Q&A: Matthew 2:23 — which prophet foretold Jesus would be called a Nazarene?

Mike explains that Matthew 2:23 ('he shall be called a Nazarene') likely draws on the Hebrew word netzer (branch/shoot) — possibly from Isaiah — which Matthew connects typologically or phonetically to Nazareth/Nazarene. He then distinguishes two types of prophetic fulfillment: (1) Direct predictive prophecy — clear prediction + clear fulfillment — which is apologetically useful and what Mike emphasizes in his Evidence for the Bible series. (2) Typological/foreshadowing fulfillment — pattern or verbal echo — which is explanatory (helps us see biblical integration and understand Jesus's identity) but is not useful as an apologetic proof of inspiration for a skeptic. The Nazarene reference falls into the second category. Mike would not use it in a witnessing conversation with a skeptic.