Difference between revisions of "Nazarene"

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(a title of our lord Jesus)
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In ancient Hebrew texts, vowels were not indicated, so a wider variety of readings was possible in Jerome's time. Here branch/Nazarene is metaphorically "descendant" (of [[Jesse]], father of King [[David]]). [[Eusebius]], a 4th-century Christian polemicist, also argued that Isaiah was the source of "Nazarene." This prophecy by Isaiah was extremely popular in New Testament times and is also referred to in [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] and [[Revelation]].<ref>Bauckham, Richard, ''Jude and the Relatives of Jesus in the Early Church'', p. 65. See {{bibleverse||Romans|15:12|ESV}} and {{bibleverse||Revelation|5:5|ESV}}.</ref>
 
In ancient Hebrew texts, vowels were not indicated, so a wider variety of readings was possible in Jerome's time. Here branch/Nazarene is metaphorically "descendant" (of [[Jesse]], father of King [[David]]). [[Eusebius]], a 4th-century Christian polemicist, also argued that Isaiah was the source of "Nazarene." This prophecy by Isaiah was extremely popular in New Testament times and is also referred to in [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] and [[Revelation]].<ref>Bauckham, Richard, ''Jude and the Relatives of Jesus in the Early Church'', p. 65. See {{bibleverse||Romans|15:12|ESV}} and {{bibleverse||Revelation|5:5|ESV}}.</ref>
  
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===Matthew===
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==Matthew==
 
Matthew consistently uses the variant "Nazorean." A link between Nazorean and Nazareth is found in Matthew:
 
Matthew consistently uses the variant "Nazorean." A link between Nazorean and Nazareth is found in Matthew:
 
{{cquote|And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 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.”<ref name="Matthew223"/>}}
 
{{cquote|And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 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.”<ref name="Matthew223"/>}}
  
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The passage presents difficulties: (1) no prophecy is known in Jewish scripture, "He shall be called a Nazorean; (2) "Nazorean" is a new term, appearing here for the first time in association with Nazareth and, indeed, for the first time anywhere.
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Matthew's prophecy is often linked to one in Isaiah.<ref name="Isaiah111"/> Although only Isaiah's prophecy gives "branch" as ''ne·tser'', there are four other messianic prophecies where the word for branch is given as ''tze·mach''.<ref name="netserproph">{{bibleverse||Jeremiah|23:5-6|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Jeremiah|33:15-16|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Zechariah|3:8|ESV}}, and {{bibleverse||Zechariah|6:12|ESV}}.</ref> Matthew's phrase "spoken through the prophets" may suggest that these passages are being referred to collectively.<ref name="Miller"/> In contrast, the phrase "through the prophet," used a few verses above the Nazorean prophecy,<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|2:15|ESV}}</ref> refers to a specific Old Testament passage.<ref>Namely {{bibleverse||Hosea|11:1|ESV}}</ref>
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Matthew's prophecy is often linked to Isaiah's.<ref name="Isaiah111"/> Although only Isaiah's prophecy gives "branch" as ''ne·tser'', there are four other messianic prophecies where the word for branch is given as ''tze·mach''.<ref name="netserproph">{{bibleverse||Jeremiah|23:5-6|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Jeremiah|33:15-16|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Zechariah|3:8|ESV}}, and {{bibleverse||Zechariah|6:12|ESV}}.</ref> Matthew's phrase "spoken through the prophets" may suggest that these passages are being referred to collectively.<ref name="Miller"/> In contrast, the phrase "through the prophet," used a few verses above the Nazorean prophecy,<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|2:15|ESV}}</ref> refers to a specific Old Testament passage.<ref>Namely {{bibleverse||Hosea|11:1|ESV}}</ref>
 
  
 
An alternative view suggests that a passage in the [[Book of Judges]] which refers to [[Samson]] as a Nazirite is the source for Matthew's prophecy. "Nazorite" is only one letter off from "Nazorean" in Greek.<ref name="France">France, R. T., ''The Gospel of Matthew,'' pp. 92-93. See {{bibleverse||Judges|13:5-7|ESV}}. The [[Septuagint]] gives "Nazirite" as ναζιραιον, while Matthew gives Nazorean as Ναζωραῖος.</ref> But the characterization of Jesus in the New Testament is not that of a typical Nazirite, and it is doubtful that Matthew intended a comparison between Jesus and the amoral Samson.<ref name="France"/>
 
