Sharp-eyed readers will notice that "Emmanuel" is also spelled on this page and elsewhere as "Emanuel" What is the difference? "Emmanuel" is the English spelling, whereas "Emanuel" is the Romanian spelling. (English is closer to the original Hebrew, however, which is 'Immanu 'El.)
"Emmanuel" was a name given to King Ahaz of Judah in the eighth century B.C. as a promise of blessing to come: "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" (Isaiah 7:14; NIV). Christians affirm that this promise was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, because, as Matthew explains:" So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name 'Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:22-23, NIV).