The term "Nazarene" holds significant importance in the New Testament and early Christian history, primarily associated with Jesus Christ and His followers. It is derived from the Greek word "Nazarēnos" or "Nazōraios," which is often translated as "of Nazareth" or "from Nazareth." This designation is deeply rooted in the life and ministry of Jesus, as well as in the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus is frequently referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth" in the New Testament, emphasizing His upbringing in the town of Nazareth in Galilee. This title is used to identify Him, especially in contexts where His identity is questioned or clarified. For instance, in the Gospel of Matthew, the angel instructs Joseph to return to Israel with Mary and Jesus, and they settle in Nazareth: "So he got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel... 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'" (Matthew 2:21, 23).

The reference to Jesus as a Nazarene fulfills the prophetic expectation, although the specific prophecy is not directly quoted in the Old Testament. Some scholars suggest that this fulfillment is a thematic connection to the prophecies about the Messiah being despised and rejected, as Nazareth was a town of little repute (cf. Isaiah 53:3).

The Early Christians

The term "Nazarene" was also used to describe the early followers of Jesus. In the Book of Acts, Paul is accused of being a "ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5). This label was likely used by opponents of the early Christian movement to distinguish them from other Jewish groups. The term "sect" indicates that the Nazarenes were seen as a distinct group within Judaism, characterized by their belief in Jesus as the Messiah.

Cultural and Historical Context

Nazareth, the town from which the term "Nazarene" originates, was a small and seemingly insignificant village in the region of Galilee. Its obscurity is highlighted in the Gospel of John when Nathanael skeptically asks, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46). This question underscores the humble and unexpected origins of Jesus, aligning with the biblical theme of God choosing the lowly and despised to accomplish His purposes.

Theological Significance

The designation "Nazarene" carries theological weight, as it encapsulates the humility and humanity of Jesus. It serves as a reminder of His incarnation and His identification with the marginalized and overlooked. Furthermore, the term reflects the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through Jesus, who, despite His humble beginnings, is the Savior of the world.

In summary, the term "Nazarene" is a multifaceted designation that connects Jesus to His earthly origins, fulfills prophetic expectations, and identifies His early followers. It highlights the paradox of the Messiah's humble beginnings and His ultimate exaltation as Lord and Savior.Nazarene

an inhabitant of Nazareth. This appellative is applied to,Jesus in many passages in the New Testament. This name, made striking in so many ways, and which, if first given in scorn, was adopted and gloried in by the disciples, we are told in (Matthew 2:23) possesses a prophetic significance. Its application to Jesus, in consequence of the providential arrangements by which his Parents were led to take up their abode in Nazareth, was the filling out of the predictions in which the promised Messiah is described as a netser i.e. a shoot, sprout , of Jesse, a humble and despised descendant of the decayed royal family. Once, (Acts 24:5) the term Nazarenes is applied to the followers of Jesus by way of contempt. The name still exists in Arabic as the ordinary designation of Christians.

Nazarene

An epithet applied to Christ, and usually translated "of Nazareth," as in Matthew 21:11 Acts 2:22 4:10. It was foretold in prophecy, Psalm 22:7,8 Isaiah 53:2, that the Messiah should be despised and rejected of men; and this epithet, which came to be used as a term of reproach, showed the truth of these predictions, Matthew 2:23 Acts 24:5. Nazareth was a small town, in a despised part of Palestine. See GALILEE, and NAZARETH.

This epithet (Gr. Nazaraios) is applied to Christ only once (Matthew 2:23). In all other cases the word is rendered "of Nazareth" (Mark 1:24; 10:47; 14:67, etc.). When this Greek designation was at first applied to our Lord, it was meant simply to denote the place of his residence. In course of time the word became a term of reproach. Thus the word "Nazarene" carries with it an allusion to those prophecies which speak of Christ as "despised of men" (Isaiah 53:3). Some, however, think that in this name there is an allusion to the Hebrew netser, which signifies a branch or sprout. It is so applied to the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1), i.e., he whom the prophets called the Netse, the "Branch."

The followers of Christ were called "the sect of Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5). All over Palestine and Syria this name is still given to Christians. (see NAZARETH.)

