Immanuel

Originally the name given by Isaiah to a child whom an un-named "virgin" (NIV) would give birth to as a sign that the Lord himself would give to King Ahaz in assurance that He would protect him if he would trust Him (Isa 7:14). Matthew cites this verse from Isaiah as being fulfilled in the birth of Jesus (1:23).

Isaiah's prophesy was first givend in the context of the Syro-Ephraimite War when the state of Judah was threatened with war from her various neighbours for not joining them in their planned rebellion against their Assyrian overlord (Isa 7). On hearing of the threat, "Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind" (v2).

Hoping to assure Ahaz, Isaiah came to him with an offer from the Lord to "Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights" (v11), i.e., there was to be no limit as to what sign he could ask for. Instead of joyfulling taking up the offer, Ahaz showed his own unbelief with hypocritical humility, "I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test" (v12). Ahaz knew, of course, if he had consented and did ask for a sign, he would be bound hence to obey whatever reply the Lord gave. In sharp rebuke to his un-belief, Isaiah prophesied the sign that the Lord himself would give, i.e., the birth of a child called Immanuel, which also hence doubles as a promise of divine presence and protection. Ahaz, little grateful, survived the war if only by tuning up his un-belief by seeking help from the Assyrians instead of the Lord.

CONCORDANCE (NIV):
Immanuel appears 3x in the Bible, with a possible fourth occurrence at Isa 8:10 (where it is more frequently translated instead of transliterated):

Isa 7:14 — Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isa 8:8— [The Lord spoke to me again: "Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the River] . . . Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, O Immanuel!"

Matt 1:23 — [All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet:] "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." [When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.]

☰ Interpretation of the Sign

Further Reading & Resources:

☰ R. Bruce Compton, "The Immanuel Prophecy in Isaiah 7:14-16 and Its Use in Matthew 1:23: Harmonizing Historical Context and Single Meaning," Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 12 (Fall 2007): 3-15.