The Meaning of Matthew 2:23 Explained

Matthew 2:23

KJV: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

YLT: and coming, he dwelt in a city named Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through the prophets, that 'A Nazarene he shall be called.'

Darby: and came and dwelt in a town called Nazareth; so that that should be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, He shall be called a Nazaraean.

ASV: and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he came  and dwelt  in  a city  called  Nazareth:  that  it might be fulfilled  which  was spoken  by  the prophets,  He shall be called  a Nazarene. 

What does Matthew 2:23 Mean?

Study Notes

He shall be called
Probably referring to Isaiah 11:1 where Christ is spoken of as "a netzer (or, 'rod') out of the stem of Jesse."

Context Summary

Matthew 2:16-23 - "out Of Egypt Did I Call My Son"
The death of those little children was very pathetic. From the first it seemed as though our Lord's advent would bring not peace, but the sword. Their mothers have long since been comforted, but it was a bitter experience. The little ones were the nucleus of the great attendant crowd "that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth," Revelation 14:1-4.
They are dead that sought the young child's life. Such is the epitaph that may be written for those who have set themselves to oppose the cause of Christ. Voltaire's house in Geneva is now used as a Bible Society depot. Many of the books that made Christians tremble for the Ark, are to be found on the top shelves of second-hand libraries. There is no permanence in destructive criticism. The young child comes up out of Egypt. There is a sense in which the life of Jesus is the epitome of the story of Israel and the experience of each Christian. See that you do not linger in Egypt, but come up in the pathway of separation and consecration to His high purposes. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 2

1  The wise men from the east enquire after Jesus;
3  at which Herod is alarmed
9  They are directed by a star to Bethlehem, worship him, and offer their presents
13  Joseph flees into Egypt with Jesus and his mother
16  Herod slays the children;
20  himself dies
23  Jesus is brought back again into Galilee to Nazareth

Greek Commentary for Matthew 2:23

Should be called a Nazarene [Ναζωραιος κλητησεται]
Matthew says “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets” It is the plural and no single prophecy exists which says that the Messiah was to be called a Nazarene. It may be that this term of contempt (John 1:46; John 7:52) is what is meant, and that several prophecies are to be combined like Psalm 22:6, Psalm 22:8; Psalm 69:11, Psalm 69:19; Isaiah 53:2, Isaiah 53:3, Isaiah 53:4. The name Nazareth means a shoot or branch, but it is by no means certain that Matthew has this in mind. It is best to confess that we do not know. See Broadus on Matthew for the various theories. But, despised as Nazareth was at that time, Jesus has exalted its fame. The lowly Nazarene he was at first, but it is our glory to be the followers of the Nazarene. Bruce says that “in this case, therefore, we certainly know that the historic fact suggested the prophetic reference, instead of the prophecy creating the history.” The parallels drawn by Matthew between the history of Israel and the birth and infancy of Jesus are not mere fancy. History repeats itself and writers of history find frequent parallels. Surely Matthew is not beyond the bounds of reason or of fact in illustrating in his own way the birth and infancy of Jesus by the Providence of God in the history of Israel. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 2:23

