In brief: Matthew interprets Jesus’ conception and birth through a scriptural quotation about a virgin and the name Emmanuel.
Issue: 
The Virgin Birth + The Name Of Jesus
Read the Passage
Reference: Matthew 1:22-23
Translation: New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE). Genre: literary narrative.
Short verified excerpt:
Look, the virgin shall become pregnant …
Read the complete selection on Bible Gateway.[1]
What Is Happening Here?
Summary — paraphrase: Matthew interprets Jesus’ conception and birth through a scriptural quotation about a virgin and the name Emmanuel.[1]
Focus question: How does Matthew’s quotation relate to Isaiah’s earlier Immanuel sign?
The Gospel’s fulfillment statement belongs to its account of Jesus’ origins. Isaiah 7 instead addresses Ahaz’s political crisis; the different literary settings must remain visible.[1][2]
Author, Date, and Cultural Setting
Authorship: The Gospel is traditionally attributed to the apostle Matthew. The inspected USCCB introduction instead treats the writer as unknown and discusses his use of Mark and other traditions. Jesus or a quoted prophet is a speaker/source within the narrative, not the Gospel’s identified author.[3]
Historical period: After 70 CE, probably at least a decade later in the USCCB reconstruction; Greek-speaking early Christian communities. Exact date and place are uncertain.[3]
Cultural setting: The inspected introduction proposes a Greek-speaking environment with Jewish and Gentile inhabitants and treats Antioch as plausible, not certain. Scriptural interpretation is central to how the Gospel presents Jesus.[3]
Words and Background That Help
The key terms and images should be read within the literary narrative setting described above. An English wording does not by itself establish its full Hebrew or Greek semantic range. No manuscript collation or critical-edition comparison was performed for this draft.
How Is This Passage Understood?
The USCCB Isaiah 7:14 note explains the Hebrew young-woman wording and the Greek virgin wording behind Matthew’s quotation. Matthew’s Christian fulfillment reading can be analyzed without pretending the earlier and later texts use identical wording or address the same immediate audience.[1][2]
Evidence scope: This is an introductory, source-limited interpretation, not a survey establishing the numerical distribution of specialist opinion. The USCCB materials are Catholic annotated-bible resources; their theological readings are not treated as independent proof of religious claims.
What Can We Conclude?
Supported by the inspected text: Matthew interprets Jesus’ conception and birth through a scriptural quotation about a virgin and the name Emmanuel.[1]
Limits and open questions: This quotation establishes Matthew’s interpretation, not independent verification of a virginal conception. A translation difference by itself is not proof of deliberate fraud.
Learn More
- NRSVUE passage, Bible Gateway: Complete selection. Primary text in English; beginner level. The selected passage was retrieved and its relevant wording inspected; only a brief quotation is reproduced here.
- **USCCB, Matthew introduction (publication date not established): Read. Catholic annotated-bible introduction for authorship, genre, and historical context; beginner/intermediate. Relevant text inspected; free access.
- USCCB chapter notes: Read. Context and interpretive discussion for the precise unit; Catholic annotated-bible resource, beginner/intermediate; relevant sections inspected in free text.
Related records: No access.
Review status: Research draft for human review. Exact unit dates and disputed reconstructions remain qualified; no public-copy preparation or approval is implied.