverbs (Mishle) 30:19

In addition to the standard translations such as "maiden", "virgin" and "young woman" a difference between the Hebrew texts and the Septuagint leads some versions to dramatically revise this verse or translate it with different words. (To some extent, this is also an attempt to develop a dynamic translation of the passage that is clear to the modern reader.) The focus of the text is consternation over an adulterous wife. The author compares this adulterous wife's acts to things he claims are hard to understand: a bird flying in air, the movement of a snake over a rock, navigation of a ship through the sea and the how a (strong) man is with an almah. (The Septuagint reads "and the way of a man in his youth" instead.) The sense may be that a strong man forcing himself upon a weaker girl is like the bird, the snake, the ship and the adulterous woman. In each instance there is no lasting, visible evidence of the action. However, this is not the only view and there are a variety of translations of the final phrase in verse 19:

  • "why adolescents act the way they do" - "The Message"
  • "how a man loves a woman" - "The New Living Translation"
  • "(how) people fall in love" - "Contemporary English Bible"
  • "the way of a man with a young woman / maiden" - Most Versions

The many variations of wording and implied meaning makes this verse particularly difficult for those seeking a precise definition for almah.

[edit] Isaiah (Yeshayah) 7:14

Ahaz, the wavering King of Judah is given a sign that the Lord is in charge and will help Judah. The sign is that an almah will give birth to a son who will still be very young when Judah's current enemies will be destroyed. Christians often see a prophecy of Jesus in this passage and insist that almah is "virgin". Jewish readers disagree and assert that the passage refers only to the events in the time of Isaiah and Ahaz. (See the Isaiah 7:14 Controversy Below). With no certain resolution, popular versions of the Bible can be found supporting either view. With some notable exceptions (such as the Revised Standard Version), most major versions of the Bible that include the New Testament translate Isaiah 7:14 with the word "virgin," while those encompassing only the Hebrew Bible use "young woman".

[edit] Comparison of Bible translations

This table compares the translation of each instance of 'almah or 'alamot in the Bible. (references per KJV)

Bible Version Year Gen 24:43 Ex 2:8 Ps 68:25 Prov 30:19 SS 1:3 SS 6:8 Isa 7:14 1 Cr 15:20 Ps 46
JPS 1917 maiden maiden damsels young woman maidens maidens young woman Alamoth Alamoth
JPCT maiden girl maidens young woman maidens maidens young woman Alamoth alamoth
KJV 1611 virgin maid damsels maid virgins virgins virgin Alamoth -
ESV >1971 virgin girl virgins virgin they virgins virgin Alamoth Alamoth
NKJV 1982 virgin maiden maidens virgin virgins virgins virgin Alamoth Alamoth
KJ21 1994 virgin maid damsels maid virgins virgins virgin Alamoth -
ASV 1901 maiden maiden damsels maiden virgins virgins virgin Alamoth Alamoth
NASB 1995 maiden girl maidens maid maidens maidens virgin Alamoth Alamoth
Dohay Rheims 1609 virgin maid damsels youth** maidens young maidens virgin mysteries -
Darby 1890 damsel damsel maidens maid virgins virgins virgin Alamoth Alamoth
YLT 1898 virgin virgin virgins youth** virgins virgins virgin virgins Virgins
New Life 1969 girl girl young women woman young women young women young woman & (virgin) high sounds -
NIV 1978 maiden girl maidens maiden maidens virgins virgin Alamoth Alamoth
Amplified 1987 maiden girl maidens maid maidens virgins young woman & virgin Alamoth trebel voices
The Message 1993 young woman girl maidens ** everyone** ** girl melody -
CEV 1995 young woman girl young women ** young women others virgin smaller harps -
New Living 1996 young woman girl young women woman young women virgins virgin (alamoth) soprano voices
NIRV 1996 virgin girl young women young woman young women virgins virgin high notes alamoth
Holman virgin girl young women young woman young women young women virgin Alamoth Alamoth
NEB young woman girl girls girl maidens young women young woman lutes **

** = Not Directly Translated


[edit] Isaiah 7:14 controversy

From the earliest days of Christianity, Jewish critics have argued that Christians were mistaken in their reading of almah in Isaiah 7:14.[16] In particular, the author of Matthew 1:23, believed that Jesus was born of a virgin, and then quoted Isaiah: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son" as a proof-text of Jesus' divine origins. Jewish scholars declare that Matthew is in error: the word almah means young woman (just as the male equivalent elem means young man). It does not denote a virgin. While young men and young women tend to be virgins, the word almah does not refer to sexual purity, but only to age. Bolstering this point, a different Hebrew word, bethulah ("בתולה"), is the word most commonly used for virgin (even in modern Hebrew). Since bethulah is not used in Isaiah 7:14, the prophet could not have meant virgin.

