New International Version 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. New Living Translation So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.” English Standard Version And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. Berean Standard Bible and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” Berean Literal Bible And having come, he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth, so that it might be fulfilled, that having been spoken through the prophets, that “He will be called a Nazarene.” King James Bible And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. New King James Version And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” New American Standard Bible and came and settled in a city called Nazareth. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.” NASB 1995 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” NASB 1977 and came and resided in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Legacy Standard Bible and came and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Amplified Bible and went and settled in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Berean Annotated Bible and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth (branch). So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene. Christian Standard Bible Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that He will be called a Nazarene. American Standard Version and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene. Contemporary English Version and they went to live there in the town of Nazareth. So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, "He will be called a Nazarene." English Revised Version and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene. GOD'S WORD® Translation and made his home in a city called Nazareth. So what the prophets had said came true: "He will be called a Nazarene." Good News Translation and made his home in a town named Nazareth. And so what the prophets had said came true: "He will be called a Nazarene." International Standard Version and settled in a town called Nazareth in order to fulfill what was said by the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene." NET Bible He came to a town called Nazareth and lived there. Then what had been spoken by the prophets was fulfilled, that Jesus would be called a Nazarene. New Heart English Bible and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he will be called a Nazorean. Webster's Bible Translation And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Weymouth New Testament and went and settled in a town called Nazareth, in order that these words spoken through the Prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” World English Bible and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand coming, he dwelt in a city named Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through the Prophets, that “He will be called a Nazarene.” Berean Literal Bible And having come, he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth, so that it might be fulfilled, that having been spoken through the prophets, that “He will be called a Nazarene.” Young's Literal Translation and coming, he dwelt in a city named Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through the prophets, that 'A Nazarene he shall be called.' Smith's Literal Translation And having come, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be completed spoken by the prophets, That he shall be called a Nazarite. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene. Catholic Public Domain Version And arriving, he lived in a city which is called Nazareth, in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “For he shall be called a Nazarene.” New American Bible He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean.” New Revised Standard Version There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, so that what was said by the prophet, might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazarene. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And he came to dwell in a city that is called Nazareth, so that the thing would be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, “He shall be called The Nazarene.” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that the word might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene. Godbey New Testament And having come, he went down into the city called Nazareth, in order that the words spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that He shall be called a Nazarene. Haweis New Testament and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that what was said by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he shall be called a Nazarean. Mace New Testament and went to dwell in a town called Nazareth, so that those words of one of the prophets were fulfill'd, "He shall be called a Nazarene." Weymouth New Testament and went and settled in a town called Nazareth, in order that these words spoken through the Prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene." Worrell New Testament and, coming, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, "A Nazarene shall He be called." Worsley New Testament And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Return to Nazareth…22But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” Cross References and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. Luke 2:39 When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Luke 4:16 Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, John 1:46 “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. Zechariah 6:12 And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD. “He will be called a Nazarene.” Acts 22:8 ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. John 19:19 Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Acts 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. Judges 13:5 For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. John 1:45-46 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” / “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. Luke 2:39 When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Acts 24:5 We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, Isaiah 9:1-2 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations: / The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. Treasury of Scripture And he came and dwelled in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Nazareth. John 18:5,7 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them… John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: He shall. Matthew 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. Numbers 6:13 And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: Judges 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. Jump to Previous City Dwelt Fulfill Fulfilled Nazaraean Nazarene Nazareth Order Prophets Settled Word WordsJump to Next City Dwelt Fulfill Fulfilled Nazaraean Nazarene Nazareth Order Prophets Settled Word WordsMatthew 2 1. The wise men from the east enquire after Jesus;3. at which Herod is alarmed. 