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'''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]].<ref name="Britannica">"Jesus was a Galilean from Nazareth, a village near Sepphoris, one of the two major cities of Galilee". ("Jesus Christ." ''Encyclopædia Britannica,'' Chicago, 2009.)</ref> 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."<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|18:37|ESV}}</ref> So the title "Nazarene" may have a religious significance, in addition to denoting a place of origin.

'''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]].<ref name="Britannica">"Jesus was a Galilean from Nazareth, a village near Sepphoris, one of the two major cities of Galilee". ("Jesus Christ." ''Encyclopædia Britannica,'' Chicago, 2009.)</ref> The word is used to translate two related terms that appear in the Greek [[New Testament]]: ''Nazarēne'' and ''Nazōraios''. The phrases traditionally rendered as "Jesus of Nazareth" can also be translated as "Jesus the Nazarene."<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|18:37|ESV}}</ref> So the title "Nazarene" may have a religious significance, in addition to denoting a place of origin.

The [[Gospel of Matthew]] explains that the title Nazarene is derived from the prophecy, “he would be called a Nazarene.”<ref name="Matthew223">{{bibleverse||Matthew|2:23|ESV}}.</ref> 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]],<ref name="Isaiah111">{{bibleverse||Isaiah|11:1}}</ref> with "Nazarene" a Greek reading of the Hebrew ''ne·tser'' (branch), understood as a [[messiah|messianic]] title.<ref name="Miller">Miller, Fred P., [http://www.ao.net/~fmoeller/nazer2.htm Isaiah's Use of the word "Branch" or Nazarene]"</ref>

The [[Gospel of Matthew]] explains that the title Nazarene is derived from the prophecy, “he would be called a Nazarene.”<ref name="Matthew223">{{bibleverse||Matthew|2:23|ESV}}.</ref> Unlike other prophecies that Matthew quotes, this one has no literal [[Old Testament]] source. It may refer to a passage in the [[Book of Isaiah]],<ref name="Isaiah111">{{bibleverse||Isaiah|11:1}}</ref> with "Nazarene" a Greek reading of the Hebrew ''ne·tser'' (branch), understood as a [[messiah|messianic]] title.<ref name="Miller">Miller, Fred P., [http://www.ao.net/~fmoeller/nazer2.htm Isaiah's Use of the word "Branch" or Nazarene]"</ref>

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]].<ref name="Acts245">{{bibleverse||Acts|24:5|ESV}}</ref> "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).

The Greek [[New Testament]] uses variation of the word "Nazarene" 19 times. In the [[Book of Acts]], "Nazorean" is used to refer to a follower of Jesus, i.e. a [[Christian]].<ref name="Acts245">{{bibleverse||Acts|24:5|ESV}}</ref> The modern words for "Christian" in Hebrew (''No·tsri'', נוֹצְרִי) and in Arabic (''Naṣrānī'', نصراني) are derived from "Nazarene."

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

Nazarene is anglicized from Greek ''Nazarēne'' (Ναζαρηνέ), a word applied to Jesus in the New Testament.<ref>See {{bibleverse||Mark|1:24|ESV}} and {{bibleverse||Luke|4:34|ESV}}</ref> It is a reference not only to the city of Nazareth, but also to a Hebrew word for "branch" used in Isaiah.<ref>''Ne·tser'' (נֵ֫צֶר, n-ts-r), pronounced ''nay'·tser'', meaning "branch", "flower", or "offshoot" it is derived from ''na·tsar'' [http://strongsnumbers.com/hebrew/5342.htm Strong number 5342]. Brown, Michael L., ''Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus'', Volume 4, Baker Books, 2006.</ref><ref>Stephen Goranson, "Nazarenes," Anchor Bible Dictionary, 4: 1049-1050; James F. Strange, "Nazareth," Anchor Bible Dictionary, 4: 1050-1,051</ref>

Nazarene is anglicized from Greek ''Nazarēne'', a word applied to Jesus in the New Testament.<ref>See {{bibleverse||Mark|1:24|ESV}} and {{bibleverse||Luke|4:34|ESV}}</ref> It is a reference not only to the city of Nazareth, but also to a Hebrew word for "branch" used in Isaiah.<ref>''Ne·tser'' (נֵ֫צֶר, n-ts-r), pronounced ''nay'·tser'', meaning "branch", "flower", or "offshoot" it is derived from ''na·tsar'' [http://strongsnumbers.com/hebrew/5342.htm Strong number 5342]. Brown, Michael L., ''Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus'', Volume 4, Baker Books, 2006.</ref><ref>Stephen Goranson, "Nazarenes," Anchor Bible Dictionary, 4: 1049-1050; James F. Strange, "Nazareth," Anchor Bible Dictionary, 4: 1050-1,051</ref>

[[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).<ref>"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).</ref> The text from Isaiah is:

[[Jerome]] (''c.'' 347 – 420) linked "Nazarene" to a messianic prophecy by Isaiah. He claimed that it was the Hebrew reading of a word modern scholars read as ''ne·tzer'' (branch).<ref>"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).</ref> The text from Isaiah is:

{{cquote|There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.<ref name="Isaiah111"/>}}

{{cquote|There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.<ref name="Isaiah111"/>}}

 

In ancient Hebrew texts, vowels were not indicated, so a wider variety of readings was possible in Jerome's time. Here branch has the metaphoric meaning "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==

{{cquote|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.<ref name="Matthew223"/>}}

{{cquote|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.<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 by 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 one in Isaiah.<ref name="Isaiah111"/> Although only this 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 by the prophets" may suggest that these passages are being referred to collectively.<ref name="Miller"/> In contrast, the phrase "by the prophet," used a few verses above the Nazarene prophecy, refers to a specific Old Testament passage.<ref>See {{bibleverse||Matthew|2:15|ESV}}, which refers to {{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." So it is possible 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|ESV}}</ref>

==Variants==

==Variants==

*Nazōraiou (Ναζωραίου) {{bibleverse||Matthew|26:71|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|3:6|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|4:10|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|26:9|ESV}}

*Nazōraiou (Ναζωραίου) {{bibleverse||Matthew|26:71|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|3:6|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|4:10|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|26:9|ESV}}

*Nazōraiōn (Ναζωραίων) {{bibleverse||Acts|24:5|ESV}}

*Nazōraiōn (Ναζωραίων) {{bibleverse||Acts|24:5|ESV}}

*Nazōraion (Ναζωραῖον) {{bibleverse||John|18:5|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||John|18:7|NKJV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|2:22|ESV}}

*Nazōraion (Ναζωραῖον) {{bibleverse||John|18:5|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||John|18:7|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|2:22|ESV}}

===Nazareth (3478)===

===Nazareth (3478)===

*Nazareth (Ναζαρέθ) {{bibleverse||Matthew|21:11|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|1:26|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|2:4|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|2:39|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|2:51|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|10:38|ESV}}

*Nazareth (Ναζαρέθ) {{bibleverse||Matthew|21:11|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|1:26|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|2:4|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|2:39|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|2:51|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|10:38|ESV}}

*Nazara (Ναζαρα) {{bibleverse||Matthew|4:13|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|4:16|ESV}}

*Nazara (Ναζαρα) {{bibleverse||Matthew|4:13|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|4:16|ESV}}

*Nazaret (Ναζαρὲτ) {{bibleverse||Mark|1:9|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|2:23|NKJV}}, {{bibleverse||John|1:45|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||John|1:46|ESV}}

*Nazaret (Ναζαρὲτ) {{bibleverse||Mark|1:9|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||Matthew|2:23|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||John|1:45|ESV}}, {{bibleverse||John|1:46|ESV}}

==References==

==References==