Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: Behold! the virgin (or young maiden) will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
A BRIEF HISTORY:
The Jewish nation was divided into two kingdoms; "King Pekah" ruled Israel in the North and "King Ahaz" ruled Judah in the south.
"King Pekah" formed an alliance with an Aramean King called "Rezin", and together they conspired to remove "King Ahaz" (south) and install their own king called Tabeel, in a move that would remove the Davidic line of Kingship.
This was a plan, no doubt destined to fail, as 1,000 years earlier, GOD had declared through the Patriarch Judah; "there will always be a Ruler from the line of Judah, until the Messiah comes".
Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
"Isaiah the Prophet" relayed a message to Ahaz; "GOD knows what is happening, and the plans of King Pekah and King Rezin will not succeed".
PROPHECY DETAILS:
Ahaz became King of Judah and unlike his father, he chose to rebel against GOD. With his protection gone, his cities were harassed by the Edomites in the South, the Philistines in the West, the Arameans from the East and the Ephraimites from the North 2 Chronicles 28. His Capital; Jerusalem at this time may have been preparing for the siege by King Pekah and King Rezin 2 Kings 16:5. The people of Judah were terrified, and GOD sent the Prophet Isaiah to the water catchment area to meet King Ahaz Isaiah 7:3. The year was approximately 734 BC, and in less than three years*, the two attacking Kings; Rezin and Pekah were dead.
*Ahaz became King, during year 17 of King Pekah's reign 2 Kings 16:1. King Pekah reigned a total of 20 years 2 Kings 15:27 before he was killed. This means that when Isaiah prophesied Chapter 7 , less than 3 years remained for King Pekah.
MYSTERIES IN THE ISAIAH PROPHECY:
The Isaiah 7:14 prophecy appears to be straight forward, yet beneath the veneer of simplicity, nests a complex web of riddles. Each answer prompts more questions, making this one of the most "debated" prophecies in history.
This discussion examines some of the mysteries contained in the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy and it is hoped that GOD Himself will grant revelation and insight to the inquiring reader.
LORD HIMSELF [אדני הוא] MYSTERY
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: Behold! the Almah will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
The word "Himself" is a mystery. Usually, verses are written in the following form; "The LORD will give you a sign"
"The LORD will give you a sign"
"The LORD Himself will give you a sign"
But, as we can see, the word; "HIMSELF" has been purposely inserted into the verse. If this is designed to attract the readers attention, it is successful. And we are compelled to ask why?
UNDERLYING MESSAGE?
The only other verse in Scripture where it states the LORD HIMSELF will offer something, is in the account with Abraham and his promised son Isaac Genesis 22:8. This has led many to speculate that this promised son was to be a type of sacrifice. Isaiah 53:10 A belief bolstered by the fact, the recipient of the Isaiah 7 prophecy King Ahaz sacrificed his own son. 2 Kings 16:3, 2 Chronicles 28:3
LORD HIMSELF INVOLVED WITH SIGN:
The LORD normally accomplishes His Work NATURALLY i.e. through people or nature
PEOPLE: naturally
The LORD motivated King Cyrus 2 Chronicles 36:22, Ezra 1:1
The LORD motivated the Philistines and Arabs 2 Chronicles 21:16
The LORD motivated the Egyptians Exodus 12:36
NATURE: naturally
The LORD sent a strong east wind, red sea parted. Exodus 14:21
The LORD caused river banks to collapse drying up the Jordan river Joshua 3:16
CREATION PROCESS: supernaturally
The exceptions are the creation of the universe and life. It can be noted, that no third party is involved and supernatural creation is done by GOD alone. Zechariah 12:1, Psalms 102:25
The LORD supernaturally created the Heavens and the Earth. Genesis 1:1
The LORD supernaturally created Adam from dirt. Genesis 2:7
The LORD supernaturally created Eve from Adam. Genesis 2:22
The LORD supernaturally creates each individual spirit in a person. Ecclesiastes 12:7
ONLY TWO POSSIBLE OUTCOMES:
As the LORD HIMSELF is directly involved in the Sign, there can be only two possible outcomes; a natural or supernatural outcome.
