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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophecy that Jesus would be called a "Nazarene" wasn't about a specific verse but a general prophetic theme that he would be a figure of contempt and lowliness. This was perfectly fulfilled by his upbringing in Nazareth, a town proverbially considered insignificant, making the very name a mark of scorn that pointed to his future rejection by men.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath and then returning upon his death, Joseph learned Herod's cruel son Archelaus was now ruling Judea. Warned in a dream to avoid Judea, Joseph took Jesus and Mary to live in Nazareth, a seemingly obscure town, fulfilling prophecies that the Messiah would be associated with a lowly and despised origin. This decision set the stage for Jesus' upbringing and the eventual contempt some would hold for him, rooted in his hometown.
Why would God choose a small, insignificant town like Nazareth for the upbringing of His Son? It turns out this obscurity was key to fulfilling ancient prophecies.
Matthew 2:23 highlights that Jesus dwelling in Nazareth was no accident; it was a divine appointment to fulfill prophecy.
A Town of Contempt
The town of Nazareth was known for its insignificance, so much so that it became a proverb: 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?' (John 1:46). It was a place looked down upon by many Jews, far from the esteemed cities and royal lineage.
The 'Sprout' of Prophecy
While the exact prophetic text is debated, the scholars point to prophecies like Isaiah 11:1, which speaks of a 'shoot' or 'branch' (Hebrew: 'netser') coming from the family of Jesse. The name 'Nazareth' itself is closely related to this word for 'shoot' or 'sprout'. Jesus, as this 'sprout' from a seemingly dead root of David's lineage, perfectly embodied this prophecy of humble origins.
Fulfillment in Obscurity
By residing in Nazareth, Jesus' life mirrored the prophetic picture of the Messiah as someone who would come from an unassuming background, someone to be potentially despised. This wasn't a failure of prophecy, but a deliberate fulfillment that pointed to a Messiah who wouldn't be defined by earthly power or prestige, but by divine purpose.
Ask a follow-up
The name 'Nazarene' became synonymous with Jesus, but it carried a weight of scorn. How did this term of reproach become a prophetic fulfillment?
Matthew 2:23 explains that Jesus being called a 'Nazarene' was a fulfillment of prophecy, a concept tied to both the place and a prophetic title.
A Name of Contempt
To be called a 'Nazarene' in Jesus' day was to be associated with the despised town of Nazareth. It was a label that signaled lowliness and, for some, a lack of divine favor. Early Christians also bore this name, often used by their opponents as a derogatory term.
Echoes of Prophetic Descriptions
While no single Old Testament verse explicitly states 'He shall be called a Nazarene,' Matthew speaks of 'the prophets' (plural). This suggests a broader prophetic theme. Scholars point to several possibilities:
God's Providence at Work
Ultimately, Jesus dwelling in Nazareth and being known as a Nazarene was a deliberate act of God's providence. It turned a potential mark of shame into a powerful sign that the Messiah had indeed come, just as the prophets had foretold, in a way that humbled earthly expectations and exalted divine purpose.
Understand the original words
prophētōn · Greek Noun
God's authorized spokesmen who conveyed His message to the people, often including predictions about the coming Messiah. Their words are authoritative because they are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
plērōthē · Greek Verb
To bring to pass, complete, or accomplish that which was written or foretold in Scripture. It signifies that the events of Jesus' life are not accidental but are the intentional outworking of God's redemptive plan.
Nazōraios · Greek Noun
A term identifying one from the town of Nazareth. In a theological sense, it often carries connotations of humility, lowliness, or being set apart, fulfilling Old Testament foreshadowings of the Messiah's humble nature.
