What Does Matthew 2:23 Mean?
Matthew 2:23 describes Joseph’s decision to settle in Nazareth after returning from Egypt, following a divine warning in a dream. This fulfilled the prophets’ declaration that Jesus would be called a Nazarene, highlighting how God guided Jesus’ early life in surprising ways, even through fear and uncertainty. Though Nazareth was seen as insignificant, God used it to shape the humble beginnings of the Messiah.
Matthew 2:23
And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Matthew
Genre
Gospel
Date
circa 80-90 AD
Key People
Key Takeaways
- God fulfills promises through humble, unexpected places.
- Jesus' identity as a Nazarene fulfills prophetic themes of rejection.
- Ordinary decisions can carry divine purpose and significance.
Context of Matthew 2:23
After escaping to Egypt and returning upon Herod’s death, Joseph and his family were directed by God in a dream to avoid Judea and settle in Galilee.
Joseph chose to live in Nazareth, a small and often overlooked town, fulfilling the prophets’ message that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene. This was not a single prophecy but a theme throughout the Old Testament: God’s chosen one would come from humble, unimpressive roots, like Nazareth, a place with no special reputation in Israel.
Why the Prophets Called Him a Nazarene
This verse is unique because Matthew says Jesus’ title 'Nazarene' fulfills what 'the prophets' spoke, even though no single Old Testament passage uses that exact word.
The term 'Nazarene' likely connects to the Hebrew word 'netzer,' meaning 'branch' or 'shoot,' as seen in Isaiah 11:1. The verse says, 'A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch (netzer) will bear fruit.' This image shows the Messiah rising from a broken, humble line, similar to how Nazareth was viewed as insignificant and unimportant in Israel.
Over time, 'Nazarene' became a scornful label (like in John 1:46: 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?'), yet God used this very name to fulfill the prophets’ message that the Savior would be despised and overlooked, not a royal celebrity.
Jesus being called a Nazarene wasn’t about one exact quote, but about a consistent theme: God’s chosen one would come from the margins, not the spotlight.
This sets the stage for how Jesus’ identity, marked by humility and rejection, would shape His mission and message.
God's Guidance in Everyday Decisions
Matthew highlights how God quietly guided Joseph’s choices - like settling in Nazareth - to fulfill His promises, even when the path wasn’t obvious.
This fits Matthew’s theme of showing how Jesus fulfills Old Testament hopes, not through power or fame, but through humble, guided steps. Though Nazareth had no reputation, God used it to shape the Messiah’s life, teaching us that He works through ordinary decisions to accomplish His plan.
The takeaway - God guides Jesus' steps to fulfill Scripture - is easily grasped, reminding us that faithfulness in small things matters to God.
The Nazarene: A Stigma That Fulfills Scripture
This label 'Nazarene,' tied to a place of low standing, connects directly to a larger biblical theme of God’s chosen one being rejected and overlooked, yet raised up by God.
The scorn attached to Nazareth echoes in John 1:46, where Nathanael asks, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' - a dismissive remark that unknowingly highlights how God fulfills Isaiah 53’s portrait of the Suffering Servant, who 'had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.'
Jesus being called a Nazarene wasn't just about a town - it was the fulfillment of a prophetic pattern of a suffering, humble Messiah.
Isaiah foretold a Messiah who would be despised and rejected; Jesus’ identity as a Nazarene presents Him not as a royal celebrity but as the humble, unexpected deliverer God always intended.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I used to think God only worked through big moments - grand decisions, dramatic calls, or powerful leaders. But reflecting on Jesus being called a Nazarene, from a nobody town, changed how I see my own life. I work a job that doesn’t feel important, live in a neighborhood no one writes about, and often wonder if my quiet faithfulness matters. Yet this verse reminds me that God didn’t avoid the overlooked - He chose it. Jesus’ identity was shaped not in Jerusalem, but in Nazareth. That gives me deep hope: my ordinary life isn’t a detour from God’s plan - it might be exactly where He’s working, shaping something holy in the hidden years.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my life do I dismiss places, people, or moments as 'too small' for God to use?
- How might my own 'Nazareth' - a difficult past, a humble job, a quiet role - actually be part of God’s purpose for me?
- When have I judged someone as 'unimpressive' without realizing God might be at work in them?
A Challenge For You
This week, look for one 'Nazareth moment' - a small, overlooked part of your day - and treat it as sacred. Do one act of kindness or faithfulness there, trusting God values what the world ignores.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank you for choosing the small, the humble, the overlooked. Forgive me for chasing importance or doubting that my quiet life matters. Help me see my home, my work, my relationships as places you are shaping something holy. Let me live with purpose, not because I’m famous but because I’m yours, like Jesus the Nazarene.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Matthew 2:22
Joseph is warned in a dream not to settle in Judea, setting up his move to Nazareth.
Matthew 2:21
Joseph returns from Egypt, showing the sequence of divine guidance leading to Nazareth.
Connections Across Scripture
Isaiah 11:1
The 'branch' (netzer) imagery connects Nazareth to the Messiah’s humble royal roots.
Zechariah 6:12
The prophet speaks of the 'Branch' who will build the temple, foreshadowing Jesus’ role.
Acts 24:5
Paul is accused of being a leader of the Nazarene sect, showing the term’s lasting identity.