Meaning of Nazareth?

[davidmartin]

Nazarene means keeper of the mystery in Aramaic, entirely inline with the demoniac's statement of 'knowing who he is' and in-line with Jesus other statements

[MrMacSon]

... there are compelling reasons to conclude that Mark 1:1 is a later addition as well. It is the only use of "Jesus Christ" in the entire text. It gives away the identity of the main character, which the writer works to make a mystery throughout the rest of the narrative.

• I agree. It's [essentially] a prologue.

Not to mention that neither Matthew nor Luke say that Jesus came "from Nazareth" in the[ir] corresponding passage[s]. So if 1:9 is a later addition, then of course "the Nazarene" would have no context related to a place name, and would really only possibly make sense as meaning "Jesus the one deemed holy from birth".

• Good points.

[MrMacSon]

FWIW, The Gospel of Philip has:

."The Nazarenos - Ⲡ.ⲚⲀⲌⲀⲢⲎⲚⲞⲤ - who-is-revealed-forth is the secret" : https://metalogos.org/files/ph_interlin/ph020b.html

and

The apostles [Ⲛ.ⲀⲠⲞⲤⲦⲞⲖⲞⲤ] who were before us were calling him: 'IHC, the.ⲚⲀⲌⲰⲢⲀⲒⲞⲤ, Messiah', that is, 'IHC, the.ⲚⲀⲌⲰⲢⲀⲒⲞⲤ the.XC'. The last name is 'XC', the first is 'IC', that in the middle is 'the.ⲚⲀⲌⲀⲢⲎⲚⲞⲤ'.

'Messiah' has double meanings: both 'the.XPC' and 'him-who-is-measured'. 'IC' in abstract.Hebrew is 'the.ⲤⲰⲦⲈ (atonement/redemption)'.

'ⲚⲀⲌⲀⲢⲀ' is 'the Truth'. 'Ⲡ.ⲚⲀⲌⲀⲢⲎⲚⲞⲤ' (The Nazarenos), then, is 'the Truth'.

'XC' Christ' [...] has been measured.
'The Nazarene' with 'IC' are who were measured.

https://metalogos.org/files/ph_interlin/ph051.html

via links in https://metalogos.org/files/philip.html

[MrMacSon]

FWIW,
(I don't agree with much if anything from the rest of this webpage, but this could be of interest)

Etymology and meaning of the name Nazarene

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Some scholars believe that Nazarene is really a variant form of Nazirite (from נזר, nazar, meaning to consecrate), but others derive it with equal confidence from נצר (nasar), meaning either to be watchful [or to guard or to keep] or to be green ...

Here at Abarim Publications we propose that the name Nazarene didn't come from נזר (nazar), or נצר (nasar), but rather from a Niphal participle of either the verb זרה (zara), meaning to scatter or winnow, or זרע (zara'), meaning to scatter or sow:

.זרע

• The verb זרע (zara') means to scatter seed or to sow, but may even describe merely extending one's arm or even a leg and ultimately signify the bearing of fruit or even children (hence referred to as one's seed).

• Nouns זרע (zera') and זרוע (zerua') mean a sowing or that which is sown, and may refer to: seed, sperm, one child, offspring, posterity, family or a whole community. Nouns זרע (zeroa') and זרען (zer'on) specifically denote vegetables. And noun מזרע (mizra') literally means a place or agent of sowing.

• Nouns זרוע (zeroa') or זרע (zeroa') or אזרוע ('ezroa') mean arm, but are mostly used to figuratively to denote the seat of strength of a person or a nation or even of God.

... Numbers 5:28...reads, "If the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will then be free and have children (נזרעה זרע; nazar'a zera')". And in Ezekiel 36:9 the Lord submits: "I am for you and I will turn to you, and you will be cultivated and sown (נזרעתם; nazara'tem)".

---

https://www.abarim-publications.com/Mea ... arene.html

In the Christian context, 'Nazarene' could be ambiguous:
ie., it could have been used or been deemed to have meant two or even three of these possibilities

[MrMacSon]

Nazarene means keeper of the mystery in Aramaic, entirely inline with the demoniac's statement of 'knowing who he is' and in-line with Jesus other statements

fwiw,

Etymology of the name Nazirite

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< too limited so omitted >

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary

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..נצר

• The verb נצר (nasar) means to watch, guard or keep. It describes the diligent endeavor of keeping something shielded from an intervening outside world and maintaining this thing's constitutional integrity. Items so kept range from vineyards to single trees; and from solitary persons to entire towns. It may describe keeping a promise or covenant or edict, or an attitude of kindness or a secret or one's intentions.

• The plural word נצרים (nasarim) describes men engaged in the activity the verb describes: watchmen, safe keepers, protectors. The adjective נציר (nasir) refers to the thing protected or preserved.

• The noun נצר (neser) means branch or shoot and describes both a plant's most tender part and its mode of expansion or progression. This noun may actually come from a verb that means to be fresh or green, but since it describes something precious and vulnerable, it fits right into the root that describes protecting and preserving.

..נזר

• The verb נזר (nazar) means to consecrate [oneself] or become obviously different in certain devotional ways. Although this verb and the previous are not as similar as the English transliteration suggests and are etymologically quite remote, there is a curious overlap between the two.

