Rabbi Tovia Singer

How misused: Repeatedly claims Christian translations and Matthew deliberately mistranslate 'almah' (young woman) as 'virgin' to create a false messianic virgin birth prophecy. He ignores the Septuagint's pre-Christian translation of 'parthenos' and the context that can imply virginity.

Scripture's answer: While 'almah' can mean 'young woman,' the broader context and the Septuagint's pre-Christian translation using 'parthenos' (virgin) indicate that a virgin birth was within the semantic range and understanding of the time, and Matthew's quotation is an inspired interpretation of its ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua, not a mistranslation. Furthermore, the virgin birth of Yeshua fulfills prophecy, it does not invent it.

How misused: Consistently argues that the 'suffering servant' refers exclusively to the nation of Israel, not an individual Messiah, and that Christian interpretations misidentify the speaker and mistranslate plurals to singulars to force a Christological reading. He rejects the concept of vicarious atonement for sins through an individual, viewing it as pagan. This ignores how the passage clearly describes a singular figure whose suffering is redemptive for 'many' and how Yeshua perfectly fulfills this prophetic role.

Scripture's answer: Isaiah 53 describes a unique 'suffering servant' who bears the sins and infirmities of others through his voluntary suffering and death (v. 4-6, 8-12). While Israel is called a servant, the specific nature of the suffering and vicarious atonement in chapter 53 points to an individual. Yeshua the Messiah perfectly fulfills this prophecy, making atonement for the sins of many through his sacrifice, not as a 'pagan concept' but as the ultimate fulfillment of God's sacrificial system foreshadowed in the Torah (Leviticus 16).

How misused: Consistently argues that Christian interpretations artificially combine separate time periods and different 'anointed ones' to falsely predict Jesus' death. He claims the prophecy refers to Cyrus or the priesthood, not Yeshua, and that its stated outcomes (like the end of sin) were not fulfilled by Jesus. He uses mathematical calculations to 'debunk' Christian timelines.

Scripture's answer: Daniel 9:24-27 precisely prophesies the coming of 'Messiah the Prince' (v. 25), his 'cutting off' (v. 26), and the subsequent destruction of the city and temple. The timeline of 69 'weeks' (483 years) from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Artaxerxes' decree, Nehemiah 2) leads directly to the time of Yeshua's ministry and sacrificial death. Yeshua's atoning death 'finished the transgression, made an end of sins, and made reconciliation for iniquity' (v. 24) for those who believe in Him, with the final 'week' pointing to future events that complete the prophecy.

How misused: Repeatedly claims Christian interpretations (especially John 19:37) misquote and misapply this verse to Yeshua's crucifixion. He asserts the passage refers to an end-times military victory for Israel, where they mourn over casualties, not over having pierced the Messiah. He points out textual differences in pronouns.

Scripture's answer: Zechariah 12:10 prophesies a future outpouring of grace and supplication upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and they will 'look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son.' This dual emphasis on 'me' (God) and 'him' (the pierced one) foreshadows the divine and human nature of Yeshua, who was pierced on the cross and through whom mourning for sin leads to repentance and salvation. John's application (John 19:37) is an inspired interpretation of its fulfillment in Yeshua, who embodies both the divine 'me' and the human 'him'.

How misused: Argues that Christian translations deliberately mistranslate 'כארי' (like a lion) or 'כרו' (dug, as supported by some textual variants and ancient versions) as 'they pierced' to create a prophecy of Yeshua's crucifixion. He insists the Masoretic Text's 'כארי' disproves the piercing interpretation and presents the Psalm as solely David's lament, ignoring Messianic implications.

Scripture's answer: Psalm 22, while a lament of David, contains profound Messianic prophecies fulfilled in Yeshua's crucifixion. The Masoretic Text's 'כארי ידי ורגלי' (like a lion my hands and feet) is difficult to interpret literally, and early versions like the Septuagint and some Dead Sea Scroll fragments suggest a reading closer to 'they pierced' or 'they bound.' Regardless of the precise textual variant, the context of the Psalm vividly describes a crucifixion-like death, including the piercing of hands and feet (v. 16) and the parting of garments (v. 18), all of which Yeshua fulfilled. The Psalm transcends David's experience to foretell the Messiah's suffering.

How misused: Claims the Book of Hebrews deliberately alters Jeremiah's text (e.g., 'I was a husband to them' to 'I disregarded them') to support replacement theology and suggest the Old Covenant is obsolete. He asserts the New Covenant refers solely to Israel's future restoration, not a new spiritual covenant through Yeshua that replaces Torah or Judaism.

Scripture's answer: Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesies a 'new covenant' that God will make with the house of Israel and Judah, where He will write His law on their hearts and forgive their iniquity. Yeshua the Messiah inaugurated this New Covenant (Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 11:25) through His atoning sacrifice, fulfilling the promises of God not by abolishing the Torah but by enabling believers to obey it from the heart through the Holy Spirit. The Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 8:8-12) correctly interprets this prophecy as fulfilled in Yeshua, emphasizing a spiritual transformation and a superior priesthood, not a rejection or abandonment of Israel.

How misused: Argues Christian translations deliberately mistranslate 'Adoni' (my lord) as 'Lord' (capital L) to imply Yeshua's divinity and fabricate the idea that David is speaking of the Messiah as God. He claims the Psalm refers to David's personal master or a human king.

Scripture's answer: Psalm 110:1 states, 'The LORD said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.'' The Hebrew uses YHWH (the divine name, translated 'LORD') and 'Adoni' (my lord). Yeshua Himself (Matthew 22:41-46) and Peter (Acts 2:34-35) authoritatively interpret this Psalm as referring to the Messiah, who is superior to David and shares God's divine authority. The distinction between YHWH and Adoni implies a unique relationship within the Godhead, with Yeshua being the divine 'Adoni' to whom YHWH speaks, making His divinity clear.

How misused: Claims Christian interpretations of 'seed of the woman' as a messianic prophecy about virgin birth are incorrect. He argues 'zera' means offspring/descendants, not male sperm, and that Yeshua failed to fulfill the prophecy because Satan/sin were not destroyed by his coming.

Scripture's answer: Genesis 3:15 contains the protoevangelium, the first prophecy of the Messiah. The 'seed of the woman' (zera is a collective singular, implying a unique descendant) refers to Yeshua, who was born of a woman without a human father, crushing the serpent's head (Satan) through His death and resurrection. While sin and evil still exist, Yeshua decisively defeated Satan's power and provides deliverance for those who believe, securing ultimate victory. This prophecy foreshadows both Yeshua's virgin birth and His redemptive work, not an immediate, complete eradication of evil from the world upon His first coming.