What Old Testament prophecies connect to Jesus being called a Nazarene? The Puzzle in Matthew 2:23 – “And He went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’ ” (Matthew 2:23) – Matthew cites “the prophets” (plural) rather than a single text, signaling a cluster of prophetic themes that converge in the title “Nazarene.” Recognizing Matthew’s Use of “Prophets” – Sometimes Matthew links one direct quotation to one prophet (e.g., Matthew 1:22–23 with Isaiah 7:14). – Here he draws on several prophetic strands, weaving them together under one summary statement. – Two main strands surface: • The “Branch” (Hebrew netzer) prophecies. • The theme of the Messiah as one despised and rejected, which fits the reputation of Nazareth. Nazareth: A Town with Prophetic Echoes – First-century Nazareth was obscure and looked down on (John 1:46). – Growing up there identified Jesus with humility and lowliness—exactly what the prophets foretold about the Servant-King (Isaiah 53:2–3). The “Branch” (Netzer) Prophecies The Hebrew word netzer (“branch,” shoot, sprout) shares the root consonants n-tz-r with “Nazareth.” Matthew hears in “Nazareth” a linguistic echo of these “Branch” texts: • Isaiah 11:1 — “A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch (netzer) 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.” • Jeremiah 33:15 — “In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a Branch of righteousness.” • Zechariah 3:8 — “I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.” • Zechariah 6:12 — “Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.” Key observations: – All five texts promise a Davidic ruler called the “Branch.” – Matthew sees “Jesus of Nazareth” as a play on words: Jesus is the long-promised “netzer.” – By calling Him a “Nazarene,” God flags Jesus as that prophesied Branch. Prophecies of the Despised Servant Beyond the wordplay, “Nazarene” carried the idea of being despised—echoing other prophecies. • Psalm 22:6 — “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.” • Isaiah 49:7 — “This is what the LORD says—the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—to Him whom man despises...” • Isaiah 53:2-3 — “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us… He was despised and rejected by men.” Living in a town held in contempt fulfills these descriptions. The Messiah would not emerge from an earthly power center but from a place many dismissed. The Nazirite Foreshadowing While “Nazarene” and “Nazirite” are distinct in Greek and Hebrew, they sound alike and point to the idea of consecration. Samson’s birth story provides a shadow: • Judges 13:5 — “For behold, you will conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb.” Jesus, though not bound by the Nazirite law, perfectly embodied lifelong consecration to His Father’s will (John 4:34). Bringing the Threads Together – Matthew is precise: multiple prophets foresaw a Messiah who would be • the righteous Branch (netzer) from David’s line, and • the humble, scorned Servant. – “Jesus the Nazarene” stamps both truths on His identity: the netzer who grows from Jesse’s stump, and the One willing to dwell in a place of low esteem for our sakes. – The exactness of God’s Word remains unquestionable; every prophetic nuance—down to shared consonants and a town’s reputation—finds its fulfillment in Christ. |
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