Many Christian apologists respond that throughout the Old Testament, in every other instance where a girl is described as almah she is a girl who has never known a man carnally or had intercourse. Moreover, the word bethulah is sometimes used to describe women who are arguably not virgins (Joel 1.8 and Esther 2:8-17). Thus, they argue, almah refers to virgins more consistently than bethulah does. But, most importantly, the Jewish scholars who translated and compiled the Hebrew scriptures (the Torah first and then later the Prophets and the Writings) into a Greek version of the Old Testament, translated almah in Isaiah 7:14 as parthenos, which almost always[17] means "virgin". Since these Jewish scholars were well acquainted with the meaning of the old Hebrew words as well as the Greek, their interpretation (developed hundreds of years before Jesus) should be given special creedance.

Some researchers, observe that such absolute interpretations are invalid. They contend that so many variations in usage exist that no one word in Hebrew encapsulated the idea of certain virginity. Thus, arguments over the precise meanings of bethulah and almah are reaching too far. [18] In a related way, Luther argued in detail that almah and bethulah were functional synonyms.[19]

[edit] See also

Both articles contain discussions regarding the Isaiah 7:14 controversy.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for '`elem (Strong's 05958) ' " . Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2002. 22 Jun 2006.
  2. ^ The Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon says that almah is "the female of (elem); a girl of marriagable age."
  3. ^ Webster's New World Hebrew Dictionary, Hayim Baltsan, Prentice Hall, 1992. Note that 'almah neekhbadah means "Dear Miss".
  4. ^ The Book of Isaiah- A Commentary by Edward J. Young, Erdman's Publishing Company, 1997, Volume 1 page 288.
  5. ^ Die Immanuel Botschaft im Rahmen des koniglichen Zionsfestes, Wilhelm Vischer, Zollikon-Surich, 1955, p 50 as cited by Young op. cit.
  6. ^ Definition of "Maid" found in WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
  7. ^ Per Deuteronomy 22:21-29 someone would probably be stoned if she was not and often it would be the girl.
  8. ^ Carolyn S. Leeb points out: "A wife, who came into her husband's household as an outsider, contributed her labor and her fertility. Her task was to build up the bet 'ab by bearing children, particularly sons". More detailed information about the status and value of women related to childbearing is found in her article The widow: homeless and post-menopausal.(term "widow" in the Bible), Biblical Theology Bulletin; 12/22/2002
  9. ^ Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for '`alam (Strong's 05956) ' " . Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2002. 22 Jun 2006.
  10. ^ Adam Clarke, Clarke's Commentary, 6 Vols. (New York: Phillips & Hunt, n.d.), 4:58
  11. ^ On Line Etymological Dictionary
  12. ^ Cyrus H Gordon, Ugaritic Handbook, text 77, line 7
  13. ^ Sketches of Jewish Social Life, Chapter 7, "The Upbringing of Jewish Children". Edersheim adds 'bachur - young warrior" to the list, but this applies to young men and is excluded here.
  14. ^ Biblical Musical Instruments
  15. ^ Discussion of "alamoth" as a musical instrument
  16. ^ Dialogue of Justin Martyr, with Trypho, a Jew, LXIII
  17. ^ A rare example of an instance where it does not mean virgin is found in Genesis 34:2-3 where the word "parthenos" is used in reference to a a young woman who had been raped).
  18. ^ Charles D. Isbell, Biblical Archaelogical Review, June 1977, "Does the Gospel of Matthew Proclaim Mary’s Virginity?"
  19. ^ Martin Luther, “That Jesus Christ Was Born a Jew,” in Luther’s Works, vol. 45: The Christian in Society II, ed. H. T. Lehmann (Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, 1962).
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