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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - John 1:46 - 1:46
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Come out of Nazareth (ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ εἶναι)
Literally, “be out of;” a characteristic expression of John. See Joh 3:31; Joh 4:22; Joh 7:17, Joh 7:22; Joh 8:23; Joh 15:19; Joh 18:36, Joh 18:38, etc. It means more than to come out of: rather to come out of as that which is of; to be identified with something so as to come forth bearing its impress, moral or otherwise. See especially Joh 3:31 : “He that is of the earth is of the earth;” i.e., partakes of its quality. Compare Christ's words to Nicodemus (Joh 3:6), and 1Co 15:47.
In the Greek order, out of Nazareth stands first in the sentence as expressing the prominent thought in Nathanael's mind, surprise that Jesus should have come from Nazareth, a poor village, even the name of which does not occur in the Old Testament. Contrary to the popular explanation, there is no evidence that Nazareth was worse than other places, beyond the fact of the violence offered to Jesus by its people (Luk 4:28, Luk 4:29), and their obstinate unbelief in Him (Mat 13:58; Mar 6:6). It was a proverb, however, that no prophet was to come from Galilee (Joh 7:52).