Atomic Bible

The hometown of Jesus in Galilee

Nazareth

Named in 30 verses across 5 books, first in Matthew 2:23.

Ναζαρέθ, ΝαζαράNazareth

ΝαζαρηνόςNazareth

ΝαζωραῖοςNazareth

The name means “separated; crowned; sanctified.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Nazareth Written by AI

Nazareth was a village in the region of Galilee, located about 15 miles west of the Sea of Galilee. It is best known as the hometown of Jesus Christ (Matt. 2:23; Luke 1:26; 2:39, 51; 4:16). Jesus was often referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth" or "the Nazarene" (Mrk.1.24; 10:47; Luke 18:37; 24:19; Jhn.18.5, 7; 19:19; Act.2.22; 10:38). Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament or in other ancient literature, suggesting it was a small, relatively insignificant village. The Gospels record that Jesus grew up in Nazareth, preached in its synagogue (Luke 4:16-30), and was initially rejected by its inhabitants (Matt. 13:54-58; Mrk.6.1-6; Luke 4:28-30). In the first century, Nazareth had a negative reputation, as evidenced by Nathanael's question, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (Jhn.1.46). However, Jesus' upbringing in Nazareth fulfilled the prophecy that He would be called a Nazarene (Matt. 2:23), a term possibly derived from the Hebrew word "netzer," meaning "branch" or "shoot," and alluding to the Messiah (Isa. 11:1).

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

Separated, generally supposed to be the Greek form of the Hebrew netser, a “shoot” or “sprout.” Some, however, think that the name of the city must be connected with the name of the hill behind it, from which one of the finest prospects in Palestine is obtained, and accordingly they derive it from the Hebrew notserah, i.e., one guarding or watching, thus designating the hill which overlooks and thus guards an extensive region.

This city is not mentioned in the Old Testament. It was the home of Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:39), and here the angel announced to the Virgin the birth of the Messiah (1:26-28). Here Jesus grew up from his infancy to manhood (4:16); and here he began his public ministry in the synagogue (Matt. 13:54), at which the people were so offended that they sought to cast him down from the precipice whereon their city was built (Luke 4:29). Twice they expelled him from their borders (4:16-29; Matt. 13:54-58); and he finally retired from the city, where he did not many mighty works because of their unbelief (Matt. 13:58), and took up his residence in Capernaum.

Read the rest of the entry

Nazareth is situated among the southern ridges of Lebanon, on the steep slope of a hill, about 14 miles from the Sea of Galilee and about 6 west from Mount Tabor. It is identified with the modern village en-Nazirah, of six or ten thousand inhabitants. It lies “as in a hollow cup” lower down upon the hill than the ancient city. The main road for traffic between Egypt and the interior of Asia passed by Nazareth near the foot of Tabor, and thence northward to Damascus.

It is supposed from the words of Nathanael in John 1:46 that the city of Nazareth was held in great disrepute, either because, it is said, the people of Galilee were a rude and less cultivated class, and were largely influenced by the Gentiles who mingled with them, or because of their lower type of moral and religious character. But there seems to be no sufficient reason for these suppositions. The Jews believed that, according to Micah 5:2, the birth of the Messiah would take place at Bethlehem, and nowhere else. Nathanael held the same opinion as his countrymen, and believed that the great “good” which they were all expecting could not come from Nazareth. This is probably what Nathanael meant. Moreover, there does not seem to be any evidence that the inhabitants of Galilee were in any respect inferior, or that a Galilean was held in contempt, in the time of our Lord. (See Dr. Merrill’s Galilee in the Time of Christ.)

The population of this city (now about 10,000) in the time of Christ probably amounted to 15,000 or 20,000 souls.

“The so-called ‘Holy House’ is a cave under the Latin church, which appears to have been originally a tank. The ‘brow of the hill’, site of the attempted precipitation, is probably the northern cliff: the traditional site has been shown since the middle ages at some distance to the south. None of the traditional sites are traceable very early, and they have no authority. The name Nazareth perhaps means ‘a watch tower’ (now en-Nasrah), but is connected in the New Testament with Netzer, ’a branch’ (Isa. 4:2; Jer. 23:5; Zech. 3:8; 6:12; Matt. 2:23), Nazarene being quite a different word from Nazarite.”

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

32.707, 35.302 See it on a map

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names it

  1. 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.”

  2. Matthew 4:13

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

  3. Matthew 21:11

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

  4. 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.”

  5. Mark 1:9

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

  6. 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!”

  7. Mark 10:47

    When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

  8. Mark 14:67

    and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”

  9. Mark 16:6

    But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

  10. Luke 1:26

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

  11. Luke 2:4

    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.

  12. 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.

  13. Luke 2:51

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

  14. Luke 4:16

    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,

  15. Luke 4:34

    “Ha! 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!”

  16. Luke 18:37

    “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

  17. Luke 24:19

    “What things?” He asked. “The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people.

  18. 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.”

  19. John 1:46

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

  20. John 18:5

    “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.

  21. John 18:7

    So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.

  22. John 19:19

    Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

  23. Acts 2:22

    Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.

  24. Acts 3:6

    But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

  25. Acts 4:10

    then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

  26. Acts 6:14

    For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

  27. Acts 10:38

    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.

  28. Acts 22:8

    ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

  29. Acts 24:5

    We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

  30. Acts 26:9

    So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.