Factology.com

. . . A Nazarite is someone who belongs to a sect of Jews who separated themselves from the norm and set up what would be known today as a cult. As found in Numbers 6:2, where people are told to separate and take a vow. The Hebrew word being used is “Nazar” and means “to take a pledge, make a covenant.” This is joining an existing group much like one would join the masonic order or a fraternity.

A Nazarene is a person who is native of Nazareth. Nazareth is in the southern tip of Lebanon, the present day name of Nazareth is En-naasirah (Al-Nasira).

Ques: So, which one did Jesus belong to?

Because Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which is located 6 miles south of Jerusalem to Mary (the daughter of Anna and Joachim), who was a native of Bethlehem herself as well as her husband Joseph (Luke 2:4; son of Hadhbith and Jacob.)

So, it is clear that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger and that makes him a Bethlehemite (Luke 2:15). Jesus intentionally moved into Nazareth so that people would think that Jesus was a Nazarene and the prophecy (Matthew 2:23) could be fulfilled.

Excerpted from The Glory of Jesus the Messiah by Dr. Malachi Z. York-El