Galilee · NT
Nazareth
The obscure Galilean village where Jesus grew up — 'can any good thing come out of Nazareth?'
Today: Nazareth, Northern District of Israel
Nazareth was a small agricultural village in lower Galilee, set in a hollow surrounded by hills, about fifteen miles west of the Sea of Galilee. It receives no mention in the Old Testament, in Josephus, or in the Talmud — its obscurity was proverbial. Mary lived there at the Annunciation, and after the return from Egypt the holy family settled there.
Jesus spent roughly thirty years in Nazareth before his public ministry. The town gave him his common name — Jesus of Nazareth, Yeshua ha-Notzri — and the title 'Nazarene' that even his bitterest enemies used.
Key verses
"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary."
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"And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him."
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"and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene."
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"And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see."
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"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read."
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