• The noun נזר (nazir) mostly describes a consecrated one, a Nazirite, but it may also describe an unpruned vine. Likewise, a Nazirite was recognized from his uncut hair, and it seems that this verb נזר (nazar) emphasizes one's disassociation [from] the pruning and kembing effect of cultural norms and values (and alcohol, of course), and an attempt to preserve and assess whatever grows naturally in one's heart.

See the full dictionary article

https://www.abarim-publications.com/Mea ... irite.html

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previously,

The name Nazirite in the Bible

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The word Nazirite is a general designation rather than a name. It denotes men and women (Numbers 6:2) who made a special vow to the Lord, or whose parents did (in the case of Samuel, for instance; 1 Samuel 1:11). What that vow exactly entailed is not clear, but it could either be temporary or permanent, and the rules of behavior for people who were under that vow were set out precisely (Numbers 6). The Nazirite could not drink alcohol or eat any fruit of the vine, or touch a dead person, or cut their hair. The famous life-long Nazirite Samson managed to break every single one of these statutes (Judges 13-16).

... Acts 18:18...reads that Paul had his head shaven because he was previously under a vow

https://www.abarim-publications.com/Mea ... irite.html

[davidmartin]

yes that's it, the first part
נצר (nasar), meaning either to be watchful [or to guard or to keep]

the 2nd part would be Raz a common enough word (Persian loan originally) used in Peshitta NT anyway
rz, rzˀ (rāz, rāzā) n.m. mystery, secret
Syr, CPA ܐܪܙ‏, ܐܪܐܙܐ‏; CPA initial /r/ forms: ܪܙ ‏, ܪܐܙ ‏, Sam. ארז‏

So, "Nasaraz"

but Aramaic has Nasar as Natar or Natra
nṭr, nṭrˀ (nāṭar, nāṭrā) n.m. #2 guardian from 'to keep/watch/guard'

Nataraz or similar


The 'mystery' could relate to the 'truth' of Philip here i recon

[MrMacSon]

Judges 13.5 in context:

1. Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

2 Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children.

3 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her,
“Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. 5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

6 So the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A Man of God came to me, and His countenance [appearance] was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name. 7 And He said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death’.”

note the re-telling of vv.3b-5a in v.7; with a different ending in v.7b replacing v.5b.

And that this is about the conception of Samson:

24 So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him ...

The rest of Judges 13:

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, and said, “O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.”

9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, “Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me!”

11 So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, “Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?”

And He said, “I am.”

12 Manoah said, “Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boy’s rule of life, and his work?”

13 So the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her let her observe.”

15 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You.”

16 And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the Lord.)

17 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?”

18 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”

19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the Lord. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on— 20 it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. 21 When the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of the Lord.

22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God!”

23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have told us such things as these at this time.”

24 So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judges 13.3-5 seems to be the basis for Luke 1:26-37: the angel Gabriel appearing to Elizabeth (Mary's relative: v.36)

Judges 13.13-18 and 13.4 seem to be the basis for Luke 1:11-20: the Angel appearing to Zechariah
(and for Matthew 1:20: an angel appearing to Joseph (albeit in his dreams))

[rgprice]

yes that's it, the first part
נצר (nasar), meaning either to be watchful [or to guard or to keep]

the 2nd part would be Raz a common enough word (Persian loan originally) used in Peshitta NT anyway
rz, rzˀ (rāz, rāzā) n.m. mystery, secret
Syr, CPA ܐܪܙ‏, ܐܪܐܙܐ‏; CPA initial /r/ forms: ܪܙ ‏, ܪܐܙ ‏, Sam. ארז‏

So, "Nasaraz"

but Aramaic has Nasar as Natar or Natra
nṭr, nṭrˀ (nāṭar, nāṭrā) n.m. #2 guardian from 'to keep/watch/guard'

Nataraz or similar

The 'mystery' could relate to the 'truth' of Philip here i recon

Hmm... This is interesting because this could also make some sense. If Nazarene is taken to mean something like "secret keeper", then we would have:

23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus [the secret keeper]? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Obviously there is a lot of secrecy involved around the identity of Jesus and around the whole sect early on. But in this context clearly we would have the "demon" saying, "I see you Jesus. I know you're trying to hide your identity, but I know who you are!"

But here we have:

Mark 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

In this context again it seems that "Holy One of God" or "child of God" makes the most sense.

[davidmartin]

the blind man wasn't possessed though!

this idea of keeping of secrets is definitely in there
He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables

where i got this from is the Odes
there's a place it says 'keep my mystery' which rung the bell about the 'guard' theory of Nazareth/ene and combining with the Raz
unfortunately the imperative of 'keep' does not sound anything much like 'Nazarene', the N drops out for some reason
but here it sounds like the members of the community are called to 'keep my mystery' - 'Natarezenes'.

[rgprice]

the blind man wasn't possessed though!

this idea of keeping of secrets is definitely in there
He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables

where i got this from is the Odes
there's a place it says 'keep my mystery' which rung the bell about the 'guard' theory of Nazareth/ene and combining with the Raz
unfortunately the imperative of 'keep' does not sound anything much like 'Nazarene', the N drops out for some reason
but here it sounds like the members of the community are called to 'keep my mystery' - 'Natarezenes'.

I do find this plausible, but unfortunately I know nothing about the linguistics of it all. There seems to be a combination of Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin all involved in how we somehow end up with apparently "Nazarene". But as Martjin has shown, one really needs to go to the earliest manuscripts themselves to address this most likely, and I'm ill equipped to do that.