Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

This sentence appears in the Gospel of Matthew as part of the evangelist’s narration of Jesus’ conception and birth. After Joseph learns that Mary is pregnant, he plans to divorce her quietly; in a dream an angel tells him the child is conceived by the Holy Spirit and instructs him to name the boy Jesus. Matthew then frames these events as the fulfillment of prophecy, quoting Isaiah 7:14 (via the Greek Septuagint tradition) to present Jesus’ birth as the promised sign. The explanatory gloss “which being interpreted is, God with us” clarifies the Hebrew name “Emmanuel” for Matthew’s Greek-speaking audience.

The quotation functions as a theological claim about Jesus’ identity and mission: his birth is not merely remarkable but signifies divine presence among humanity. By invoking “Emmanuel,” Matthew emphasizes continuity between Israel’s scriptures and the Christian story, presenting Jesus as the culmination of God’s promises. The phrase “God with us” encapsulates a central Christian theme—incarnation—suggesting that in Jesus, God draws near in a tangible, historical way. In Matthew’s narrative arc, this motif resonates beyond the infancy story, anticipating the Gospel’s closing assurance that the risen Jesus remains with his followers “always.”

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

1) “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” (Matthew 1:23, ESV/NRSV-style rendering)
2) “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, KJV)
3) “Look, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” (Matthew 1:23, NABRE-style rendering)