What is the difference between the Hebrew terms almah and betulah?

Answer 1

The precise meaning of both terms almah and betulah is one of continued scholastic debate.

Almah (אלמה): The closest English equivalent is the original meaning attributed to the term maiden in that marriageable age and virginal sexuality were assumed attained and intact. Almah may also be used for a young woman void of virginity.

Betulah (בתולה): The closest English equivalent is the term virgin in that virginal sexuality is intact, without regard to age. N.B.: betulah may also be used for a young woman void of virginity.

Note: In modern Hebrew, betulah (בתולה) is the only word for virgin, and the word almah (אלמה) is considered an archaic term for a young woman of any sexual status.

Answer 2

There is no scholastic debate on this. These words are quite different. the reason that Christians debate them is the fact that both words were translated into Greek as "parthenos." Then when the Greek Bible was translated into Latin, the word "parthenos" was translated as "virginem," Because the translators translated a translation (like the game "telephone").
Had the translators of the first Latin Bible used the original Hebrew to make their translation, this error would never have happened.

• alma (אלמה) = young woman, married or single.
  
• betulah (בתולה) = a woman of any age who has not had sex