George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Isaiah 7:14
Virgin, halma, (Haydock) one secluded from the company of men. Alma in Latin signifies "a holy person," and in Punic "a virgin." The term is never applied to any but "a young virgin." If it meant a young woman, what sort of a sign would this be? (St. Jerome) --- It was indeed above the sagacity of man to declare that the child to be born would be a boy, and live till the kings should be destroyed. But the prophet undoubtedly speaks of Jesus Christ, the wonderful, &c., (chap. ix. 5.) as... read more
Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Isaiah 7:16
I have separated this verse from the whole passage going before from an idea, (though I presume not to say I am right) that it is not connected with what is said concerning Christ, but as a sign to Isaiah concerning himself, and the events then pending in the church. Some have translated the words, "For before this child, " that is, his own child, Shear-jashub, whom the Lord had commanded the prophet to take with him to Ahaz, "before this child was grown up, " the land thou abhorrest shall be... read more