What does the Bible teach about the virgin birth?

The virgin birth is the fulfillment of God’s progressive promise to provide a Redeemer for sinful humanity. This promise begins in the Old Testament with the announcement of the “seed of the woman,” a trajectory that narrows through specific biblical lineages to ensure the arrival of the Messiah. The promise is first narrowed to the seed of Abraham in Genesis 12:1–3, then to the seed of the tribe of Judah in Genesis 49:8‐10, and further specified in Isaiah 7:14 as the seed of a virgin. This divine sequence culminates in Matthew 1:18–23 with the Seed of Mary—Jesus the Messiah.

The virgin birth is not merely a biological miracle but the starting point of the race Jesus ran to achieve our redemption. From the virgin birth all the way to the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ maintained a singular focus on His goal. This discipline allowed Him to overcome obstacles and endure opposition to finish His race. For the believer, the virgin birth marks the entrance of the one who provides the covering for sinful man, enabling us to look away from distractions and fix our eyes on Him as we strive for conformity to His image.