Matthew 1:22 “All this has happened” [τουτο δε ολον γεγονεν]
The Hebrew word for young woman is translated by virgin See note on Matthew 2:15, Matthew 2:23; Matthew 4:14-17; Matthew 8:17; Matthew 12:17-21; Matthew 13:35; Matthew 21:4.; John 12:38.; John 13:18; John 19:24, John 19:28, John 19:36. [source]
Luke 2:39 Nazareth []
See on Matthew 2:23. [source]
Luke 2:39 To their own city Nazareth [εις πολιν εαυτων Ναζαρετ]
See note on Matthew 2:23 about Nazareth. Luke tells nothing of the flight to Egypt and the reason for the return to Nazareth instead of Bethlehem, the place of the birth of Jesus as told in Matthew 2:13-23. But then neither Gospel gives all the details of this period. Luke has also nothing about the visit of the wise men (Matthew 2:1-12) as Matthew tells nothing of the shepherds and of Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:8-28). The two Gospels supplement each other. [source]
John 4:5 City []
Not implying a place of great size or importance. Compare John 11:54; Matthew 2:23. [source]
Acts 24:5 Nazarenes []
The only passage in scripture where this term is used to denote the Christians. See on Matthew 2:23. [source]
Acts 22:8 Of Nazareth [ο Ναζωραιος]
The Nazarene, not in Acts 9:5; Acts 26:15 and here because Jesus is mentioned now for the first time in the address. The form Ναζωραιος — Nazōraios as in Matthew 2:23 (which see) is used also in Acts 24:5 for the followers of Jesus instead of Ναζαρηνος — Nazarēnos as in Mark 1:24, etc. (which see). [source]
Acts 24:5 A pestilent fellow [λοιμον]
An old word for pest, plague, pestilence, Paul the pest. In N.T. only here and Luke 21:11 This was an offence against Roman law if it could be proven. “Plotted against at Damascus, plotted against at Jerusalem, expelled from Pisidian Antioch, stoned at Lystra, scourged and imprisoned at Philippi, accused of treason at Thessalonica, haled before the proconsul at Corinth, cause of a serious riot at Ephesus, and now finally of a riot at Jerusalem” (Furneaux). Specious proof could have been produced, but was not. Tertullus went on to other charges with which a Roman court had no concern (instance Gallio in Corinth). Throughout the world The Roman inhabited earth Πρωτοστατης — Prōtostatēs is an old word in common use from πρωτος — prōtos and ιστημι — histēmi a front-rank man, a chief, a champion. Here only in the N.T. This charge is certainly true. About “sect” (αιρεσις — hairesis) see note on Acts 5:17. Ναζωραιοι — Nazōraioi here only in the plural in the N.T., elsewhere of Jesus (Matthew 2:23; Matthew 26:71; Luke 18:37; John 18:5, John 18:7; John 19:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:10; Acts 6:14; Acts 22:8; Acts 26:9). The disciple is not above his Master. There was a sneer in the term as applied to Jesus and here to his followers. [source]
Acts 24:5 Throughout the world [κατα την οικουμενην]
The Roman inhabited earth Πρωτοστατης — Prōtostatēs is an old word in common use from πρωτος — prōtos and ιστημι — histēmi a front-rank man, a chief, a champion. Here only in the N.T. This charge is certainly true. About “sect” (αιρεσις — hairesis) see note on Acts 5:17. Ναζωραιοι — Nazōraioi here only in the plural in the N.T., elsewhere of Jesus (Matthew 2:23; Matthew 26:71; Luke 18:37; John 18:5, John 18:7; John 19:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:10; Acts 6:14; Acts 22:8; Acts 26:9). The disciple is not above his Master. There was a sneer in the term as applied to Jesus and here to his followers. [source]
Romans 15:12 Root []
See on Nazarene, Matthew 2:23. Root is a sprout from the root. [source]
1 John 3:1 We should be called [κληθῶμεν]
Or, named. As Matthew 2:23; Matthew 21:13; Luke 1:13, Luke 1:31, etc. The verb is never used by John of the divine call. In John 10:3, for καλεῖ callethread φωνεῖ . [source]
1 John 3:1 Hath bestowed [δεδωκεν]
Perfect active indicative of διδωμι — didōmi state of completion, “the endowment of the receiver” (Vincent).That we should be called (ινα κλητωμεν — hina klēthōmen). Sub-final use of ινα — hina with the first aorist passive subjunctive of καλεω — kaleō to call or name, as in Matthew 2:23.Children As in John 1:12 and with an allusion to γεγεννηται — gegennētai in 1 John 2:29 in an effort “to restore the waning enthusiasm of his readers, and to recall them to their first love” (Brooke).And such we are (και εσμεν — kai esmen). “And we are.” A parenthetical reflection characteristic of John (και νυν εστιν — kai nun estin in John 5:25 and και ουκ εισιν — kai ouk eisin in Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9) omitted by Textus Receptus, though, in the old MSS.Because it knew him not Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō precisely the argument in John 15:18. [source]
1 John 3:1 That we should be called [ινα κλητωμεν]
Sub-final use of ινα — hina with the first aorist passive subjunctive of καλεω — kaleō to call or name, as in Matthew 2:23. [source]
Revelation 5:5 The Root of David []
See on Nazarene, Matthew 2:23. [source]
Revelation 22:16 The root []
Compare Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 11:10. See on Nazarene, Matthew 2:23. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 2:23 mean?

and having come he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth so that it should be fulfilled that having been spoken through the prophets that A Nazarene He will be called
καὶ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν ὅτι Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται

ἐλθὼν  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
κατῴκησεν  he  dwelt 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κατοικέω 
Sense: to dwell, settle.
πόλιν  a  city 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πόλις  
Sense: a city.
λεγομένην  being  called 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Ναζαρέτ  Nazareth 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Ναζαρά 
Sense: the ordinary residence and home town of Christ.
ὅπως  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅπως  
Sense: how, that.
πληρωθῇ  it  should  be  fulfilled 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πληρόω  
Sense: to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full.
τὸ  that 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ῥηθὲν  having  been  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to utter, speak, say.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
προφητῶν  prophets 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: προφήτης  
Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Ναζωραῖος  A  Nazarene 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ναζωραῖος  
Sense: an inhabitant of Nazareth.
κληθήσεται  He  will  be  called 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καλέω  
Sense: to call.