Greek word · G3478

Ναζαρέθ, Ναζαρά

nazareth, nazara

Nazareth

A place name, perhaps connected with Hebrew netser ('branch, shoot'), though that link is not certain. Spellings vary: Nazareth, Nazaret, Nazara.

Appears 12 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ναζαρά

(Matthew 4:13­ L, -άθ­Luke 4:16)

Ναζαρέθ (Matthew 21:11, Acts 10:38),

Ναζαρέτ (so always Rec.; WH, in foll, instances, where -έθ, T), ἡ,

indecl. (Semitic form uncertain),

Nazareth: Matthew 2:23, Mark 1:9, Luke 1:26 2:4, 39 2:51, John 1:45-46.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 1:26

Range of meaning

A place name, perhaps connected with Hebrew netser ('branch, shoot'), though that link is not certain. Spellings vary: Nazareth, Nazaret, Nazara.

Against the English

Christian readers know the name so well that it now sounds significant. To Luke's first readers it meant nothing, which is why he explains where it is ('a town of Galilee').

Used elsewhere in the period

Nazareth is absent from the Hebrew Bible, Josephus and the Mishnah. The earliest mention outside the New Testament is a Hebrew inscription from Caesarea listing priestly divisions, usually dated to the 3rd–4th century AD, which places one division at Nazareth after AD 70. Excavations, including a 1st-century house found in 2009 and Ken Dark's work at the Sisters of Nazareth site, confirm a small Jewish village in the early Roman period. That answers the occasional claim that the village did not exist. Nathanael's remark 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' (John 1:46) shows its low standing.

From the study of John 1:46

Range of meaning

The name of a small agricultural village in the hills of lower Galilee, about 6 km (4 miles) from the larger town of Sepphoris. Archaeology suggests a population of perhaps a few hundred, living from farming, with houses partly cut into the rock.

Against the English

English readers often hear "Nazareth" as a famous, holy place because of its later Christian importance. In Nathanael's day it was a name almost nobody outside the area would have known.

How it drifted

Its fame comes entirely from Jesus. Christian pilgrimage from the 4th century on made it a landmark, which hides how obscure it was.

Used elsewhere in the period

Nazareth never appears in the Hebrew Bible. Josephus lists dozens of Galilean towns and does not mention it. Early rabbinic literature does not mention it either. The earliest non-Christian reference is a Hebrew inscription from Caesarea, found in 1962 and usually dated to the 3rd–4th century AD, which lists the places where priestly families settled after AD 70. In the New Testament, Matthew 2:23 links Jesus' being called a "Nazarene" to the prophets, probably through a wordplay on netser, "branch" (Isaiah 11:1). That link is debated.

From the study of John 1:45

Range of meaning

A village in lower Galilee, in the hills just south-west of the Sea of Galilee region, a few miles from the city of Sepphoris.

Against the English

To modern readers 'Nazareth' is a famous, sacred name. To Nathanael it was a nobody-place with no scriptural history.

How it drifted

Centuries of Christian devotion made the name revered. That hides how unimpressive it sounded in the first century.

Used elsewhere in the period

Nazareth is not named in the Hebrew Bible, in Josephus (who lists many Galilean towns), or in the Mishnah or Talmud. The earliest non-Christian mention is a Hebrew inscription from Caesarea Maritima (about 3rd–4th century AD) listing priestly families who settled in Galilee. Excavations show a small farming village, usually estimated at a few hundred people.

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 2:23 Ναζαρέτ, Nazareth,

    and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

    Here: A Galilean village never mentioned in the Old Testament, Josephus or early rabbinic writings. The Hebrew name was probably spelled with the letter tsade (נצרת, Natsrat).

  2. Matthew 4:13 Ναζαρά, Nazareth,

    Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,

    Here: The short form of Nazareth's name. In the New Testament it appears only here and in Luke 4:16. This is the village where Jesus grew up (Matt 2:23).

  3. Matthew 21:11 Ναζαρὲθ Nazareth

    The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

    Here: A small, obscure hill village in Lower Galilee. In Jerusalem, naming it would have sounded humble, even provincial.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 1:9 Ναζαρὲτ Nazareth

    In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Luke · 5

  1. Luke 1:26 Ναζαρὲθ Nazareth

    In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

    Here: A small hill village in lower Galilee. It is never mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures, Josephus or early rabbinic writings. Luke names it carefully because a first-century reader would not have known it.

  2. Luke 2:4 Ναζαρὲθ of Nazareth

    So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.

    Here: Joseph and Mary's home. Luke places them there before the birth (1:26).

  3. Luke 2:39 Ναζαρέθ.¶ Nazareth.

    When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

    Here: A small hill village in lower Galilee, never mentioned in the Old Testament. It is where Jesus grows up, and later he is called 'the Nazarene' after it.

  4. Luke 2:51 Ναζαρὲθ Nazareth

    Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

    Here: A small, obscure Galilean village and the family's home (2:39). The contrast with Jerusalem and its Temple is part of the point.

  5. Luke 4:16 Ναζαρὰ Nazareth

    Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,

    Here: A rare spelling of Nazareth, found elsewhere only at Matthew 4:13, also just after the temptation story. That may point to a source the two Gospels shared. Nazareth was a small farming village in the hills of lower Galilee.

John · 2

  1. John 1:45 Ναζαρέτ. Nazareth.

    Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

    Here: A small, obscure Galilean village never named in the Hebrew Scriptures. Ending the sentence on it sets up Nathanael's scornful reply in 1:46.

  2. John 1:46 Ναζαρὲτ Nazareth

    “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

    Here: A small hill village in lower Galilee. Philip had just named it as Jesus' home ("Jesus... the one from Nazareth", v. 45), and Nathanael picks up on that one detail.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 10:38 Ναζαρέθ, Nazareth,

    how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

    Here: A small, obscure Galilean village. Peter has just called this man 'Lord of all' (v.36), so the humble place name makes a deliberate contrast.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.