Immanuel/ Emmanuel — A transliteration of the Hebrew word עִמָּנוּאֵל (‘Immanu’el), which means “God with us.” In the Greek Septuagint, Immanuel is spelled with an “E” (Ἐμμανουήλ) or Emmanuel. Consequently, both spellings appear in English translations.
Use in The Bible
In the Bible, “Immanuel” may have been used once or twice in the Old Testament as a person’s given name and another time in the New Testament as a prophetic description of Jesus. However, the word is typically used as a statement.
Example of Typical Use
Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.(עִמָּ֖נוּ אֵֽל / ‘Immanu’el)
Isaiah 8:10
Immanuel The Name
“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14
Many believe this prophecy is about Jesus because Matthew clearly connects him to it in Matthew 1:22-23. However, some, observing the context of Isaiah 7, suggest it could also have been about a contemporary of King Ahaz. Consequently, there is some debate about whether the passage is solely about Christ or if it’s a dual fulfillment prophecy.
Theological Implication of “Immanuel/ Emmanuel”
In its typical sense, the term is a cry of hope for the people of God. It is a reminder that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). This message of hope is not lost when the term is used as a name. The child mentioned in Isaiah’s prophecy was supposed to be a sign of God’s protection for the unfaithful King Ahaz. The same can be said about Matthew’s use of Immanuel. He was, after all, recording the “good news” of our salvation.
Because the term means “God with us,” the Gospel writer’s use of Isaiah’s prophecy in Matthew 1:22-33 may also double a theological statement about Christ’s deity.
Related Articles
- Immanuel – History, Meaning, and Prophecy (An analysis of the word, its uses in the text, and prophetic traditions.)