An alternative view suggests that a passage in the [[Book of Judges]] which refers to [[Samson]] as a Nazirite is the source for Matthew's prophecy. "Nazorite" is only one letter off from "Nazorean" in Greek.<ref name="France">France, R. T., ''The Gospel of Matthew,'' pp. 92-93. See {{bibleverse||Judges|13:5-7|ESV}}. The [[Septuagint]] gives "Nazirite" as ναζιραιον, while Matthew gives Nazorean as Ναζωραῖος.</ref> But the characterization of Jesus in the New Testament is not that of a typical Nazirite, and it is doubtful that Matthew intended a comparison between Jesus and the amoral Samson.<ref name="France"/>
  
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===Mark===
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==Mark==
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The [[Gospel of Mark]], considered the oldest gospel, consistently uses "Nazarene," while scripture written later generally uses "Nazorean." This suggests that the form more closely tied to "Nazareth" came first. Another possibility is that Mark used this form because the more explicitly messianic form was still controversial when he was writing. Before he was baptized, Mark refers to Jesus as "from Nazareth of Galilee,"<ref>{{bibleverse||Mark|1:9|ESV}}</ref> whereas afterwards he is "the Nazarene,"<ref>{{bibleverse||Mark|1:24|ESV}}</ref> suggesting a transformation at the time of baptism. In a similar fashion, second century messianic claimant Simon bar Kokhba (Aramaic for "Simon, son of a star"), changed his name from Simon bar Kosiba to add a reference to the Star Prophecy.<ref>Bauckham, Jude, ''Relatives of Jesus in the Early Church'', p. 64. The prophecy may be found at {{bibleverse||Numbers|24:17|NKJV}}</ref>
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The [[Gospel of Mark]], considered the oldest gospel, consistently uses "Nazarene," while scripture written later generally uses "Nazorean." This suggests that the form more closely tied to "Nazareth" came first. Another possibility is that Mark used this form because the more explicitly messianic form was still controversial when he was writing. Before he was baptized, Mark refers to Jesus as "from Nazareth of Galilee,"<ref>{{bibleverse||Mark|1:9|ESV}}</ref> whereas afterwards he is "the Nazarene,"<ref>{{bibleverse||Mark|1:24|ESV}}</ref> suggesting a transformation at the time of baptism. In a similar fashion, second century messianic claimant [[Simon bar Kokhba]] (Aramaic for "Simon, son of a star"), changed his name from Simon bar Kosiba to add a reference to the Star Prophecy.<ref>Bauckham, Jude, ''Relatives of Jesus in the Early Church'', p. 64. The prophecy may be found at {{bibleverse||Numbers|24:17|NKJV}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Variants==
 
==Variants==

Revision as of 14:07, January 14, 2014

Nazarene is a title applied to Jesus (c. 4 BC- c. AD 30), who grew up in Nazareth, a town in Galilee, now in northern Israel.[1] The word is used to translate two related terms that appear in the Greek New Testament: Nazarēne (Nazarene) and Nazōraios (Nazorean). The phrases traditionally rendered as "Jesus of Nazareth" can also be translated as "Jesus the Nazarene."[2] So the title "Nazarene" may have a religious significance, in addition to denoting a place of origin. Both Nazarene and Nazorean are irregular in Greek and the additional vowel in Nazorean complicates any derivation from Nazareth.[3]

The Gospel of Matthew explains that the title Nazarene is derived from the prophecy, “he would be called a Nazarene.”[4] Unlike other prophecies that Matthew quotes, this one has no obvious Old Testament source. It may refer to a passage in the Book of Isaiah,[5] with "Nazarene" a Greek reading of the Hebrew ne·tser (branch), understood as a messianic title.[6]

The Greek New Testament uses "Nazarene" six times, while "Nazorean" is used 13 times. In the Book of Acts, "Nazorean" is used to refer to a follower of Jesus, i.e. a Christian.[7] "Notzrim" is the modern Hebrew word for Christians (No·tsri, נוֹצְרִי) and one of two words commonly used to mean "Christian" in Arabic (Naṣrānī, نصراني).

