Nazareth

Number of times 'Nazareth' is mentioned in the NT.

Supposedly there are 31 mentions of Nazareth/Nazarene in the NT, at least in the KJV. Unfortunately when considering the Koine Greek, not too many of these 'mentions' actually mention Nazareth Per se. 16 mentions are, 'O/tou Nazariou' in a number of spelling variants, consistent spelling being something of an optional extra in the first century. Some of these variants are supposedly adjectival forms of 'from Nazareth'

The form of 'man from Nazareth' (a town) we would expect in Koine Greek would be Nazarethenos or Nazarethaios, this isn't what we find in NT texts, what we find is' O/tou Nazoraiou/Nazarenos/Nazoraios'. Literally translated this is 'The Nazorean'.

And Nazoreans are a sect mentioned in Numbers. And are known from the first century, as Nozrim, Nazir, Nazoreans etc. Sometimes they are associated with early Christians.

Which means we are down to just 15 supposed references to a town called 'Nazareth'

Mark 1:24, Luke 4:34 are 'Iesou Nazorean' Yeshuah Nazorean, same problem of not identifying an actual place, which means we are down to 13.

Acts 3:6, 4:10: "Yeshua annointed the nazorean" Only 11 supposed mentions left.

Acts 24:5 identifies the sect of the Nazoreans. 10 supposed mentions remain.

Matt 2:23, is a curious verse, the wording can imply 2 different things, either old Yeshuah is from a town named Nazareth, or a town 'legomenEn' (being said) to keep the covenant. So down to 9.  The fact this is part of the later nativity narratives also supports a Greek addition to Hebrew narrative beyond the Koine element in itself.

Matt 14:12, is curious too, since Yeshuah has just been baptised by John and spent 40 days fasting and being tempted. Quite a Nazarite activity. And the next thing he does is 'leave the nazareth'.  Which makes sense if he is simply returning following a retreat into aesthetic Nazarite practices. But not if he's supposedly leaving a town he isn't mentioned as arriving in at that point. So that leaves 8.

The form of 'man from Nazareth' (a town) we would expect in Koine Greek would be Nazarethenos or Nazarethaios, this isn't what we find in NT texts, what we find is' O/tou Nazoraiou/Nazarenos/Nazoraios'.

There are 4 occasions where 'Apo nazaret/nazareth 'from nazareth', occurs. (Matt 21:11, Mark, 1:9 John 1:45 (46 what good can come out of..) Acts 10:38)

However Nazaret/nazareth does not logically need to be a place, it can equally be a philosophy, or a school. 'Apo kittim' would reasonably be 'from the invaders' so 'from/after keeping the covenant' still works.

The 'eth' ending.

I have researched this quite a bit, and as far as I can tell, in the history of Israel (including the first century and before) there is no other place
name ending in 'eth'. The closest is, Beth-el (more often Bet El) Which I find interesting.

Not least because 'eth' turns up at the end of so many words in Hebrew, It can also be a preposition. Or it can be a 'direct object' related to a transitive verb meaning 'nearness' or 'self'. Eth can also be added for emphasis... But also has an association with god.... And love of god. 

Nazir

Nazir, is argued to mean the keeper of the Covenant, or as Numbers 6, Lamentations 4:7 calls such men, a Nazarite.

Matt 4:12, is curious too, since Yeshuah has just been baptised by John and spent 40 days fasting and being tempted. Quite a Nazarite activity, and the next thing he does is 'leave the nazareth'.  Which makes sense if he is simply returning following a retreat into aesthetic Nazarite practices. But not if he's supposedly leaving a town he hadn't actually been in at that point.

Luke 1:26 does say 'a city named Nazareth' but like in Matt 2: 23 this is part of the later nativity narratives. Likewise  Luke 2:4 out of the city nazareth, likewise  Luke 2:39 the city of them nazareth... (the city of the pious?)

Luke 4:16 'came into the nazareth' pious place?




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