Matthew 2 23

Matthew 2:23 kjv

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 nkjv

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 niv

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.

Matthew 2:23 esv

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.

Matthew 2:23 nlt

So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: "He will be called a Nazarene."

Matthew 2 verses

Matthew 2 23 Meaning

After Joseph and Mary returned from Egypt, they avoided settling in Judea due to Archelaus's reign, the son of Herod. Guided by divine instruction, they instead relocated to the region of Galilee and settled in Nazareth, a humble and often-despised town. This action fulfilled a general prophetic truth spoken by the Old Testament prophets, indicating that the Messiah would be associated with a lowly place, potentially called a "Nazarene," a term carrying connotations of both obscurity and spiritual significance as the "Branch" (Netzer).

Matthew 2 23 Context

Matthew chapter 2 describes the aftermath of Jesus' birth. Following the visit of the Magi and Herod's murderous decree against infants in Bethlehem, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt. After Herod's death, an angel instructed Joseph to return to the land of Israel. However, upon hearing that Archelaus, Herod's brutal son, was reigning in Judea (the expected region for the Messiah's ancestral line, from Bethlehem), Joseph was hesitant and was warned in a dream. Consequently, he turned northward, heading for the region of Galilee, which was outside Archelaus's direct oppressive rule. They settled in a specific Galilean town: Nazareth. This choice of dwelling place, an obscure village generally viewed with contempt, sets the stage for Matthew's interpretation in verse 23, framing it as part of God's overarching plan and prophetic fulfillment regarding the Messiah's humble and rejected nature.

Matthew 2 23 Word analysis

• And he came and dwelt: The Greek verb ἐλθὼν (elthōn, "having come") and κατῴκησεν (katōkēsen, "he settled/dwelt") emphasize a deliberate, guided act by Joseph. This was not a random choice but a divine leading to a specific, permanent residence for the Holy Family after their sojourn in Egypt.
• in a city called Nazareth: The Greek is εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ (eis polin legomenēn Nazaret). Nazareth was a small, historically insignificant village in Galilee, not mentioned in the Old Testament, Josephus, or the Talmud until much later. Its very obscurity contributes to its symbolic meaning. In John 1:46, Nathanael's dismissive question, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" highlights its low reputation among the Judeans.
• that it might be fulfilled which was spoken: The phrase ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν (hopōs plērōthē to rhēthen) indicates Matthew's typical "fulfillment formula." "ὅπως" denotes purpose or result, suggesting divine intention behind the settlement. "πληρωθῇ" is passive, pointing to God as the agent of fulfillment. Matthew consistently employs this phrasing (e.g., Matt 1:22; 2:15; 2:17; 4:14) to underscore that Jesus' life events are not random but part of God's unfolding plan as prefigured in the Hebrew Scriptures.
• by the prophets: διὰ τῶν προφητῶν (dia tōn prophētōn) is significant for its plurality. Matthew does not cite a single prophet (as he often does), nor does he quote a specific verse. This strongly implies that the "fulfillment" is not a direct verbal prophecy but rather a thematic or conceptual truth expressed generally across the prophetic writings. It points to a convergence of various prophetic streams rather than a precise prediction.
• 'He shall be called a Nazarene': Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται (Nazōraios klēthēsetai). This is the pivotal and most debated part. No Old Testament passage explicitly states this phrase. Scholars interpret "Nazarene" here in two primary ways, often seen as complementary:
  • "Branch" or "Shoot" (Netzer): It is seen as a linguistic pun or a wordplay on the Hebrew word נֵצֶר (netzer), meaning "branch" or "shoot" (Isa 11:1). This verse prophecies that the Messiah will be a "shoot from the stump of Jesse." The Messiah is also called "the Branch" (צֶמַח, Tsemach) in other prophetic texts (Jer 23:5, Zech 3:8; 6:12). This connection highlights Jesus' humble beginnings from the seemingly dead "stump" of Jesse (the royal Davidic line) while also affirming His royal messianic lineage and vitality.
  • Despised and Humble (Associated with Nazareth's reputation): The term "Nazarene" itself was often used derisively (Jn 1:46; Acts 24:5). By associating Jesus with Nazareth, the prophets implicitly foretold that the Messiah would come from an insignificant, perhaps scorned, background. This aligns with prophecies of the suffering servant, who would be "despised and rejected by mankind" (Isa 53:3) and "scorned by everyone" (Psa 22:6-7). Thus, being called a "Nazarene" encompasses the idea of the Messiah's humble, obscure, and eventually despised identity in the eyes of the world, even as He is the divinely appointed "Branch."
• Word-group analysis:
  • "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth": This phrase highlights God's providence guiding the Holy Family to a seemingly obscure location, which itself would become central to Jesus' identity and public perception. The literal act of dwelling in Nazareth establishes Jesus' lifelong association with the town.
  • "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets": This phrase functions as Matthew's interpretive key, signaling that the divine purpose is at play, weaving current events into the larger tapestry of God's preordained plan. It asserts the continuity between Old Testament revelation and New Testament reality through Jesus' life. The use of "the prophets" in the plural rather than a single direct quote invites the reader to look for a collective prophetic theme or a synthesis of multiple allusions rather than a precise scriptural citation.

Matthew 2 23 Bonus section

Matthew's method of prophecy fulfillment, as demonstrated in this verse, is distinct from modern literal quotation. He often employs what scholars call "typological" or "allusive" fulfillment, where the New Testament event does not precisely match the Old Testament text word-for-word but reflects its core meaning, theme, or spiritual principle. Here, it is likely a combination of a pun (Nazareth sounding like "Netzer") and a summary of widespread prophetic anticipation regarding the Messiah's humble background and ultimate rejection. This interpretive flexibility was not uncommon in Jewish rabbinic commentary and allowed Matthew to show the coherence of God's plan even in unexpected details of Jesus' life. The "Nazarene" label became the early Church's identifier for Jesus, ironically derived from His place of upbringing, fulfilling ancient divine pronouncements about His true character as the despised and humble "Branch."

Matthew 2 23 Commentary

Matthew 2:23 succinctly captures the paradox of the Messiah: His coming in glory is intricately tied to His humble and often scorned origins. The "fulfillment" is not a word-for-word quote but a sophisticated theological interpretation by Matthew, aligning the unexpected relocation to Nazareth with deep-seated prophetic themes. Primarily, it ties Jesus to the "Netzer" (Branch) prophecies of the Old Testament (Isa 11:1), emphasizing His rightful messianic lineage despite His humble dwelling place. Simultaneously, it connects Him to the general prophetic motif of the suffering Messiah who would be despised and rejected by humanity (Isa 53:3; Psa 22:6). Thus, for Jesus to be called a "Nazarene" embodies both His true identity as the promised royal "Branch" and His experience of contempt and low esteem, laying a foundational paradox for His ministry and subsequent crucifixion. This duality—Messianic promise veiled in humble appearance and suffering—is a central Christological theme in Matthew's Gospel.