[kosta50]

Actually, I made a mistake of trusting a Protestant source. Lesson learned. Barnes is wrong. Almah is used in more than just two instances in the OT as Barnes claims, and others on this thread have asserted.

Proverbs 30:19 not only uses almah in a context that makes is not God's special purpose, but also clearly NOT as a virgin.

The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid/ almah /.

Seems to me that actually the Prots have some "splainin'" to do, Uncle Chip.

[Forest Keeper]

Barnes is wrong. Almah is used in more than just two instances in the OT as Barnes claims ...

Proverbs 30:19 not only uses almah in a context that makes is not God's special purpose, but also clearly NOT as a virgin.

Thank you also, Kosta, for a very informative and civil discussion. Well, Strong's has almah in this verse, so I have to admit that I can't explain why Barnes said it was only two. It's usually pretty trusty. :) In any event, the use of almah here in Proverbs can be seen as requiring a reference to a virgin. Here is an interpretation from the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary :

"Proverbs 30:18-19 There be three (things) ... yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid - as all these afford no clue to their mode of action. "The way of a man (geber: a mighty or wanton man) with a maid," whom he is trying to seduce, is so subtle that it baffles penetration. Inexperienced females must not rely on their own wisdom and strength of resolution, as securing them from evil, when they place themselves in positions of danger. The depths of nature symbolize the depths of Satan and his agents. The eagle flies upward, without turnings. like other birds, and soars so high that the eye cannot trace his "way." The serpent, though without feet or wings, trails along the rock wheresoever it will, leaving no impression of its way. The ship, notwithstanding its bulk, speedily traverse many miles leaving no track in the water. So the man who is passionately bent on gratifying his lust after a virgin, adopts varied devices which cannot be traced out fully in detail. The movements of all four are light, gliding, without noise, quick, and the mode unknown to us. Thus the sense gives no sanction to the Jews' use of this verse to deny that halmah, in Isa 7:14, means a virgin: if she were not so, there would be no miracle in that passage." (emphasis added)