1) The LORD motivated a couple to have sex, resulting in the birth of a son in a common event which had been replicated hundreds of millions of times in history.
2) or, The LORD was involved in a creation process, something that had only occurred twice before in history.
The choice of outcomes are both possible, and there is no right or wrong answer.
SIGN [אות] MYSTERY
signal, a distinguishing mark, remembrance, omen, miracle, proof
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: Behold! the Almah will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Signs can be separated into three main categories; past, present and future.
SIGN ( PAST )
When the SIGN is a remembrance of a pivotal historical event (the past). The SIGN is represented by a single object, such as Joshua's 12 stones, Aarons staff, the rainbow etc. Joshua 4:6, Numbers 17:10, Genesis 9:12-13
SIGN ( FUTURE )
Signs concerning the future are not for remembrance but as an alert! The purpose for the sign is to allow those under judgment to repent, or for their encouragement. They are generally communicated in three ways;
through prophetic enactment,
a prophetic announcement, or
through narrative.
Prophetic signs include an object (subject), and an action (verb). The following examples demonstrate this "rule".
SIGN FOR MOSES
…God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the SIGN to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”. Exodus 3:12
After sign fulfilled, remaining prophecy for Israel entering Promised Land was next. Exodus 3:8
SIGN FOR ELI
“‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a SIGN to you—they will both die on the same day. 1 Samuel 2:34
After sign fulfilled, remaining prophecy concerning House of Eli was next. 1 Samuel 2:35-36
THE SIGN IN ISAIAH 7
AN INDIVIDUAL?
or EVENT?
a) an Almah conceiving and giving birth to a son?
b) the lands of the two kings being plundered before the boy is of age?
c) the teenager eating curds and honey?
The sign was not a remembrance but a future event. There are two options that can represent the sign and both are viable.
PROPHETIC SIGN OPTIONS:
| Isaiah 7:14 the LORD Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the Almah will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. |
| Isaiah 7:16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. |
The prophecy of the boy eating curds and honey, as described in Isaiah 7:15, occurs after the two dreaded kings and their lands have been destroyed, so it is not the sign.
THE SON MYSTERY:
There is an anomaly with the age groups of the son. This suggests that the son may not be a single individual.
ISAIAH'S SON "PLUNDERER"
This child was less than 2 years old when the lands of the two kings were plundered.
Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. For before the boy knows how to say ‘papa’ or ‘mama,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.” ISAIAH 8:3-4
While Isaiah's son was the direct fulfilment of the Isaiah 8 prophecy, it is unlikely he was the fulfilment of the Isaiah 7:15-16 prophecy. The reason for this, is that shortly after the threat from the two kings were over, the people of Judah were able to safely wander out into the fields and herd sheep and harvest honey. As Isaiah's son was only a toddler, it doesn't make sense that he would have to wait over 10 years to reach the "age of reason" and finally eat curds and honey Isaiah 7:15 Furthermore, it was the lands of the enemy which were plundered, not the land of Judea.
AHAZ SON "HEZEKIAH"
Not yet 12 years old, when the lands of the two kings were plundered, the boy was able to eat food produced from the fields when he was older.
for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.” ISAIAH 7:16
He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right ISAIAH 7:15
Note. The age of accountability (knowing enough to reject the wrong and choose the right), is 12-13 years. It is at this age when children are considered old enough to learn the commandments. Today, this coming of age is celebrated in Jewish communities with a "bar mitzvah ceremony". For Christians, this age was recognized with the account of Jesus and his parents LUKE 2:42-51
"Hezekiah" was around 9 years old when the prophecy was given, and less than 3 years later, at around the age of 12, the land of the two dreaded kings were plundered. Shortly afterwards, Hezekiah was eating curds and honey.