Etymology

Nazarene is anglicized from Greek Nazarēne (Ναζαρηνέ), a word applied to Jesus in the New Testament.[8] It is a reference not only to the city of Nazareth, but also to a Hebrew word for branch used in Isaiah.[9][10]

Jerome (c. 347 – 420) linked "Nazarene" to a messianic prophecy by Isaiah, claiming that "Nazarene" was the Hebrew reading of a word modern scholars read as ne·tzer (branch).[11] The text from Isaiah is:

“ There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

ve·ya·tza cho·ter mig·ge·za yi·shai ve·ne·tzer mi·sha·ra·shav yif·reh.[5]

”

In ancient Hebrew texts, vowels were not indicated, so a wider variety of readings was possible in Jerome's time. Here branch/Nazarene is metaphorically "descendant" (of Jesse, father of King David). Eusebius, a 4th-century Christian polemicist, also argued that Isaiah was the source of "Nazarene." This prophecy by Isaiah was extremely popular in New Testament times and is also referred to in Romans and Revelation.[12]

Matthew

Matthew consistently uses the variant "Nazorean." A link between Nazorean and Nazareth is found in Matthew:

“ And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 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.”[4] ”

Matthew's prophecy is often linked to one in Isaiah.[5] Although only Isaiah's prophecy gives "branch" as ne·tser, there are four other messianic prophecies where the word for branch is given as tze·mach.[13] Matthew's phrase "spoken through the prophets" may suggest that these passages are being referred to collectively.[6] In contrast, the phrase "through the prophet," used a few verses above the Nazorean prophecy,[14] refers to a specific Old Testament passage.[15]

An alternative view suggests that a passage in the Book of Judges which refers to Samson as a Nazirite is the source for Matthew's prophecy. "Nazorite" is only one letter off from "Nazorean" in Greek.[16] But the characterization of Jesus in the New Testament is not that of a typical Nazirite, and it is doubtful that Matthew intended a comparison between Jesus and the amoral Samson.[16]

Mark

The Gospel of Mark, considered the oldest gospel, consistently uses "Nazarene," while scripture written later generally uses "Nazorean." This suggests that the form more closely tied to "Nazareth" came first. Another possibility is that Mark used this form because the more explicitly messianic form was still controversial when he was writing. Before he was baptized, Mark refers to Jesus as "from Nazareth of Galilee,"[17] whereas afterwards he is "the Nazarene,"[18] suggesting a transformation at the time of baptism. In a similar fashion, second century messianic claimant Simon bar Kokhba (Aramaic for "Simon, son of a star"), changed his name from Simon bar Kosiba to add a reference to the Star Prophecy.[19]

Variants

The numbers in parenthesis are from Strong's Concordance.

Nazarene (3479)

Nazorean (3480)

Nazareth (3478)

References

  1. ↑ "Jesus was a Galilean from Nazareth, a village near Sepphoris, one of the two major cities of Galilee". ("Jesus Christ." Encyclopædia Britannica, Chicago, 2009.)
  2. ↑ Luke 18:37
  3. ↑ Bromiley, Geoffrey W., "Nazarene," The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: K-P, pp. 499-500.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 +2:22-23&src=ESV Matthew 2:22-23.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Isaiah 11:1
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Miller, Fred P., Isaiah's Use of the word "Branch" or Nazarene"
  7. ↑ Acts 24:5
  8. ↑ See Mark 1:24 and Luke 4:34
  9. ↑ Ne·tser (נֵ֫צֶר, n-ts-r), pronounced nay'·tser, meaning "branch", "flower", or "offshoot" it is derived from na·tsar Strong number 5342. Brown, Michael L., Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, Volume 4, Baker Books, 2006.
  10. ↑ Stephen Goranson, "Nazarenes," Anchor Bible Dictionary, 4: 1049-1050; James F. Strange, "Nazareth," Anchor Bible Dictionary, 4: 1050-1,051
  11. ↑ "For in the place where we read and translate, There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots, in the Hebrew idiom it is written thus, There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse and a Nazarene shall grow from his root." (Jerome, Letter 47:7).
  12. ↑ Bauckham, Richard, Jude and the Relatives of Jesus in the Early Church, p. 65. See Romans 15:12 and Revelation 5:5.
  13. ↑ Jeremiah 23:5-6, Jeremiah 33:15-16, Zechariah 3:8, and Zechariah 6:12.
  14. ↑ Matthew 2:15
  15. ↑ Namely Hosea 11:1
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 France, R. T., The Gospel of Matthew, pp. 92-93. See Judges 13:5-7. The Septuagint gives "Nazirite" as ναζιραιον, while Matthew gives Nazorean as Ναζωραῖος.
  17. ↑ Mark 1:9
  18. ↑ Mark 1:24
  19. ↑ Bauckham, Jude, Relatives of Jesus in the Early Church, p. 64. The prophecy may be found at Numbers 24:17


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