1. (n.) A native or inhabitant of Nazareth; -- a term of contempt applied to Christ and the early Christians.

2. (n.) One of a sect of Judaizing Christians in the first and second centuries, who observed the laws of Moses, and held to certain heresies.

NAZARENE

naz-a-ren; naz'-a-ren Nazarenos; Nazaraios in Matthew, John, Acts and Luke): A derivative of Nazareth, the birthplace of Christ. In the New Testament it has a double meaning: it may be friendly and it may be inimical.

1. An Honourable Title:

On the lips of Christ's friends and followers, it is an honorable name. Thus Matthew sees in it a fulfillment of the old Isaiah prophecy (Isaiah 11:1 (Hebrew)): "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23). According to an overwhelming array of testimony (see Meyer, Commentary, in loc.), the name Nazareth is derived from the same natsar, found in the text quoted from Isaiah. We have here undoubtedly to do with a permissible accommodation.

It is not quite certain that Matthew did not intend, by the use of this word, to refer to the picture of the Messiah, as drawn in Isaiah 53, on account of the low estimate in which this place was held (John 1:46). Nor is permissible, as has been done by Tertullian and Jerome, to substitute the word "Nazarite" for "Nazarene," which in every view of the case is contrary to the patent facts of the life of the Saviour.

Says Meyer, "In giving this prophetic title to the Messiah he entirely disregards the historical meaning of the same Septuagint reading in Isaiah 11:1, anthos), keeps by the relationship of the name Nazareth to the word natsar, and recognizes by virtue of the same, in that prophetic Messianic name netser, the typical reference to this-that Jesus through His settlement in Nazareth was to become a Nazoraios, a `Nazarene.' " This name clung to Jesus throughout His entire life. It became His name among the masses: "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by" (Mark 10:47 Luke 24:19). Perhaps Matthew, who wrote after the event, may have been influenced in his application of the Isaian prophecy by the very fact that Jesus was popularly thus known. Even in the realm of spirits He was known by this appellation. Evil spirits knew and feared Him, under this name (Mark 1:24 Luke 4:34), and the angels of the resurrection morning called Him thus (Mark 16:6), while Jesus applied the title to Himself (Acts 22:8). In the light of these facts we do not wonder that the disciples, in their later lives and work, persistently used it (Acts 2:22; Acts 3:6; Acts 10:38).

2. A Title of Scorn:

If His friends knew Him by this name, much more His enemies, and to them it was a title of scorn and derision. Their whole attitude was compressed in that one word of Nathanael, by which he voiced his doubt, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). In the name "Nazarene," the Jews, who opposed and rejected Christ, poured out all the vials of their antagonism, and the word became a Jewish heritage of bitterness. It is hard to tell whether the appellation, on the lips of evil spirits, signifies dread or hatred (Mark 1:24 Luke 4:34). With the gatekeepers of the house of the high priest the case is clear. There it signifies unadulterated scorn (Matthew 26:71 Mark 14:67). Even in His death the bitter hatred of the priests caused this name to accompany Jesus, for it was at their dictation written above His cross by Pilate (John 19:19). The entire Christian community was called by the leaders of the Jewish people at Jerusalem, "the sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5). If, on the one hand, therefore, the name stands for devotion and love, it is equally certain that on the other side it represented the bitter and undying hatred of His enemies.

Henry E. Dosker

3480. Nazoraios -- a Nazarene, an inhabitant of Nazareth
... a Nazarene, an inhabitant of Nazareth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Nazoraios Phonetic Spelling: (nad-zo-rah'-yos) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3480.htm - 6k

3479. Nazarenos -- a Nazarene, an inhabitant of Nazareth
... a Nazarene, an inhabitant of Nazareth. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
Nazarenos Phonetic Spelling: (nad-zar-ay-nos') Short Definition: of Nazareth ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3479.htm - 6k

Appendix xviii. Haggadah About Simeon Kepha (Legend of Simon Peter ...
... The text begins by a notice that the strife between the Nazarenes and the Jews had
grown to such proportions that they separated, since any Nazarene who saw a ...
/.../appendix xviii haggadah about simeon.htm

