Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 2]
contradictory.
2:23 {Should be called a Nazarene} (\Naz•raios kl•th•setai\).
Matthew says "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophets" (\dia t•n proph•t•n\). It is the plural and no single
prophecy exists which says that the Messiah was to be called a
Nazarene. It may be that this term of contempt (Joh 1:46; 7:52)
is what is meant, and that several prophecies are to be combined
like Ps. 22:6,8; 69:11,19; Isa 53:2,3,4. The name Nazareth
means a shoot or branch, but it is by no means certain that
Matthew has this in mind. It is best to confess that we do not
know. See Broadus on Matthew for the various theories. But,
despised as Nazareth was at that time, Jesus has exalted its
fame. The lowly Nazarene he was at first, but it is our glory to
be the followers of the Nazarene. Bruce says that "in this case,
therefore, we certainly know that the historic fact suggested the
prophetic reference, instead of the prophecy creating the
history." The parallels drawn by Matthew between the history of
Israel and the birth and infancy of Jesus are not mere fancy.
History repeats itself and writers of history find frequent
parallels. Surely Matthew is not beyond the bounds of reason or
of fact in illustrating in his own way the birth and infancy of
Jesus by the Providence of God in the history of Israel.
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Matthew: Chapter 2)