9. They are directed by a star to Bethlehem, worship him, and offer their presents. 13. Joseph flees into Egypt with Jesus and his mother. 16. Herod slays the children; 20. himself dies. 23. Jesus is brought back again into Galilee to Nazareth. and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. Nazareth was a small agricultural village in lower Galilee, far from Jerusalem’s religious and political prominence. Joseph’s settlement there placed Jesus in the ordinary life of Israel’s common people, where He grew in wisdom and stature within a faithful Jewish family. Nathanael’s later question, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” reflects the town’s lack of status (John 1:46). The Messiah’s humble upbringing revealed that God’s promised King would not begin His earthly life among the celebrated and powerful. Luk 2:39 When Jesus’ parents had done everything required… So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: Matthew repeatedly shows that the events surrounding Jesus’ birth and childhood unfolded according to God’s long-declared purpose. No single Old Testament passage records the exact words that follow, but the prophets collectively portray the Messiah as humble, rejected, and despised. Isaiah foretold a servant “despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3), while Psalm 22 describes the scorn directed toward God’s righteous sufferer. Jesus’ identity and mission fulfilled not only individual predictions but also the united witness of the prophetic Scriptures. Isa 11:1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse… “He will be called a Nazarene.” The name Nazarene, possibly related to the Hebrew netzer, meaning branch, identified Jesus with an obscure town and carried the reproach associated with it. His lowly hometown anticipated the rejection He would endure throughout His ministry and at the cross. The title may also echo Isaiah’s promise of a shoot, or branch, from the line of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1), pointing to Jesus as David’s promised King. The One raised in overlooked Nazareth was the true Branch of David, the Savior who bore contempt in order to bring redemption. Act 22:8 “Who are You, Lord?” I asked. “I am Jesus of Nazareth,”… Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure of the New Testament, whose life and ministry fulfill Old Testament prophecies. 2. Joseph The earthly father of Jesus, who leads his family to Nazareth in obedience to divine guidance. 3. Mary The mother of Jesus, who accompanies Joseph and Jesus to Nazareth. 4. Nazareth A small town in Galilee where Jesus grew up, fulfilling the prophecy that He would be called a Nazarene. 5. Prophets Refers to the collective voice of Old Testament prophets whose writings and prophecies point to the coming Messiah. Teaching Points Fulfillment of ProphecyJesus' life in Nazareth fulfills the prophetic words, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promises. Humility and Obscurity Jesus' upbringing in a humble town teaches us about God's value of humility and His ability to use the seemingly insignificant for His purposes. Divine Guidance Joseph's obedience to divine direction in moving to Nazareth is a model for trusting God's guidance in our lives. Identity in Christ Just as Jesus was identified as a Nazarene, believers are called to find their identity in Christ, regardless of their earthly origins. God's Sovereignty The fulfillment of prophecy through Jesus' life in Nazareth underscores God's sovereign control over history and His plan for redemption. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 2:23?2. How does Matthew 2:23 fulfill Old Testament prophecy about Jesus' identity? 3. Why is Nazareth significant in understanding Jesus' humble beginnings and mission? 4. What Old Testament prophecies connect to Jesus being called a Nazarene? 5. How can Jesus' upbringing in Nazareth inspire humility in our daily lives? 6. In what ways does Matthew 2:23 encourage us to trust God's sovereign plan? 7. How does Matthew 2:23 fulfill Old Testament prophecy if "Nazarene" isn't explicitly mentioned there? 8. Why is Nazareth significant in Matthew 2:23 for Jesus' identity and mission? 9. Does Matthew 2:23 imply a historical inaccuracy regarding Old Testament prophecies? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 2? What Does Matthew 2:23 Mean And he went“After Herod died, Joseph got up … and went” (Matthew 2:21-22). Matthew shows Joseph’s immediate obedience. • Similar swift obedience is seen in Genesis 12:4, where Abram “went as the LORD had told him.” • Luke 1:38 reflects the same heart in Mary: “May it be to me according to your word.” Obedience is portrayed as the normal response of God’s people when He directs their steps. And lived in a town called Nazareth The family settles in a small, seemingly insignificant village (John 1:46). • Isaiah 11:1 pictures Messiah as a “Branch” (netzer), a shoot from Jesse’s stump—humble beginnings leading to greatness. • Psalm 22:6-8 foreshadows the contempt Messiah would face, something that growing up in Nazareth prepared Him for (see Luke 4:28-29). Choosing Nazareth highlights God’s consistent pattern of exalting what the world overlooks (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets Matthew links the move to Nazareth with prophetic expectation. He writes “prophets” (plural), signaling a composite theme rather than one isolated verse. • Judges 13:5 and 1 Samuel 1:11 show lifelong consecration vows, pointing to a set-apart Deliverer. • Isaiah 53:2 speaks of Messiah growing up “like a root out of dry ground,” again echoing obscurity and unimpressiveness. The phrase underscores Scripture’s unity: diverse prophetic voices converge in Jesus. He will be called a Nazarene Being labeled “Nazarene” carried stigma (John 7:52), fulfilling anticipations of a despised yet victorious Servant. • Psalm 69:8: “I have become a stranger to my brothers.” • Isaiah 49:7: “The Redeemer of Israel, to the One despised.” Matthew affirms that even the scorn attached to Jesus’ hometown was foreseen, weaving mockery into God’s redemptive plan. summary Matthew 2:23 reveals God directing Joseph to Nazareth, fulfilling a tapestry of prophetic themes. Jesus’ humble residence, the contempt signaled by the title “Nazarene,” and the certainty of Scripture all work together to show that God’s Messiah would rise from obscurity, bear reproach, yet accomplish salvation exactly as foretold. (23) He shall be called a Nazarene.