THE SON OF AN ALMAH
Hezekiah was very likely the boy mentioned in Isaiah 7:15-16, but not the literal fulfilment of Isaiah 7:14. It must be noted that when this prophecy was announced, Hezekiah was around 9 years old, and prophecies declare the future, not the past. Therefore, Hezekiah could not be the child born of an Almah.
And whereas, Isaiah's son was clearly the fulfilment of the Isaiah 8 prophecy, it is doubtful he was the same boy in Isaiah 7:14-16 on account of his age.
If "Hezekiah" was the Isaiah 7:15-16 fulfilment and "Plunderer" was the Isaiah 8:3-4 fulfilment. The question remains; who is the son of the Almah in Isaiah 7:14?
THE ALMAH [העלמה] MYSTERY:
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: The (Almah) will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Almah, an ancient Hebrew word whose original meaning had been long forgotten in time, and this ambiguity of meaning has fueled mistrust for 1,900 years. Fortunately, there is agreement that Almah represents a "Young Maiden" but, is there more to the definition?
To discover if there is more to the meaning of the word Almah, all that is required, is that the reader examine the historical use of the word. Fortunately, we have a few examples in Scripture.
CASE 1: King Solomon's "harem"
Song of Solomon 6:8
There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens (Almah) without number
"queens" Married wives
"concubines" sexual role
"maidens" no sexual role
The ladies in King Solomon's palace were separated into three groupings; queens (wives), concubines and maidens (Almah). Wives are wives, and concubines enter a contractual agreement, sex is a prerequisite.
The Almah (young maidens) role in the palace was preparation for either marriage or as a concubine. Virginity being assumed amongst these maidens. Esther 2,
CASE 2: Maidens; NAARAH and ALMAH
NAARAH [ נַעֲרָה ] young maiden
ALMAH [ הָֽעַלְמָה֙ ] young maiden
BETULAH [ בְּתוּלָ֕ה ] virgin (any age)
NAARAH IS A YOUNG MAIDEN
Genesis 24:14 REBEKAH May it be that when I say to a young woman (Naarah)…
Ruth 4:12 RUTH may the LORD give you descendants by this young woman (Naarah)…
Amos 2:7 GIRL A man and his father have relations with the same girl (Naarah) and so profane My holy name.
Judges 19:3 CONCUBINE …and when the girl's (Naarah) father saw him....
Rebekah was a virgin, but Ruth the widow and the concubine were not. They were all described with the word "Naarah", this word describes their youthfulness but does not describe their virginal status.
ALMAH IS A YOUNG MAIDEN
Young widows, concubines or harlots were never referred too as Almah, even though they were young maidens. Of the nine times in Scripture where the word Almah was used, these young maidens were always assumed to be virgin.
BETULAH IS A VIRGIN
Genesis 24:16
The woman was very beautiful, a virgin (Betulah); no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
The word Betulah, only describes a females' "virginal status". A woman could be of great age and still be a Betulah.
All young maidens are "Naarah",
but not all
"Naarah" are "Almah" (virgin).
- - - -
All "Almah" are "Betulah",
but not all
Betulah are Almah (young maidens).
CONFIRMATION FROM JEWISH EXPERTS:
In 250BC, a request was made to the High Priest in Jerusalem for a Greek translation of the Ancient Hebrew Scriptures. This Bible translation was for the Great Library in Alexandria, Egypt. Jewish Experts of the TANAKH (Old Testament) were gathered to work on this project.
This Bible was named the Septuagint LXX or (70) after the large number of Translators involved in the project. Each Jewish Tribe provided 6 translators each, for a total of 72 scholars. These documents were approved and sanctioned by the Sanhedrin and subsequent copies of these Scriptures became widely used in Jewish Synagogues' throughout the Middle East. This was understandable, as for many decades, Greek was the dominant language of the area.
There is no doubt that these Translators were fluent in ancient Biblical Hebrew, and interestingly, when each group of scribes translated the Hebrew word ALMAH into Greek, the word they used was PARTHENOS, a Greek word which means; maiden of a marriable age, and a virgin.
