Bible Strands
Matthew 2:23
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Matthew records Jesus’s relocation to Galilee after avoiding Archelaus’s rule in Judea. The narrative places him in Nazareth as a concrete historical movement following a divinely directed journey.
The words — κατῴκησεν (katōkēsen) denotes “he dwelt” or established permanent residence, while ὅπως (hopōs) functions as a purpose marker meaning “so that.”
The thread — The fulfillment claim connects to prophetic witness patterns in Judges 13:5, John 1:45, and Mark 1:24, where the Nazarene title and prophetic declaration intersect.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that Jesus’s geographic settlement fulfills spoken prophecy, anchoring his identity in documented movement rather than symbolic interpretation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Judges 13:5 For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
- John 1:45 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.”
- Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
- Matthew 1:22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
- Matthew 26:71 When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
- Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
- Luke 2:39 When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
- John 18:5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.
- John 18:7 So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.
- John 19:19 Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.