Please explain Matthew 2:23.

Matthew 2:23 states, “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.”

The Old Testament does not record a direct prophecy stating that Christ would be a Nazarene. Notice the word “spoken” in the verse. This was apparently a prophecy that was passed from generation to generation through word of mouth.

However, Isaiah 11:1 contains an interesting phrase that should be examined: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” The word “branch,” in the original Hebrew is nezer, and is similar to the term “Nazarene.” This similarity, perhaps, caused the Jews at that time to understand that this verse referred to someone from Nazareth.