The Virgin Mary Was Not a Virgin—At Least Not in the Way We Think Today
- So Am I Books
- Jun 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 22
The phrase “Virgin Mary” is perhaps one of the most familiar titles in Christian theology, etched into the creeds, prayers, and traditions of millions. It’s often taken for granted that “virgin” refers to Mary’s biological state—specifically, that she had never engaged in sexual intercourse before the birth of Yahawashi, commonly known as Jesus. This interpretation has persisted for centuries and forms the cornerstone of doctrines like the Virgin Birth and the perpetual virginity of Mary.
But what if that understanding isn’t entirely accurate—at least not in the way ancient audiences would have understood it? 🤔 What if our modern assumptions about virginity are imposing meanings onto ancient texts that weren’t originally there? In this article, we’ll explore the linguistic, cultural, and theological dimensions of Mary’s so-called virginity, and how our modern notions may be obscuring the original intent of the biblical narratives.
🔢 1. The Hebrew Word ‘Almah’ and Its Greek Translation
Much of the confusion begins with language. The prophecy in Isaiah 7:14, often quoted in the context of Jesus' birth, reads:
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
This verse is central to the claim that Mary gave birth while still a virgin. However, the Hebrew word translated as “virgin” is almah—and it's crucial to emphasize that this term more accurately means “young woman of marriageable age.” 🔍 It does not explicitly mean “a woman who has never had sexual intercourse.”
Ancient Hebrew had a more precise word for a virgin in the biological sense: betulah. If Isaiah had meant to stress virginity as we understand it today, he could have used that word. But he didn’t. Instead, he used almah, which emphasizes youth and reproductive potential, not sexual history.
When the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek in the Septuagint around the 3rd century BCE, almah was rendered as parthenos —a Greek term more commonly understood to mean a literal virgin. But even this is more nuanced than it seems. Parthenos could also be used poetically or symbolically, and wasn’t always meant to denote strict biological virginity.
This linguistic evolution, from almah to parthenos to “virgin,” is what lays the groundwork for the later Christian interpretation that Mary gave birth without any sexual activity.
📜 2. The Cultural Context: What ‘Virginity’ Meant in Ancient Times
Modern Western ideas about virginity are largely foreign to the ancient world. In ancient Israelite culture, virginity was not primarily a biological category, but a social one. A young woman who was unmarried was presumed to be a virgin. Virginity was about status and honor, not anatomy.
A woman’s purity was tied to family reputation and legal marital arrangements, especially regarding inheritance and legitimacy. Thus, calling Mary a "virgin" in the Gospels could have had more to do with affirming her social and moral standing—as a young, respectable, unmarried Israelite woman—than making a statement about her physical body.
The Gospel authors were not modern gynecologists or legal scholars. They were storytellers, theologians, and evangelists who drew heavily from Israelite scriptures and cultural archetypes. 📖 In that symbolic context, Mary’s virginity functions more as a sign of divine intervention and purity than as a literal anatomical claim.
🕊️ 3. The Theological Motive: Virginity as Symbol vs. the Seed of David Problem
💛 The Davidic Lineage Problem
The Messiah was prophesied to come from the "seed" of David (2 Samuel 7:12–16, Psalm 132:11), meaning He must be a direct biological descendant. If Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and not through Joseph’s seed, how could He rightfully claim Davidic lineage?
🧬 The Greek Word for "Seed" (Sperma)
The word "seed" (Greek: sperma) in texts like 2 Samuel 7:12 or Romans 1:3 implies physical descent. Since Jesus did not come from Joseph’s sperm, He wouldn’t qualify as David’s seed. Mary’s lineage is sometimes cited, but “seed” in Israelite thought passes through the male.
📏 Male Lineage in Israelite Tradition
Israelite genealogy was patrilineal. If Joseph wasn’t Jesus’ biological father, Jesus could not claim Davidic descent through Mary alone.
🔹 Fulfillment in Romans 1:3 & 2 Timothy 2:8
Paul states Jesus was "made of the seed of David according to the flesh" (Romans 1:3). Without a biological father from David’s line, this claim lacks substance.
⛔️ 4. The Curse of Jeconiah and Jesus’ Lineage
Jeremiah 22:30 pronounces a curse on Jeconiah: "No man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David." Joseph’s lineage in Matthew includes Jeconiah, leading critics to argue this disqualifies Jesus.
