mg01

What is the (Hebrew) scriptural reference for Matthew 2:23?

Is there one? What about non-canonical?

Juststeve

You might be able to argue for the prophesy if Matthew had said Nazerite which has nothing to do with the town of Nazareth. No where is it predicted that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene but the temptation to mislead was too much for old Matthew. It is not the only time Matthew twisted scripture to find Jesus in there somewhere.

Steve

show_no_mercy

Interestingly in the Greek word that Matthew (and a possibly interpolated part of Mark 1:9) uses doesn't have the Θ/θ at the end of it (which would be our sound "Nazareth") but it has a Τ/τ which would be closer to "Nazaret".

The gospel of Phillip says that "Nazarene" comes from the word "truth" - Nazara. So Jesus the Nazarene is Jesus the Truth. But there doesn't seem to be any evidence of Phillip's etymology anywhere outside of that gospel.

There's also the possiblity that Matthew was confused and refering to the Jewish gnostic sect "Notzri", which is why Jews call (and still call) Christians "Notzri".

spin

It's a cross-over from the birth of Samson, another announced birth. See Jdg 13:5, "...he will be a Nazarite..." "Nazarite" in the Alexandrian codex is nazeiraios, which is very similar to the form found in Mt 2:23, nazwraios.


spin

in transit

sschlichter

The prophecy in question has nothing to do with a nazarite vow. Matthew is referring to the fact that people from Nazareth are from the wrong side of the tracks and are despised. the prophesy Matthew is referencing (IMO) is from Isa 53

He was despised and rejected by people,
one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness;
people hid their faces from him;
he was despised, and we considered him insignificant.

Other NT references confirm this 1st century attitude toward those from Nazareth.

John 1:46

Nathanael replied, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip replied, "Come and see."

The beleif of the religious leaders that no prophet would come from this area (Galilee in general) ignores OT prophecies that say exactly that.

they say...

John 7:52 They replied, "You aren't from Galilee too, are you? Investigate carefully and you will see that no prophet comes from Galilee!"

while Isaiah says.. (in the context of the arrival of an ideal King)

(Isa 9:1) (8:23) ... and Galilee of the nations.
(Isa 9:2) (9:1) The people walking in darkness
see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.

they also ignored prophets sent to Gentiles were from that same region (Jonah, for example).

Point being that Matthews reference to Nazareth should not be confused with the vow of a Nazarite. No one among original Jewish readers would have missed his point.

~Steve