Birth & AdventScholarly Discussion
Called a Nazarene
Written: ~735 BC→Fulfilled: ~4 BC
Matthew connects Jesus's residence in Nazareth to the prophetic title "Branch" (Netzer in Hebrew), echoing Isaiah's Branch prophecies.
Prophecy & Fulfillment
Old Testament Prophecy
Isaiah 11:1
"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit."
New Testament Fulfillment
Matthew 2:23
"and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene."
Commentary
Matthew's reference is to the Hebrew word netzer (branch/shoot), which is linguistically related to Nazareth. Isaiah 11:1 and other Branch prophecies (Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12) use this term for the Messiah. Jesus being called a "Nazarene" fulfilled this wordplay.