However:
🗳️ Jesus never sat on an earthly throne (John 18:36)
❌ The curse marked the end of Judah’s monarchy, not a personal curse on the Messiah
✅ The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31) supersedes previous limitations
✨ Acts 2:30 affirms Jesus fulfilled the Davidic promise through resurrection, not earthly monarchy
🔠 NT verses confirm Davidic descent: Romans 1:3, Hebrews 2:16–17, Acts 13:23, 2 Timothy 2:8
📅 5. Genealogies Only Make Sense If Joseph Is the Father
Matthew 1:1–16
"Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus..."
"Begat" throughout implies physical descent
Legal descent alone contradicts Numbers 1:18 (lineage by father's house)
Luke 3:23–38
"Jesus... being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph..."
Publicly acknowledged as Joseph’s son
Traces lineage through Nathan, son of David
👉 If Joseph is not the father, the genealogies are genealogically and theologically useless.
📰 6. Early Believers Called Him "Son of Joseph"
John 1:45: "...Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
Luke 4:22: "Is not this Joseph’s son?"
John 6:42: "...Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?"
Luke 2:48: Mary says, "Your father and I have been searching..."
🤔 No correction from Yahawashi. Public recognition affirms Joseph’s fatherhood.
🔒 7. Common Christian Objections Answered
⚔️ Objection 1: Matthew 1:18 says Joseph didn’t know her until after she gave birth
"Knew her not till" = idiom meaning sexual relations occurred after the birth
"Before they came together" = refers to pre-marital cohabitation, not sex
"Child of the Holy Ghost" = divine approval/anointing (compare Luke 1:35, 1 Samuel 1:19-20)
⚔️ Objection 2: The Holy Ghost caused the pregnancy
Luke 1:35: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee..."
Similar language used for empowerment, not literal impregnation (e.g., Judges 3:10; Luke 1:15)
✨ Spirit “coming upon” people never implies physical conception
⚔️ Objection 3: Isaiah 7:14 says a virgin will conceive
Hebrew almah = young woman
Betulah = biological virgin, but not used here
Septuagint’s parthenos influenced later theology
Isaiah 7 was a sign for Ahaz, not a messianic prophecy
Fulfilled by Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Isaiah 8:3–4)
⚔️ Objection 4: Mary asked how she could be pregnant if she never knew a man (Luke 1:34)
Expression of initial surprise, not permanent virginity
She was betrothed and would naturally consummate marriage
Matthew 1:24–25: Joseph takes Mary as wife, they live together
⚔️ Objection 5: The Gospels contradict
Different perspectives, not contradictions
Matthew focuses on Joseph’s reaction; Luke on Mary’s experience
Like multiple witnesses giving harmonious but distinct testimonies
🌌 8. Virgin Birth Stories in Pagan Religions
🏛️ Figure | 🌟 Virgin Birth Narrative |
Horus (Egypt) | Isis conceives posthumously with Osiris |
Krishna | Divine conception; protected from a murderous king |
Buddha | Queen Maya dreams of divine elephant; gives birth without sex |
Dionysus | Semele destroyed; Zeus sews Dionysus into his thigh |
Perseus | Danaë impregnated by golden rain (Zeus) while imprisoned |
Attis | Nana becomes pregnant from sacred fruit |
Mithras | Born from rock; no human parentage |
Tammuz | Dying/resurrecting god; divine conception in some versions |
Zoroaster | Virgin conception from sacred lake essence |
Romulus | Vestal virgin impregnated by Mars |
🚩 These stories predate or parallel the Christian virgin birth doctrine. As Christianity spread into the Roman world, pagan motifs infiltrated Christian theology, including the supernatural birth narrative.
✊🏾 Conclusion: Joseph Was the Biological Father of Yahawashi
✅ Fits Old Testament prophecy
✅ Honors Torah law of tribal descent
✅ Validates NT genealogies
✅ Matches public perception of Yahawashi in His lifetime
✅ Rejects pagan influences
The doctrine of the virgin birth is based on mistranslations, Roman traditions, and pagan parallels—not on Hebrew Scripture or early Israelite understanding.
“Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Elohim, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Sources and References:
🕊 Hebrew Bible (Isaiah 7:14; 2 Samuel 7:12)
📖 Septuagint Translation
✉️ Matthew 1, Luke 1, John 1, Romans 1, Acts 2
📃 Brown, Raymond E. The Birth of the Messiah
🔎 Ehrman, Bart D. Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium
🌐 Spong, John Shelby. Born of a Woman: A Bishop Rethinks the Birth of Jesus