If the Jewish Experts of the day believed that the word Almah represented both a young maiden of a marriable age and a virgin, then we can confidently conclude that the word ALMAH means both; virgin and young maiden.
THE "TENSE" MYSTERY
Most Biblical translations write the "almah conceiving" text, in the future tense.
FUTURE TENSE
Berean Translation …virgin will be with child
JPS TANAKH 1917 …young woman shall conceive
King James Version …a virgin shall conceive
Webster's Bible …a virgin shall conceive
PRESENT TENSE
Aramaic Standard …virgin has conceived
New Revised Standard …young woman is with child
When the FUTURE TENSE is used; "virgin will conceive", this statement is not controversial. A virgin can get pregnant after sex.
When the PRESENT TENSE is used; "virgin is pregnant, this statement will be met with disbelief or outrage, the reason for this is obvious, virgins simply cannot get pregnant.
PRESENT TENSE
To verify which tense is most likely for the Isaiah 7:14 announcement, a cross reference is required with a similar text from the Scriptures (TORAH).
In Genesis 16:11, an angel announced to Hagar that she is pregnant [הרה] = Harar.
This announcement is ideal, as it follows the exact same wording used in the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy. Observe the similarities, and note, the statement is made in "present tense" and not in "future tense".
…Behold, you are pregnant and will bear a son, and will call him Ishmael... Genesis 16:11
…Behold, Almah IS pregnant and will bear a son, and will call him Immanuel... Isaiah 7:14
The Almah is pregnant
THE ENIGMA OF THE TENSE.
An Almah cannot become pregnant without sex, for if she does, she is no longer an Almah. Therefore we are confronted with the choice of how GOD performed the Sign, it suggests a supernatural fulfilment.
PROPHECY FULFILLMENT MYSTERY:
Fulfilled Prophecy is only recognized after the event has happened. Despite having all the prior heads-up warnings, the path a prophecy can take is virtually impossible to predict with certainty. The primary reason for this, is that prophecy is conditional and is directly influenced by a persons attitude and decision. If there is true repentance, prophetic judgment can be halted and delayed, for example the account of the Prophet Jonah in Nineveh, the evil King Ahab, the righteous King Hezekiah etc.
To compound matters, a single prophecy can be fulfilled over a great period of time by different individuals, or in a very short period of time by the same group of people. Both these types of prophetic fulfilment are encountered in Isaiah 7.
FULFILLED IN STAGES:
When Prophecy is fulfilled in stages, segments of the prophecy are fulfilled by different individuals from a different time period. In the Ezekiel 26 account concerning the destruction of Tyre, the reader will note that Nebuchadnezzar starts the destruction, but, Alexander the Great completes it.
different individuals from a different time period
The prophecies declared in Isaiah 7:15-17 were also fulfilled in stages (by different individuals from a different time period) as confirmed by both Scriptural and Historical accounts.
Isaiah 7:15-16 Curds and honey he shall eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. …then the next verse.. | Fulfilled by Assyrian King "Tiglath-Pileser III" in (734-732BC) when he defeated "King Rezin" of Damascus and "King Pekah" of Samaria and plundered their lands. 2 Kings 16:7-9 |
Isaiah 7:17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.” | Years later, the next verse is fulfilled by another Assyrian King called "Sennacherib". He attacked and captured ALL the fortified cities in Judea which were now ruled by a King called "Hezekiah" 2 Kings 18:13 |
FULFILLED IN SAME PERIOD:
When a collection of prophetic events occur in the same time period, the Scriptures would normally indicate this by using terms such as; "In that day".
Isaiah 7:17-25 prophecies were fulfilled in the same time period.
Isaiah 7:18 In that day, the LORD will...
Isaiah 7:20 In that day, the LORD will...
Isaiah 7:21 In that day, a person will...
Isaiah 7:23 In that day, in every place...
