Did Matthew Err in Attributing “He shall be called a Nazarene” to Old Testament Prophecy?
“This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’ ” (Matt. 2:23, NASB)
Matthew 2 tells about magi from the East coming to the land of Israel to worship the infant Christ, Herod’s plan to kill the Child by ordering the execution of all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem, and an angel leading Joseph, Mary and the Child to safe haven in Egypt, and then leading them back after the death of Herod, but to avoid any trouble with Herod’s son and successor Archelaus, directing them to settle down in Nazareth. Matthew then declares, “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’ ” (v. 19b). Many have difficulty understanding how Matthew connecting Nazareth the Old Testament prophets, particularly because no particular prophet ever says, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
There is no mistake on Matthew’s part. He is not citing a specific Old Testament prophecy. He actually uses of “prophets” in the plural, indicating reference to a messianic portrait drawn from various different Old Testament prophecies. He is not referring to one prophecy but a constellation of prophecies.
How is Nazareth or Nazarene connected to the Old Testament prophets? Some see a connection in the similar pronunciations of Nazarene and Nazirite (cf. Num. 6:2-21, and Judges 13:5-7) but it is difficult to see any connection between the life of Jesus and that of a Nazarite. It is more likely that a word play between Nazarene and the Hebrew word nezer (“branch”) is being used. For instance, Isaiah uses this word in the following messianic prophecy: “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch [nezer] from his roots will bear fruit” (Isa. 11:1). Jeremiah similarly prophesied, “ ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land” (Jer. 23:5), and although the word nezer is not used in this prophesy, the gist of the idea is there. As a stump of a felled tree may sprout a new branch, Jesus is the new branch from the royal line of David, a messianic ruler from humble origins. Nazareth could have also been used an epithet for disrespect by the people of that day held towards Nazareth; hence Nathanael’s quip, “Can any good thing come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). It would allude to the Messiah being despised and rejected by His people (cf. Psa. 22 and Isa. 53).1
Matthew 2 also draws other parallels between key events in Israel’s history to the infancy of the Christ Church. Jesus fulfills what Micah prophesied in types and shadows concerning a messianic redemption from Bethlehem (v. 6, cf. Mic. 5:2). Just as God called His chosen people out of the land of Egypt, God also calls His Chosen Son out of Egypt (v. 15, cf. Hos. 11:1 and Num. 24:8). Just as there was great weeping in the land when Israel and Judah entered into exile, so too there was weeping when Christ fled to Egypt and Herod slaughtered innocent children (v. 18, cf. Jer. 31:15). The Old Testament presents the promise of the Messiah and the New Testament demonstrates the fulfillment of all the messianic promises in Jesus Christ.
Matthew, whose mind is rich with Old Testament truth, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, finds genuine connections between Jesus of Nazareth and all that the prophets looked forward to in the Messiah. He was the restorer of the felled line of David. He was despised and rejected, and a suffering servant. All that the Old Testament anticipated in Messiah and the nation of Israel comes to fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
1. For additional discussion, cf. D.A. Carson, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol. 8, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), 96-97, Craig Blomberg, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, ed. G.K. Beale and D.A. Carson, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007), 11, Darrell Bock, Jesus According to Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 73, and R.T. France, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1985) 88-89.
Matthew 2 tells about magi from the East coming to the land of Israel to worship the infant Christ, Herod’s plan to kill the Child by ordering the execution of all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem, and an angel leading Joseph, Mary and the Child to safe haven in Egypt, and then leading them back after the death of Herod, but to avoid any trouble with Herod’s son and successor Archelaus, directing them to settle down in Nazareth. Matthew then declares, “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’ ” (v. 19b). Many have difficulty understanding how Matthew connecting Nazareth the Old Testament prophets, particularly because no particular prophet ever says, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
There is no mistake on Matthew’s part. He is not citing a specific Old Testament prophecy. He actually uses of “prophets” in the plural, indicating reference to a messianic portrait drawn from various different Old Testament prophecies. He is not referring to one prophecy but a constellation of prophecies.
How is Nazareth or Nazarene connected to the Old Testament prophets? Some see a connection in the similar pronunciations of Nazarene and Nazirite (cf. Num. 6:2-21, and Judges 13:5-7) but it is difficult to see any connection between the life of Jesus and that of a Nazarite. It is more likely that a word play between Nazarene and the Hebrew word nezer (“branch”) is being used. For instance, Isaiah uses this word in the following messianic prophecy: “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch [nezer] from his roots will bear fruit” (Isa. 11:1). Jeremiah similarly prophesied, “ ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land” (Jer. 23:5), and although the word nezer is not used in this prophesy, the gist of the idea is there. As a stump of a felled tree may sprout a new branch, Jesus is the new branch from the royal line of David, a messianic ruler from humble origins. Nazareth could have also been used an epithet for disrespect by the people of that day held towards Nazareth; hence Nathanael’s quip, “Can any good thing come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). It would allude to the Messiah being despised and rejected by His people (cf. Psa. 22 and Isa. 53).1
Matthew 2 also draws other parallels between key events in Israel’s history to the infancy of the Christ Church. Jesus fulfills what Micah prophesied in types and shadows concerning a messianic redemption from Bethlehem (v. 6, cf. Mic. 5:2). Just as God called His chosen people out of the land of Egypt, God also calls His Chosen Son out of Egypt (v. 15, cf. Hos. 11:1 and Num. 24:8). Just as there was great weeping in the land when Israel and Judah entered into exile, so too there was weeping when Christ fled to Egypt and Herod slaughtered innocent children (v. 18, cf. Jer. 31:15). The Old Testament presents the promise of the Messiah and the New Testament demonstrates the fulfillment of all the messianic promises in Jesus Christ.
Matthew, whose mind is rich with Old Testament truth, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, finds genuine connections between Jesus of Nazareth and all that the prophets looked forward to in the Messiah. He was the restorer of the felled line of David. He was despised and rejected, and a suffering servant. All that the Old Testament anticipated in Messiah and the nation of Israel comes to fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
For a child will be born to us, on will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Jesus was not a king who would receive a kingdom through earthly powers. He came in the most insignificant way. He was born in small town called Bethlehem, and grew up Nazareth, a place that earned such a bad rap one could say, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” His victorious battle was not in amassing an army to fight a holy war to subjugate the world under his rule; instead, He died as an innocent man charged of a crime He did not commit. He was despised and rejected by His own. Yet, His death redeemed many from sin, giving them new life and the hope of resurrection.
Merry Christmas!1. For additional discussion, cf. D.A. Carson, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol. 8, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), 96-97, Craig Blomberg, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, ed. G.K. Beale and D.A. Carson, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007), 11, Darrell Bock, Jesus According to Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 73, and R.T. France, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1985) 88-89.
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