Jesus' upbringing in Nazareth, a town viewed with contempt by many Jews, was not accidental but a fulfillment of prophecy. This humble origin underscored the prophetic pattern of the Messiah experiencing rejection and lowliness before ultimate glory.
c. 6 BC
Jesus Born in Bethlehem
Jesus is born in Bethlehem, fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah's birthplace, but his family soon flees.
c. 6 BC - c. 4 BC
Flight to Egypt and Herod's Massacre
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus flee to Egypt to escape King Herod's murderous plot. After Herod's death, they are warned not to return to Judea.
c. 4 BC - c. AD 25— this verse
Settling in Nazareth
Joseph, fearing Herod's successor, takes the family to Nazareth in Galilee. Jesus grows up in this humble town, an event seen as fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah's humble and despised status.
c. AD 28
John the Baptist Begins Ministry
John the Baptist starts preaching and baptizing, preparing the way for Jesus' public ministry. Jesus emerges from his Nazareth upbringing to begin his own work.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus begins his public ministry, proclaiming the Kingdom of God. His identity as the 'Nazarene' becomes a point of both scorn and recognition.
This passage describes Samson, who was consecrated as a Nazirite from birth, a vow which involved separation and dedication. This foreshadows Jesus' unique consecration and separation to God's purposes, linking the concept of a 'Nazarene' to a divinely set-apart individual.
Isaiah 11:1This prophecy speaks of a 'shoot' or 'branch' emerging from the line of Jesse. The Hebrew word for 'branch' (netser) sounds similar to the name of Nazareth, suggesting a subtle prophetic connection between the Messiah's humble origins and a title of contempt that would later be applied to him.
Psalm 22:6This psalm expresses the suffering servant's lament, 'But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by all people and despised by the people.' This resonates with the 'Nazarene' title, which was used with contempt, fulfilling the prophetic description of the Messiah being widely scorned.
John 1:46Nathanael's famous question, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' highlights the deep-seated prejudice and contempt associated with the town. This directly illustrates how Jesus being from Nazareth led to him being called a 'Nazarene,' a name laden with scorn.
Romans 8:29Paul speaks of believers being conformed to the image of God's Son, who is the 'firstborn among many brothers.' This echoes the idea of Jesus being set apart (like a Nazirite or 'Nazarene') and serving as the pattern for all who follow Him.
vincentMatthew 2:23: "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."
The prophetsNote the plural, as indicating not any one prediction in particular, but a summary of the import of several prophetic statements, such as Psalm 22:6, Psalm 22:8; Psalm 69:11, Psalm 69:19; Isaiah 53:2, Isaiah 53:3, Isaiah 53:4.A NazareneA term of contempt (compare John 1:46, and John 7:52). The very name of Nazareth suggested ins…
bensonMatthew 2:23: "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 2:23 . He dwelt in a city called Nazareth — Where he had formerly resided before he went to Bethlehem. Nazareth, as appears from Luke 4:29 , was built upon a rock, not far from mount Tabor. The country about it, according to Antoninus the martyr, was like a paradise, abounding in wheat and fruits of all kinds. Wine, oil, and honey,…
The prophecy that Jesus would be called a "Nazarene" wasn't about a specific verse but a general prophetic theme that he would be a figure of contempt and lowliness. This was perfectly fulfilled by his upbringing in Nazareth, a town proverbially considered insignificant, making the very name a mark of scorn that pointed to his future rejection by men.
After fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath and then returning upon his death, Joseph learned Herod's cruel son Archelaus was now ruling Judea. Warned in a dream to avoid Judea, Joseph took Jesus and Mary to live in Nazareth, a seemingly obscure town, fulfilling prophecies that the Messiah would be associated with a lowly and despised origin. This decision set the stage for Jesus' upbringing and the eventual contempt some would hold for him, rooted in his hometown.
After fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath and then returning upon his death, Joseph learned Herod's cruel son Archelaus was now ruling Judea. Warned in a dream to avoid Judea, Joseph took Jesus and Mary to live in Nazareth, a seemingly obscure town, fulfilling prophecies that the Messiah would be associated with a lowly and despised origin. This decision set the stage for Jesus' upbringing and the eventual contempt some would hold for him, rooted in his hometown.
"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." — The prophecy that Jesus would be called a "Nazarene" wasn't about a specific verse but a general prophetic theme that he would be a figure of contempt and lowliness. This was perfectly fulfilled by h…
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Last reviewed October 2026