Changes

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>

===Matthew===

==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"/>}}

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>

 

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"/>

===Mark===

==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,"<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>

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==