DISCUSSION:
As Isaiah 7:16 and Isaiah 7:17 were fulfilled in STAGES i.e. by different individuals over a period of time, then what of Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 7:15? This is certainly a quandary, which rules apply?
Isaiah 7:14 can be read, as a combined verse with Isaiah 7:15 and also as a separate verse. This alters the dynamics, and therefore the baby that is conceived does not necessarily have to be the same boy that eats curds and honey. Just as the Assyrian King that removed the two kings in Isaiah 7:16 is different to the Assyrian King who conquers in Isaiah 7:17.
THE PROPHETIC ENACTMENT MYSTERY:
Isaiah mentioned his sons were signs and symbols. Isaiah 8:18 Isaiah's first born son "Shear-Jashub", "remnant will return" and Isaiah's second born son; "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz" "plunderer" had prophetic names.
The word "symbol" may have been used to describe the second son's birth.
A prophet can do an act that is a SIGN and symbolic of a future event. The prophet Ezekiel was well known for "prophetic enactments". Ezekiel 4 Did the Prophet Isaiah also perform a "Prophetic Enactment" of the Isaiah 7:14 verse?
A prophetic enactment can only be done by a prophet, in this case, both Isaiah and his wife were Prophets. Furthermore, a "Prophetic Enactment" requires at least two witnesses, which may have been the reason for the following verse;
So I called in Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah as reliable witnesses for me. Then I made love to the prophetess., and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. .. Isaiah 8:2-3
"prophetic enactment" or not? If it is an enactment, then the child born was symbolic.
CONCLUSION:
Isaiah 7:14 is a complex prophecy due to the copious number of mysteries surrounding it. This cluster of riddles, is in itself an obvious clue that this prophecy is not just another regular announcement, but is Messianic.
The remaining part of this discussion are commonly asked questions, answered from a Messianic viewpoint.
COMMON QUESTIONS:
QUESTION: If the young maiden was a virgin, why wasn't the word BETULAH used?
The word BETULAH is limited in description and only describes a single attribute, which is the persons virginity status.
The word ALMAH is the best word to be used in Isaiah 7:14 as this word conveys three important attributes;
1) young maiden,
2) unmarried,
3) virgin.
Rebekah was a BETULAH (Virgin).
Genesis 24:16
The woman was very beautiful, a virgin (Betulah); no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
YET, even though Rebekah was a virgin, when the servant described Rebekah before an audience, he used the word ALMAH (young maiden) instead of BETULAH (virgin).
Genesis 24:43
See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman (Almah) comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,”
QUESTION: Can the word Almah mean harlot?
There is no Scriptural evidence in the TANAKH to support that suggestion.
Harlots are called ZANAH [זוֹנָ֕ה] and if they were young, they were called NAARAH, and there is no reference in Scripture where they were called ALMAH.
QUESTION: Does Proverbs 30 say that an Almah is a prostitute?
Proverbs 30:18-20
There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:
the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship at sea, and
the way of a man with a maiden (Almah).
This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.
UNRAVELLING THE RIDDLE
STATES OF MATTER
The eagle in the sky (gas)
The snake on a rock (solid)
The ship at sea (liquid)
STATES OF TIME
The eagle, snake, ship are observed with wonder (in the present)
taking a path not understood by the observer. (in the future)
with no evidence of the path the eagle flew, the snake crawled and the ship sailed (past)
THE WILL
the way of...
ENERGY
the movement of the subjects...
PHILOSOPHICAL ANSWER
The writer did not understand why a man needs to expend energy and effort, trying to impress a virgin for the purpose of seduction whereas, in contrast;
An adulteress can seduce a man quickly and effortlessly as it
takes, to select food and eat. And, like the path the eagle, snake and boat had just traveled, there is no evidence that remains to show that a passage happened!
ERUDITIONAL ANSWER
Time, Matter and Energy are required for our Physical Universe to exist and WILL is required to create it. Matter exists in three states; solid, liquid and gas. Time exists as Past, Present and Future. The virgin suggests purity, and the adulteress corruption, and the final act; removal of evidence and denial, suggests an existence of moral LAW.