"Jesus or Barabbas. "
... of the multitude. "We will be free from that false teacher, the Nazarene!"
answered another section of the crowd. Then Caiaphas, Annas ...
/.../stead/king of the jews/chapter viii jesus or barabbas.htm

This Said Jesus, and Went Forth with his Disciples to a Place ...
... And Jesus said [28] to those that came unto him, Whom seek ye? [3353] They said
unto him, Jesus the Nazarene. ... They answered, [31] Jesus the Nazarene. ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xlviii this said jesus.htm

Paul Before Felix
... Paul was not preaching his whole Gospel, but defending himself from a specific charge;
namely that, as being a 'Nazarene,' he had started off from the main ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/paul before felix.htm

The Young Saul and the Aged Paul [Footnote: to the Young. ]
... after its straitest sect, and eager to have the smallest part in what seemed to
him the righteous slaying of one of the followers of the blaspheming Nazarene. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the young saul and the.htm

Other Proofs from the Same Chapter, that Jesus, who Preached at ...
... The Christ of the Creator had [3677] to be called a Nazarene according to prophecy;
whence the Jews also designate us, on that very account, [3678] Nazerenes ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter viii other proofs from the.htm

Sunday --The Day of Resurrection.
... And he saith unto them, "Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been
crucified; he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his last week/sundaythe day of resurrection.htm

The King in Exile
... 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.'"Matthew 2:13-23 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the king in exile.htm

The Child Jesus Brought from Egypt to Nazareth.
... of prophecy; this is the fourth kind, viz.: one where the very trend or general
scope of Scripture is itself a prophecy], that he should be called a Nazarene. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xv the child jesus brought.htm

The Angel in the Tomb
... 'Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified.' Do you not catch a tone of wonder and
a tone of triumph in this threefold particularising of the humanity, the lowly ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the angel in the tomb.htm

Nazarene (19 Occurrences)
... Thus the word "Nazarene" carries with it an allusion to those prophecies which speak
of Christ as "despised of men" (Isaiah 53:3). Some, however, think that in ...
/n/nazarene.htm - 18k

Eh (2 Occurrences)
... Eh (2 Occurrences). Mark 1:24 saying, Eh! what have we to do with thee, Jesus, Nazarene? ...
Luke 4:34 saying, Eh! what have we to do with thee, Jesus, Nazarene? ...
/e/eh.htm - 7k

God's (602 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Mark 1:24 "What have you to do with us, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come
to destroy us? ... Luke 4:34 "Ha! Jesus the Nazarene, what have you to do with us? ...
/g/god's.htm - 33k

According (7613 Occurrences)
... It is more likely that "the Gospel according to Matthew, very full, in Hebrew,"
of which Epiphanius speaks, when telling about the Nazarene, is the Hebrew ...
/a/according.htm - 62k

Nazareth (29 Occurrences)
... en-Nasrah), but is connected in the New Testament with Netzer, 'a branch' (Isaiah
4:2; Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; Matthew 2:23), Nazarene being quite ...
/n/nazareth.htm - 24k

Stephen (13 Occurrences)
... It is a significant fact that Stephen was not arraigned before the Sanhedrin as
being a Nazarene though at bottom it was the real cause of his arraignment. ...
/s/stephen.htm - 33k

Gospel (108 Occurrences)
... It is more likely that "the Gospel according to Matthew, very full, in Hebrew,"
of which Epiphanius speaks, when telling about the Nazarene, is the Hebrew ...
/g/gospel.htm - 101k

Kindly (57 Occurrences)
... Mark 10:47 and having heard that it is Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out,
and to say, 'The Son of David -- Jesus! deal kindly with me;' (YLT). ...
/k/kindly.htm - 24k

Named (428 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Matthew 2:23 And he came and was living in a town named Nazareth: so that
the word of the prophets might come true, He will be named a Nazarene. ...
/n/named.htm - 33k

Notice (44 Occurrences)
... John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a notice and had it fastened to the top of the cross.
It ran thus: JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (WEY NIV). ...
/n/notice.htm - 19k

What is the Nazarene Church, and what do Nazarenes believe? | GotQuestions.org

What prophecy is Matthew 2:23 referring to regarding Jesus being a Nazarene? | GotQuestions.org

Was Jesus a Nazirite? | GotQuestions.org

Nazarene: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus