CategoryPeople / Christological Title
Modern Equivalentperson from Nazareth; follower of Jesus the Nazarene.
KJV Word TypeTitle / people-group label
DefinitionA title for Jesus, derived from Nazareth (Matthew 2:23). Also refers to early Christians (Acts 24:5).
Key Verses"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." (Matthew 2:23); "For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:" (Acts 24:5)
KJV Usage NoteCan identify Jesus by His hometown or describe early Christians as followers associated with the Nazarene.
Common MisunderstandingNazarene can describe Jesus’ association with Nazareth or followers associated with Him; it does not always mean a formal sect name.
EtymologyFrom Hebrew Nāṣrat ("Nazareth").