Sure it does. One only needs to know specifically what a 'netzer' is. The 'Branch' prophecies require no speculation.
Would you be so kind as to pick up where I’m leaving off tonight? This nonsense really does require refuting, apparently again and again. A word of warning: vlad’s a prickly one when cornered, lol.
“Sure it does.”
No, it doesn’t. Here is the word in question: “Nazarene”. See how it is spelled? Now, look in your Bible, any Bible. Does that word appear in Isaiah 11:1? No, it does not. If you’re going to claim otherwise, then please post what translation you are using and I will post the text here at FR so we can see who is being honest and who is not.
“One only needs to know specifically what a ‘netzer’ is. The ‘Branch’ prophecies require no speculation.”
Again, N-A-Z-A-R-E-N-E is not “branch”. I understand why people use Isaiah 11:1 as an explanation and I am not saying I disagree with the Hebrew root idea. The problem is that Matthew would then STILL be extrapolating from the Hebrew root because NO WHERE IN THE TEXT DOES THE WORD N-A-Z-A-R-E-N-E APPEAR.
Remember, even in the Hebrew text, the word “Nazarene” does not appear. Thanks for trying and for proving me right yet again.
That is exactly what the Targums say about the Messiah - He would be a branch (netzer) out of Jesse and that was what the city of Nazareth was called. Also, this isn't a quibble, but Matthew 2:23 says, "That which was spoken through the prophets..." . It doesn't say, "It was written. So, I agree with you and RC that there isn't any speculation required.