—For an account of Nazareth, see Note on Luke 1:26. Here it will be enough to deal with St. Matthew’s reference to the name as in itself the fulfilment of a prophetic thought. He does not, as before, cite the words of any one prophet by name, but says generally that what he quotes had been spoken by or through the prophets. No such words are to be found in the Old Testament. It is not likely that the Evangelist would have quoted from any apocryphal prophecy, nor is there any trace of the existence of such a prophecy. The true explanation is to be found in the impression made on his mind by the verbal coincidence of fact with prediction. He had heard men speak with scorn of “the Nazarene,” and yet the very syllables of that word had also fallen on his ears in one of the most glorious of the prophecies admitted to be Messianic—“There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Netzer (Branch) shall grow out of his roots” (Isaiah 11:1). So he found in the word of scorn the nomen et omen of glory. The town of Nazareth probably took its name from this meaning of the word, as pointing, like our -hurst and -holt, to the trees and shrubs for which it was conspicuous. The general reference to the prophets is explained by the fact that the same thought is expressed in Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15; Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12...Verse 23. - And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth. En-Nasira, now of from five thousand to six thousand souls, in the hills on the northern edge of the Plain of Esdraelon, not mentioned in the Old Testament or by Josephus. "Nazareth is a rose, and, like a rose, has the same rounded form, enclosed by mountains as the flower by its leaves" (Quaresimus, in Stanley, 'Sinai and Palestine,' p. 365). Observe the (:) in the Revised Version, showing that the following "fulfilment" is not to be considered as part of Joseph's intention. Dwelt; settled down after the exile life (cf Acts 7:4). That (ὅπως). The purpose lay in the Divine overruling of Joseph's action, ὄπως with πληρωθῇ, Matthew 8:17 and Matthew 13:35 only. In each case it is used with reference to general statements, i.e. it marks a less close connection than that implied by ἵνα. It might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets. He shall be called (Revised Version, that he should be called; ὅτι κληθήσεται; cf. also the Geneva) a Nazarene. The Revised Version expresses the fact that the quotation is not of words, but of substance, for although the recitative ὅτι is found in St. Matthew (Matthew 7:23; Matthew 9:18; Matthew 14:26; Matthew 27:43, 47) and even before verbal citations from Scripture after γέγραπται (Matthew 4:6) and ἀνέγνωετε (Matthew 21:16, contrast 42), yet it does not occur after the formula τὸ ῤηθέν κ.τ.λ. By the prophets. Not "in the prophets" (Acts 13:40), which might have preferred (yet cf. Hebrews 1:1) only to the book containing their writings, and then would not in itself have implied more than one passage there. The present phrase (διὰ τῶν προφητῶν) suggests personality rather than writing, and implies either that two or more prophets were the agents by whom the words were spoken, or, better, that in some way the whole company of the prophets (cf. Acts 3:25; Hebrews 1:1) spoke the message now summarized. In this way the phrase will indicate that even if the following words are found in the utterances of only one prophet, they also represent a phase of teaching common to all. A Nazarene. Those interpretations which connect this with נזר (nzr) ,(1) in the sense of "separated" (Lightfoot, 'Hor. Hebr.'), (a) generally (cf. Psalm 69:7); (b) specifically as "Nazarite" (נזיר, Ναζηραῖος, so Tyndale to Rheims); or . . . Greek andκαὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. he went ἐλθὼν (elthōn) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2064: To come, go. [and] lived κατῴκησεν (katōkēsen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2730: To dwell in, settle in, be established in (permanently), inhabit. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside. in εἰς (eis) Preposition Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. a town πόλιν (polin) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 4172: A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town. called λεγομένην (legomenēn) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. Nazareth. Ναζαρέτ (Nazaret) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3478: Or Nazaret nad-zar-et'; of uncertain derivation; Nazareth or Nazaret, a place in Palestine. So ὅπως (hopōs) Conjunction Strong's 3704: From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, i.e. In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual). was fulfilled πληρωθῇ (plērōthē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 4137: From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc. what τὸ (to) Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. was spoken ῥηθὲν (rhēthen) Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 2046: Probably a fuller form of rheo; an alternate for epo in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. Speak or say. through διὰ (dia) Preposition Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. prophets: προφητῶν (prophētōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet. “He will be called κληθήσεται (klēthēsetai) Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'. a Nazarene.” Ναζωραῖος (Nazōraios) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3480: A Nazarene, an inhabitant of Nazareth. From Nazareth; a Nazoraean, i.e. Inhabitant of Nazareth; by extension, a Christian. Additonal Resources Matthew 2:23 Blue Letter BibleMatthew 2:23 Bible Gateway Matthew 2:23 Bible.com Matthew 2:23 NIV |
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