Virgin, Virginity
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The Hebrew term 'bethulah' and the Greek 'parthenos' denote a young woman of marriageable age, often implying sexual inexperience but primarily functioning as a legal status regarding marital eligibility and social standing within the patriarchal framework of the ancient Near East.
What is the meaning of Virgin, Virginity in the Bible?
The Hebrew term 'bethulah' and the Greek 'parthenos' denote a young woman of marriageable age, often implying sexual inexperience but primarily functioning as a legal status regarding marital eligibility and social standing within the patriarchal framework of the ancient Near East.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding these terms as markers of social status rather than purely biological states clarifies the rhetorical weight of prophetic literature, such as Isaiah 7:14, where the sign serves as a political reassurance of continuity rather than a literal prediction of biological anomaly.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Virgin, Virginity in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Virgin, Virginity clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.