Nazareth

===Hebrew {{transliteration|he|Netzer}}===
One view holds that the name 'Nazareth' is derived from one of the Hebrew words for 'branch', namely {{transliteration|he|ne·ṣer}}, {{wikt-lang|he|&rlm;נצר&lrm;|&rlm;נֵ֫צֶר&lrm;}},{{efn|The other is {{wikt-lang|he|&rlm;צמח&lrm;|&rlm;צֶמַח&lrm;}} {{transliteration|he|tsémakh}}.}} and alludes to the prophetic, messianic words in [[Book of Isaiah]] 11:1: "from (Jesse's) roots a Branch [{{transliteration|he|netzer}}] will bear fruit".<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|11:1|HE}}</ref> One view suggests this [[toponym]] might be an example of a tribal name used by resettling groups on their return from exile.<ref>Bargil Pixner, cited in Paul Barnett'', Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament Times, ''InterVarsity Press, 2002 p. 89, n. 80.</ref> Alternatively, the name may derive from the verb {{transliteration|he|na·ṣar}}, {{lang|he|נָצַר}}, 'watch, guard, keep",<ref>"...if the word ''Nazareth'' is be derived from Hebrew at all, it must come from this [Hebrew] root [i.e. 'to watch']" ([[Selah Merrill|Merrill, Selah]], (1881) ''Galilee in the Time of Christ'', p. 116. Francis Brown, S. R. Driver, Charles A. Briggs, ''The Brown–Driver–Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon'' (1906/2003), p. 665.</ref> and understood either in the sense of 'watchtower' or 'guard place', implying the early town was perched on or near the brow of the hill, or, in the passive sense as 'preserved, protected' in reference to its secluded position.<ref>R. H. Mounce, "Nazareth", in Geoffrey W. Bromiley (ed.) ''The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia'', Vol. 3 Eerdmans Publishing 1986, pp. 500–501.</ref> The negative references to Nazareth in the [[Gospel of John]] suggest that ancient Jews did not connect the town's name to prophecy.<ref>Bauckham, Jude, ''Jude, Relatives of Jesus in the Early Church'', pp. 64–65. See {{bibleverse|John|1:46}} and {{bibleverse|John|7:41–42}}</ref>