Many Christians, following the misguided footsteps of the Gospel of Matthew, claim that Isaiah 7:14 is a messianic prophesy which predicts the birth of Jesus. This is simply erroneous in many different ways.
The reference in Isaiah is not a messianic prophesy. The birth and naming of the child Immanuel was to be a sign for king Ahaz that God was with his people who were about to be invaded by two rival kingdoms. This is clear to anyone who bothers to read the verse in its original context.
12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD
to the test."
13 Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is
it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience
of my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will
be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
15 He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong
and choose the right.
16 But 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.
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."
This is not one of the actual messianic prophesies.
Furthermore, Jesus did not even fulfill this prophesy. What is often cited as the fulfillment of the prophesy, Matthew 1:23, is merely a repetition of the prophesy, not a fulfillment. Compare Matthew 1:22-23 to Isaiah 7:14.
Matthew 1
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the
prophet:
23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God
with us.”
Isaiah 7
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will
be with child and will give birth to a son, and I will call him Immanuel.
Matthew has merely copied and edited Isaiah to fit his purposes.
And Jesus was never called Immanuel. The Gospel of Matthew itself reports in the very next verses that Jesus was called Jesus.
Matthew 1
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded
him and took Mary home as his wife.
25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he
gave him the name Jesus.
And Luke confirms this.
Luke 1
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have
found favor with God.
31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give
him the name Jesus.
