International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Birth

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Birth


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bûrth (γένεσις, génesis):

(1) It was said by the angel beforehand of John the Baptist, “Many shall rejoice at his birth”; and when he was born Elisabeth said, “Thus hath the Lord done unto me ... to take away my reproach among men” (, ). Among the ancient Hebrews barrenness was a “reproach” and the birth of a child, of a son especially, an occasion for rejoicing.

(2) This, no doubt, was due in part to the Messianic hope inspired and sustained by prophecy (see , where it was foretold that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head; and subsequent prophecies too numerous to mention). Cases in point worth studying are found in , where Eve rejoices over the birth of her firstborn and cries, “I have gotten a man with the help of Yahweh”; and , where Hannah exults over her firstborn, calling his name “Samuel,” “because,” she says, “I have asked him of Yahweh.”

(3) The marvelous passage in , “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” must have intensified the longing and hope of every devout Jewish maiden to be a mother, if mayhap, under God, she might be the mother of Messiah - Immanuel! (Compare , ; f.) See JESUS CHRIST; VIRGIN BIRTH.