Virgin

Virgin - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

In a prophecy concerning our Lord, Isaiah (7:14) says, "A virgin [R.V. marg., the virgin'] shall conceive, and bear a son" (comp. Luke 1:31-35). The people of the land of Zidon are thus referred to by Isaiah (23:12), "O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon;" and of the people of Israel, Jeremiah (18:13) says, "The virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing."

Virgin - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

VIR'GIN, n. nearly vur'gin. [L. virgo.]

1. A woman who has had no carnal knowledge of man.

2. A woman not a mother. [Unusual.]

3. The sign Virgo. [See Virgo.]

VIR'GIN, a.

1. Pure; untouched; as virgin gold.

2. Fresh; new; unused; as virgin soil.

VIR'GIN, v.i. To play the virgin; a cant word.

Virginity - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

VIRGIN'ITY, n. [L. virginitas.] Maidenhood; the state of having had no carnal knowledge of man.

VIR'GIN'S BOWER, n. A plant of the genus Clematis.

vur'-jin; vur-jin'-i-ti:

(1) bethulah, from a root meaning "separated," is "a woman living apart," i.e. "in her father's house," and hence "a virgin." Bethulah seems to have been the technical term for "virgin," as appears from such a combination as na`arah bhethulah, "a damsel, a virgin," in De 22:23,28, etc. An apparent exception is Joe 1:8, "Lament like a virgin bethulah .... for the husband of her youth," but the word is probably due to a wish to allude to the title "virgin daughter of Zion" (the translation "a betrothed maiden" is untrue to Hebrew sentiment). and the use of "virgin" for a city (Isa 37:22, etc.; compare Isa 23:12; 47:1) probably means "unsubdued," though, as often, a title may persist after its meaning is gone (Jer 31:4). The King James Version and the English Revised Version frequently render bethulah by "maiden" or "maid" (Jud 19:24, etc.), but the American Standard Revised Version has used "virgin" throughout, despite the awkwardness of such a phrase as "young men and virgins" (Ps 148:12). For "tokens of virginity" ("proofs of chastity") see the commentary on De 22:15 ff.

(2) `almah, rendered in the Revised Version (British and American) by either "damsel" (Ps 68:25), "maiden" (so usually, Ex 2:8, etc.), or "virgin" with margin "maiden" (So 1:3; 6:8; Isa 7:14). The word (see OHL) means simply "young woman" and only the context can give it the force "virgin." This force, however, seems required by the contrasts in So 6:8, but in 1:3 "virgin" throws the accent in the wrong place. The controversies regarding Isa 7:14 are endless, but Septuagint took `almah as meaning "virgin" (parthenos). But in New Testament times the Jews never interpreted the verse as a prediction of a virgin-birth--a proof that the Christian faith did not grow out of this passage. See IMMANUEL; VIRGIN BIRTH.

(3) parthenos, the usual Greek word for "virgin" (Judith 16:5, etc.; Mt 1:23, etc.). In Re 14:4 the word is masculine. In 1Co 7:25 ff the Revised Version (British and American) has explained "virgin" by writing "virgin daughter" in 7:36-38. This is almost certainly right, but "virgin companion" (see Lietzmann and J. Weiss in the place cited.) is not quite impossible.

(4) neanis, "young woman" (Sirach 20:4).

(5) Latin virgo (2 Esdras 16:33).

The Old Testament lays extreme emphasis on chastity before marriage (De 22:21), but childlessness was so great a misfortune that death before marriage was to be bewailed (Jud 11:37,38). Paul's preference for the unmarried state (1Co 7:29 if) is based on the greater freedom for service (compare Mt 19:12), and the Greek estimate of virginity as possessing a religious quality per se is foreign to true Jewish thought (such a passage as Philo Mund. opif., section symbol 53, is due to direct Greek influence). Some have thought to find a trace of the Greek doctrine in Re 14:4. But 144,000 lst-century. Christian ascetics are out of the question, and the figure must be interpreted like that of Jas 4:4 (reversed).

Burton Scott Easton

Definition

A virgin is a woman who has never had sexual relations.

• The prophet Isaiah said that the Messiah would be born from a virgin.
• Mary was a virgin when she was pregnant with Jesus. He did not have a human father.
• Some languages may have a term that is a polite way of referring to a virgin. (See: Euphemism)

(See also: Christ, Isaiah, Jesus, Mary)

Bible References

• Genesis 24:15-16
• Luke 1:27
• Luke 1:35
• Matthew 1:23
• Matthew 25:2

Examples from the Bible stories

• __21:9 The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born from a virgin__.
• __22:4 She (Mary) was a virgin__ and was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph.
• __22:5 Mary replied, “How can this be, since I am a virgin__?”
• __49:1 An angel told a virgin named Mary that she would give birth to God’s Son. So while she was still a virgin__, she gave birth to a son and named him Jesus.

Word Data

• Strong’s: H1330, H1331, G39320, G39330