2:23 He shall be called a Nazarene. The Old Testament has no verse exactly corresponding to this, but note that Matthew introduces this reference to the prophets in more general terms than his other quotations. Nazareth was Christ’s home, but Matthew’s point is probably that Jesus would be despised, as people from Nazareth were (John 1:46; 7:42, 52). Is. 11:1 refers to the Messiah as a “branch” (Hebrew netzer) from the roots of Jesse; this verse may have been in mind.