Matthew 2:23, "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."

First we need to look at the verse and notice that Matthew does not say "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah or Jeremiah, etc." This tells us it is not a direct quote, but he tells us it comes from the prophets, plural. Therefore we know that this is a theme or common knowledge that they recorded. Lets look at what this means. Matthew in chapter 1:23 is quoting from Isaiah 7:14. In Chapter 4:15-16 he is quoting from Isaiah 9:1-2. Isaiah 7, 8 , 9, 10 and 11 are messianic prophecies. In 2:23 he is quoting from Isaiah 11:1, "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."

What is the Hebrew word for branch in Isaiah 11:1? It is netzer. This is clearly a messianic prophecy that tells us Messiah will be a branch that bears fruit and will come from the stem - or stump of Jesse. Matthew tells us that the Messiah will be called a netzer and he will have lowly origins coming from the stem/stump of Jesse. He tells us Yeshua dwelt in Natzeret (Nazareth) and was called a Natzerene (Nazarene). It is a prophetic play on words from a concept found in the other prophets where this figure was called a branch. Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15, Ezekiel 19:14 and Zechariah 6:12. Different words were used but they all meant branch.

This was important for three reasons; First, the play on words, netzer/natzereth. Second, the prophets use of the term branch for a redeemer figure. Third, the emphasizing of the lowly origins of the stem/stump. Nazareth was not a spectacular place to be from. John 1:46, "And Nathanael said to him, `Can anything good come out of Nazareth?…" Matthew was not ignorant, he was not creating Scripture that was not there. He was pointing out the fulfillment of Scripture that many were familiar with. He was explaining that Yeshua was the branch/netzer they were waiting for.

We also know that the Jews of Yeshua's time interpreted Isaiah 11 as Messianic. Targum on verse 1 and 6 in the Talmud (Jer. Berach. 5 a and Sanh. 93 b); and in a number of passages in the Midrashim. Verse 1 in Bereshith R. 85 on Gen. 38:18, where also Psa 110:2 is quoted, and in Ber. R. 99, ed. Warsh., p, 178 b. In Yalkut (vol. i. p. 247 d, near the top), it is described how God had shown Mosses all the spirits of the rulers and prophets in Israel, from that time forward to the Resurrection, it is said that all these had one knowledge and one spirit, but that the Messiah had one spirit which was equal to all the others put together, according to Isaiah 11:1.