Nazareth
/ˈnæzərəθ/
proper noun
Origin
Hebrew
נצר — watch or branch
Overview
Meaning Now
- A city in northern Israel, historically significant as the childhood home of Jesus of Nazareth.
Literal older meaning
Possibly 'the guarded one' or 'the flower/branch'.
Language path
Hebrew → Koine Greek → English
Earliest form
Ναζαρέθ (Nazareth)
Earliest period
1st century
Journey
Nazareth was a small, relatively obscure village in Galilee during the Roman period. Its fame derives entirely from its status as the home of Jesus of Nazareth in the Christian tradition. Archaeology confirms its existence as a Jewish farming community during the 1st century AD.
Evolution
- 1st century Hebrew/Aramaic
נצרת (Nāṣəraṯ)
“The town of Nazareth”
- 1st century Koine Greek
Ναζαρέθ (Nazareth)
“The town of Nazareth”
Transliteration into Greek scripture.
- Middle English
Nazareth
“The city in Galilee”
Connections
Related across languages
Aramaic
Nāṣəraṯ
Nazareth
Arabic
an-Nāṣira
Nazareth
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.