Immanuel - Word Foundations

After learning that Mary, his finaceé, was pregnant, Joseph struggled with the matter in his mind and finally decided to dissolve his engagement quietly. Then in a flash, an angel came to Joseph in a dream and explained that Mary’s pregnancy was orchestrated entirely by God, without the involvement of any human male whatsoever. The angel affirmed it was part of God’s plan for Joseph and Mary to be married. Here are some of the important things the angel indicated to Joseph about the pregnancy and the child (see Matt. 1:20-21). First, the Holy Spirit had conceived the child that now was growing in Mary’s womb. Second, Mary would have a boy. Third, Joseph was to name the baby boy Jesus. Fourth, Jesus, which means “Yahweh is salvation,” was an appropriate name for the child, since He would “save His people from their sins” (v. 21).

At this point Matthew interrupted his account to offer this explanation: “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matt. 1:22-23; Isa. 7:14). While Jesus would be this Child’s name, Immanuel would be one of His many titles. The word Immanuel is Hebrew in origin, and it means, as Matthew said, “God with us.” The term appears in only three places in the entire Bible. Originally it appeared as a Hebrew word in Isaiah 7:14 and 8:8. Then it appeared as a Greek word in Matthew 1:23 where Matthew quoted Isaiah 7:14.

While the word Immanuel is not often found in Scripture, the concept of God’s being with us in Jesus Christ pervades the New Testament. This idea is implicit in the Old Testament as well, through various prophecies and promises and in certain historical events. Here are a few of the places in the New Testament that showcase this theme.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the apostle John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.…The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1,14).
“The one who has seen Me has seen the Father,” said Jesus in John 14:9 (see vv. 1-11 for the context).
Jesus existed “in the form of God, [but] did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men, and when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross” (Phil. 2:6-8).
“God was pleased,” Paul wrote, “to have all His fullness dwell in” His Son Jesus Christ (Col. 1:19; see vv. 15-23 for the context).
The writer of Hebrews stated, “In these last days, He [God] has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:2-3).
The apostle John began his first epistle speaking as an eyewitness to the fact that God had revealed Himself in His Son Jesus Christ (see 1 John 1:1-4).

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in this article are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.