Origins of the Name

In Roman times Nazareth was a Jewish village and its name is thought to come from the Hebrew word “Netzer”, which can mean a twig or a branch. For Christians, this supports the claim that Jesus was a descendant of King David, which in turn strengthens their belief that Jesus is the Messiah. But “Netzer” also means “to keep”, which may refer to the city’s location on a mountain watching over the Jezreel Valley, frequently a scene of battle in earlier times.

Jesus was known as Jesus of Nazareth – which is why the Hebrew name for Christianity is “Natzrut”. In English, Jesus is called “Christ”, which means a Messiah; hence the English name Christianity. In Arabic, Jesus is called “Massiach”, meaning Messiah, and Christians are called “Messachin”.

Modern Nazareth

Today Nazareth is a bustling city of 80,000 inhabitants, making it the largest Arab city in Israel. It is also at the economic and cultural center for a larger Arab population, at least twice that size, living in several towns adjacent to the city, including Reine, Kafr Kana, Ein Mahel and Iksal.

Most of the local population depends on tourism, service industries, marketing and crafts. Farming is no longer possible because of the lack of land available to Arab communities. However, there are a few small industries, such as ice, knife and ceramics factories.

Nazareth is not a place for a visit to just one church – or even several churches – no matter how celebrated. Christian visitors will want to see all the historic sites in the city and to soak up the atmosphere of the place that shaped Jesus' character. They will want to walk through the quaint lanes, visit the markets, meet local residents, and see Nazareth Village, a re-creation of Nazareth and its culture as Jesus would have known it. A visit should consist of more than just a two-hour tour of the Old City; Nazareth merits a stay of several days if it is to be fully appreciated.

Nazareth offers a wide range of accommodation. There are hotels ranging from three to five stars, two monasteries high on the ridge above the city that have been converted into guest houses, and hostels in the Old Market that offer budget accommodation in spectacular surroundings.

www.ntt-buses.com

Nazareth Google Map!!