Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 2:23

"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." — Matthew 2:23 (ASV)

The town Joseph chose was Nazareth, his former home and that of Mary (cf. 13:53–58; 2:39). This final quotation formula, like that of v.15, should probably be understood as taking place “in order to fulfill the prophets.” Matthew’s wording here suggests he had no specific OT quotation in mind; indeed, these words are found nowhere in the OT. The interpretation of this verse has had numerous suggestions. The best one sees Matthew using “Nazarene” as an adjectival form meaning “from Nazareth,” even though the Greek spelling is unusual. Nazareth was a despised place (Jn 7:42, 52), even to other Galileans (cf. Jn 1:46). Jesus grew up not in Bethlehem, with its Davidic overtones, but in Nazareth, with all the opprobrium of the sneer. When Christians were referred to in Acts as the “Nazarene sect” (24:5), the expression was meant to hurt. Matthew is therefore not saying that a particular OT prophet foretold that the Messiah would live in Nazareth; he is saying that the OT prophets foretold that the Messiah would be despised (cf. Pss 22:6–8, 13; 69:8, 20–21; Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 49:7; 53:2–3, 8; Daniel 9:26). The theme is repeatedly picked up by Matthew (e.g., Matthew 8:20; 11:16–19; 15:7–8). In other words Matthew gives us the substance of several OT passages, not a direct quotation.