Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14, RSV).
The above RSV translation came from the Hebrew text. The word for "a young woman הָעַלְמָה " in Hebrew has a variety of meanings such as ripe sexually, maid or newly married woman.
Matthew quoted the Septuagint in his gospel. However, the Greek word in LXX is ἡ παρθένος , which means a virgin. Is LXX justified in choosing this word? Therefore, I began a search journey among the books, electronically. Credit should be given to Mr. John Fok who generously supports me which an electronic library. The following table is the result.
| LXX Virgins παρθένος | BHS Virgins בְּתוּלָה | BHS maiden עַלְמָה |
| 1. Genesis 24:14 | ||
| 2. Genesis 24:16 | 1. Genesis 24:16 | |
| 3. Genesis 24:43 | 1. Genesis 24:43 | |
| 4. Genesis 24:55 | ||
| 5. Genesis 34:3 | ||
| the young woman ἡ νεᾶνις | 2. Exodus 2:8 | |
| 6. Exodus 22:15 | 2. Exodus 22:16 | |
| 7. Exodus 22:16 | 3. Exodus 22:17 | |
| 8. Leviticus 21:3 | 4. Leviticus 21:3 | |
| 9. Leviticus 21:13 | ||
| 10. Leviticus 21:14 | 5. Leviticus 21:14 | |
| 11. Deuteronomy 22:19 | 6. Deuteronomy 22:19 | |
| 12. Deuteronomy 22:23 | 7. Deuteronomy 22:23 | |
| 13. Deuteronomy 22:28 | 8. Deuteronomy 22:28 | |
| 14. Deuteronomy 32:25 | 9. Deuteronomy 32:25 | |
| 15. Judges 19:24 | 10. Judges 19:24 | |
| 16. Judges 21:11 | ||
| 17. Judges 21:12 | 11. Judges 21:12 | |
| 18. 2 Samuel 13:2 | 12. 2 Samuel 13:2 | |
| 19. 2 Samuel 13:18 | 13. 2 Samuel 13:18 | |
| 20. 1 Kings 1:2 | 14. 1 Kings 1:2 | |
| 21. 2 Kings 19:21 | 15. 2 Kings 19:21 | |
| 22. 2 Chronicles 36:17 | 16. 2 Chronicles 36:17 | |
| skipped | 17. Esther 2:2 | |
| 23. Esther 2:3 | 18. Esther 2:3 | |
| 24. Esther 2:17 | 19. Esther 2:17 | |
| skipped | 20. Esther 2:19 | |
| 25. Job 31:1 | 21. Job 31:1 | |
| 26. Psalm 44:15 | 22. Psalm 45:14 | |
| of young women νεανίδων | 3. Psalm 68:25 | |
| 27. Psalm 77:63 | 23. Psalm 78:63 | |
| 28. Psalm 148:12 | 24. Psalm 148:12 | |
| in youth ἐν νεότητι | 4. Proverbs 30:19 | |
| the young women τοῦτο νεάνιδες | 5. Song of Solomon 1:3 | |
| young women νεάνιδες | 6. Song of Solomon 6:8 | |
| 29. Isaiah 7:14 | 7. Isaiah 7:14 | |
| 30. Isaiah 23:4 | 25. Isaiah 23:4 | |
| skipped | 26. Isaiah 23:12 | |
| 31. Isaiah 37:22 | 27. Isaiah 37:22 | |
| 32. Isaiah 47:1 | 28. Isaiah 47:1 | |
| 33. Isaiah 62:5 | 29. Isaiah 62:5 | |
| 34. Jeremiah 2:32 | 30. Jeremiah 2:32 | |
| skipped | 31. Jeremiah 14:17 | |
| 35. Jeremiah 18:13 | 32. Jeremiah 18:13 | |
| 36. Jeremiah 26:11 | 36. Jeremiah 46:11 | |
| 37. Jeremiah 28:22 | 37. Jeremiah 51:22 | |
| 38. Jeremiah 38:4 | 33. Jeremiah 31:4 | |
| 39. Jeremiah 38:13 | 34. Jeremiah 31:13 | |
| 40. Jeremiah 38:21 | 35. Jeremiah 31:21 | |
| 41. Lamentations 1:4 | 38. Lamentations 1:4 | |
| 42. Lamentations 1:15 | 39. Lamentations 1:15 | |
| 43. Lamentations 1:18 | 40. Lamentations 1:18 | |
| 44. Lamentations 2:10 | 41. Lamentations 2:10 | |
| 45. Lamentations 2:13 | 42. Lamentations 2:13 | |
| 46. Lamentations 2:21 | 43. Lamentations 2:21 | |
| 47. Lamentations 5:11 | 44. Lamentations 5:11 | |
| 48. Ezekiel 9:6 | 45. Ezekiel 9:6 | |
| 49. Ezekiel 44:22 | 46. Ezekiel 44:22 | |
| a bride νύμφην | 47. Joel 1:8 | |
| 50. Amos 5:2 | 48. Amos 5:2 | |
| 51. Amos 8:13 | 49. Amos 8:13 | |
| 52. Zechariah 9:17 | 50. Zechariah 9:17 |
We see that most of the 50 "virgin" entries in Hebrew were translated into ἡ παρθένος in LXX, though there are a few exceptions. Those "skipped" entries mean, for some reasons, LXX did not translate them.
There are only 7 "maid" entries in Hebrew. Therefore, we can look at them case by case.
Genesis has one "maid" entry and one "virgin" entry. Both entries were translated into virgin.
Both entries refer to Rebekah. The servant of Abraham met her beside a well (Genesis 24). Therefore, it is reasonable to translate both entries into "virgin".
Exodus has one "maid" entry and 2 "virgin" entries. They were translated accordingly.
Psalm has one "maid" entry and 3 "virgin" entries. They were translated accordingly.
Proverbs has one "maid" entry and was translated accordingly.
Songs of Solomon has two "maid" entries and was translated accordingly.
Isaiah has one "maid" entry and 5 "virgin" entries. They were all translated into "virgin" except one.
Books of prophets are not narratives but collections of oracles proclaimed in different times. What is worse, the collections may not necessarily be chronological. We have no clue why the LXX translator decided to translate the "young woman" into "virgin". The context was Ahaz facing a hostile northern alliance between Israel and Syria to force him to join them to fight against Assyria. God gave him a sign. A young woman would bear a child.
He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted (Isaiah 7:15-16).
Most likely, this young woman was the queen, the wife of Ahaz. Therefore, it is indeed a mystery why the LXX translator could have translated this "young woman" into a "virgin".
Of all the 7 "maid" entries in Hebrew, there are 2 exceptions, one in Genesis and the other in Isaiah. The one in Genesis is explicable while the one in Isaiah is truly the outcome of an inspiration from God. Only God knows why.
My God, it has been an enriching soul-searching exercise. I humbly praise You for Your wonders and wisdom. Amen.
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