AND, Proverbs 30 reveals that an Almah is the exact opposite of an adulterous woman, and not the same.
QUESTION: Was Isaiah's wife the Almah in Isaiah 7:14?
If the prophecy was referring to Isaiah's wife, the word used will be NAARAH, not ALMAH.
Isaiah's wife did bear a child in fulfillment of another prophecy mentioned in Isaiah 8:34.
Isaiah 8:3-4
Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. For before the boy knows how to say ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”..
QUESTION As GOD Himself is responsible for the Sign, does he have physical union with the woman?
Not a chance, GOD Almighty is HOLY and an activity of that nature is an abomination.
Remember, the woman was still a virgin when she was pregnant.
QUESTION Where does it say in the TANAKH the Messiah is created from only a woman?
The very FIRST PROPHECY ever given to mankind was about the hope of a Messiah who would come from a WOMAN's SEED. This Messiah was to defeat the one that caused mankind to be separated from GOD.
Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
QUESTION Why does the Messiah NOT have a human father?
The Messiah's origins are unlike a normal human spirit, His spirit is eternal.
Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
ancient times = עוֹלָֽם׃ = eternity, perpetual, everlasting, for ever.
Having a human father will negate this, as a normal human spirit is formed at the moment of conception.
Zechariah 12:1… The saying of the LORD, who stretched forth the heavens, And laid the foundation of the earth, And formed the spirit of man within him:
QUESTION If the Messiah had only one parent, is he still human?
Eve (the mother of mankind) had NO parents, yet she was fully human. She was supernaturally created by GOD using a part removed from Adam's side.
Genesis 2:21-22 So the Lord GOD caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord GOD made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Adam (Human) was created supernaturally.
Eve (Human) was created supernaturally
Messiah (Human) has to be created supernaturally.
QUESTION Does the Messiah really have to be born? Why can't he appear as a fully grown adult, ready to rule on Earth?
Messiah has to be BORN to fulfill prophecy.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He also needs to be BORN to fulfill the bloodline prophecies of David and Jesse.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a Righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.
Isaiah 11:1-2 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD.
QUESTION Was Hezekiah the promised son in Isaiah 7:14?
Hezekiah was already a young man when the prophecy was declared. Therefore the son who was to be born is not him.
QUESTION It has been suggested that Isaiah 9:6 refers to Hezekiah. Is this true?
Hezekiah was no doubt a great king of Judah. The prophecy concerning the child born in a royal family appears to represent him but, the titles like "prince of peace" do not. Hezekiah may have truly desired peace, but unfortunately peace evaded him. Not only did Hezekiah need to battle with the Philistines 2 Kings 18:8, but, during his reign, the Assyrians attacked and destroyed most of the cities of Judah. 2 Kings 18:13, Isaiah 36:1
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
And, as it is with human rule, Hezekiah's government ended. We all know that the Messiah's Kingdom will be forever Daniel 2:44 it can be confidently concluded then, these verses are Messianic.
Isaiah 9:7
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
QUESTION If "Yeshua" was the son, where is this world peace that has no end?
The only crown that Yeshua received on earth was a crown of thorns. He was rejected as King and no government was given to him. With no Kingship and no government, these prophecies were simply not activated.
This was predicted, and the Prophet Daniel declared that the Messiah will be given rulership directly from GOD Almighty in Heaven.
Daniel 7:13-14 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, a coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
QUESTION Can a (young woman) giving birth to a son be considered, THE Sign?
A young woman giving birth to a son is so common and frequent, that it can be confidently reasoned, this act is not unique enough to be considered a sign that GOD Himself will perform.
QUESTION Can a (virgin) giving birth to a son be considered, THE Sign?
A "virgin birth" type of event would certainly fit the bill, it is unique, supernatural, impossible and something only GOD can do by Himself. This kind of sign is like the supernatural creation of Adam and Eve, an unquestionable miracle!