I am sorry (not sorry) for the title of this page. I have been wanting to do this thorough study for a while on the Hebrew words used in reference to girls in Genesis 24. This study is directly related to the "virgin birth" of Jesus and the supposed prophecy of that event in Isaiah 7. I believe we can learn some interesting things just by looking at how girls are referenced in the Hebrew language in this chapter alone. 

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I decided to put my conclusions here at the top, so you don't have to scroll down, unless you want to see how I drew these conclusions. The Hebrew word issa is used 14 times in Genesis 24 and it is used to reference either an existing wife or a future wife. Therefore, issa could be a virgin or not, and an issa could be either young or old. The Hebrew word na'ara is used 6 times in this chapter and it means either young maiden or slave girl. This chapter demonstrates that na'ara needs a clarification as to whether she is a virgin or not, based on verse 16. This chapter does not answer the question as to whether an older slave woman, who is not a virgin, could be called a na'ara, based on her servant status rather than her virginity status or age. At what point is a na'ara no longer a na'ara? The Hebrew words alma (verse 43) and betula (verse 16) are only used once in this chapter. I find it odd that the author decided to use alma only once in this text. It is possible that alma implies a young virgin girl who has never been married, but it would have made more sense for Abraham to tell his servant to go find an alma (young virgin), instead of an issa (wife). Maybe looking for an alma could cause confusion which resulted in bringing back a girl too young for sex or marriage. The one use of betula in verse 16 is definitively clear. Betula is the word that clearly identifies the girl (na'ara) as a virgin. 

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Now, let's look at the word alma in the rest of the Bible. Alma is only used 7 times total in the Bible. Let's look at each use here. Genesis 24:43 is the text this whole page is based on. Exodus 2:8 is a reference to the sister of Moses (Miriam) when Pharaoh's daughter found baby Moses in a basket along the river. In this instance, the word alma has no reason to imply anything other than a young girl. Miriam was not being considered for marriage, so this is an example of using the word alma in reference to a girl who was likely below the marriageable age (pre-teen). Maybe Rebekah and  Miriam were only 10 years old or so when they were called "alma." Psalm 68:25 provides the order in which the girls walked while praising God. First were the singers, then the musicians, and among the musicians were the little girls (alma) playing the timbrils. Once again, it seems like alma is in reference to girls that are below marriageable age. This context has nothing to do with sexual activity. Proverbs 30:19 mentions four amazing things: an eagle in the sky, a snake on a rock, a ship on the sea, and a man with an "alma." I do not think this is talking about a man having sex with a virgin. I think this is about how gentle and pure a man can be with a young girl, such as his daughter. Interjecting sexual status in this context seems to be very crude and unnecessary. Solomon 1:3 is a love song. It is not about a young, pre-teen female kid. It seems to be about young girls sexually desiring a man. This use of alma means young maidens who are at least thinking about sexual attraction, but you would still have to assume they have not had sex yet. You could assume it implies they are virgins, but it would just be an assumption. Solomon 6:8 says there may be 60 Queens, 80 concubines, and alma without number, but you my dove, are the perfect one for me. I see three options for these "alma" girls. The pre-teen virgins are not a good option, because it is a sexual love song. That leaves two viable options. Either these almas are young virgin girls who are old enough for sex, or they are young girls who have already had sex. If you assume Queens and concubines have had sex, why would you assume alma had not had sex yet? The most likely option here is young virgins, but the text does not make it clear. Isaiah 7:14 is the prophecy that an alma will give birth to a son and call his name Immanuel. This verse is absolutely not saying that a young girl who has never had sex will have a baby without ever having sex first. Even if it is referring to a young girl who has never had sex yet, it would be saying, though she hasn't had sex yet, she will have sex and give birth to a boy. Since, the text does not identify who the woman is, it is inappropriate to assume she is Isaiah's wife who already had children via sex. It is my conclusion that the word alma is not intended to designate the sexual status of the girl, even though it is a reasonable assumption that young girls should also be virgins. 

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Now for the breakdown of Genesis 24: 

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3. Abraham made his servant swear not to take a wife (issa-H802-woman or wife) for Isaac from the daughters (bat-H1323-daughter) of Canaan. 

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4. Abraham told his servant to take a wife (issa) for Isaac from his country instead.

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5. The servant was concerned that the woman (issa) would not be willing to follow him.

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7. Abraham says God promised him this new land of Canaan, but says the servant should take a wife (issa) for Isaac from his old country.

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8. Abraham says if the woman (issa) will not follow him, then the servant is free from the oath.

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11. The servant goes to Nahor in Mesopotamia (verse 10) and made his camels kneel by a well in the evening when the women (saab-H7579-water drawing women) go out to draw water. 

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13. The servant prays to Yahweh for success as he sees the daughters (bat) of men coming out to draw water. 

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14. The servant prays that whichever maiden (na'ara-H5291-girl, damsel, female servant, young woman, concubine, prostitute) who says she will water the camels while he drinks would be the one God has chosen for Isaac. 

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15. While is was speaking, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder. She was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah, who was the wife (issa) of Nahor, Abraham's brother. 

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16. The maiden (na'ara) was pretty and she was a virgin (betula-H1330-virgin) whom no man had known.

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24. Rebekah said, I am the daughter (bat) of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.

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28. The maiden (na'ara) ran and told her mother's household about these things.

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36. The servant says Isaac was born to his masters wife (issa).

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37. Abraham said not to take a wife (issa) for Isaac from the Canaanites.

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38. Take a wife (issa) for Isaac from Abrahams family.

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39. Perhaps the woman (issa) will not follow me.

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40. An angel will prosper your trip, now go take a wife (issa) for Isaac from my father's house. 

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43. Let the young woman (alma-H5959-young woman of marriageable age, maid, or newly married) whom I ask for a drink be the one.

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44. Let her be the woman (issa) whom the Lord has chosen for Isaac. 

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47. Whose daughter (bat) are you? 

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48. The servant worshipped God who led him to the daughter (bat) of Abraham's family.

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51. God has spoken. Take Rebekah to be the wife (issa) of Isaac.

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55. Let the maiden (na'ara) stay with us ten days, then she may go. 

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57. Let's ask the maiden (na'ara) if she is ready to go. She said yes.

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61. Rebekah and her maids (na'ara) left.

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67. Isaac took Rebekah into the tent and she became his wife (issa).