Mary in the Old Testament, the prefigurations of the Virgin in Hebrew Scripture

# The Presence of Mary in the Old TestamentThe Old Testament does not mention Mary by name, but Christian typological tradition has identified numerous prefigurations and prophecies that anticipate her mission. This interpretation, known as typology, is not a later projection but an hermeneutical approach inaugurated by the New Testament itself: Luke 1:28-55 is rich in references to the Old Testament, and Matthew 1:22-23 explicitly cites Isaiah 7:14 as fulfilled in Mary. The *Lumen Gentium* (n. 55-59) dedicates a specific section to “Mary in the divine plan of salvation,” analyzing Old Testament texts that anticipate her.## Genesis 3:15 – The Proto-EvangeliumThe key text is Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” The Patristic tradition interprets the “woman” as Mary and her “offspring” as Christ. While the Hebrew uses masculine (“hu'”), popularizing the Latin Vulgata’s translation (“ipsa conteret”) has solidified the Mariological reading, emphasizing the antagonism between the woman (Mary) and the serpent as a prefiguration of salvation history.## Isaiah 7:14 – The Virgin Who Will ConceiveIsaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be Emmanuel.” Matthew 1:22-23 explicitly quotes this verse as fulfilled in Mary. The Hebrew word ‘almah, meaning “young woman of marriageable age,” is not necessarily “virgin” (betulah). However, the LXX translation (“parthenos”) became the basis for Matthew’s citation, linking it to the New Testament concept of the Virgin Mary who conceives by the Holy Spirit.## Marian Types: Ark, Eve, Deborah, and Judith– **Ark of the Covenant**: The presence of the Ark in 2 Samuel 6:2-11 and Luke 1:39-56 is parallel: David asks, “How can I bring the Ark of the Lord to me?” (2 Samuel 6:9), and Elizabeth exclaims, “How can this be, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43). The Ark held the Torah, manna, and Aaron’s rod. Mary holds the Word incarnate, the Bread of Life, and the High Priest. – **Eve**: Typology between Eve and Mary is prominent since Irenaeus of Lyons (2nd century). – **Deborah** (Judges 5) and **Judith** (Judith 13:14): Women who saved Israel are seen as types of Mary, who cooperates in salvation. – **Queen Mother**: The “gebirah” (queen mother) of the kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 2:19) is a type of Mary as Queen.## Song of Songs and the Profile of the BrideThe *Song of Songs* has been allegorically interpreted as expressing God’s love for Israel (rabbinic tradition) or Christ’s love for the Church (Origen, Bernard). A Marian reading sees in the Bride of the *Song of Songs* a prefiguration of Mary: “You are all fair, my love; there is no flaw in you” (4:7), quoted in the liturgy of the Immaculate Conception. “I am dark-skinned, but beautiful” (1:5) has been applied to Black Madonnas. “Who is this coming up from the desert?” (3:6, 8:5) was interpreted as the Assumption of Mary.**Further Study:** Explore Mariology, Theology Mariana, Mary in the Bible, Immaculate Conception, and the Postgraduate Program in Mariology.