Lectionary Calendar
Friday, April 26th, 2024
the Fourth Week after Easter
the Fourth Week after Easter
Attention!
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Bible Encyclopedias
Alma
The Catholic Encyclopedia
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A Hebrew signifying a "young woman", unmarried as well as married, and thus distinct from bethulah, "a virgin" (see Hebrew Lexicons). The interest that attaches to this word is due to the famous passage of Isaiah 7:14: "the Alma shall conceive", etc. We can only mention some of the various opinions with regard to the meaning of Alma in this verse. She is said to be
- the wife of Achaz;
- the prophetess mentioned in Isaiah 8:3,
- any young married woman, who on account of the promised victory of Judah, could at some near date call her child Immanuel (God with us),
- metaphorically, the Chosen People;
- the Virgin Mother of the Messiah. This last view is the one adopted by St. Matthew 1:23, and after him by Christian tradition. (See EMMANUEL; MESSIAS.)
Sources
CONDAMIN, and other Commentaries on Isaias.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
These files are public domain.
Bibliography Information
Obstat, Nihil. Lafort, Remy, Censor. Entry for 'Alma'. The Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/a/alma.html. Robert Appleton Company. New York. 1914.
Obstat, Nihil. Lafort, Remy, Censor. Entry for 'Alma'. The Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/a/alma.html. Robert Appleton Company. New York. 1914.
