Branch

VIEW:44 DATA:01-04-2020
BRANCH.—1. The great variety of Heb. words rendered by our ‘branch’ may be gathered from the following list of passages, in each of which a different term is used: Gen_40:10, Exo_25:33, Num_13:23, Isa_16:8; Isa_27:10, Jer_11:16, Zec_4:12, Psa_104:12, Job_15:32; Job_18:16. In the following verses RV [Note: Revised Version.] or RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] adds or substitutes another word: Isa_18:5 (‘spreading branches’) Isa_25:6 (‘song’), Eze_17:3; Eze_17:22 (‘top,’ ‘lofty top’), Psa_80:15 (‘Heb. son’: RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] of Gen_49:22, in like manner has ‘Heb. daughters’), Pro_11:28 (‘leaf’) Job_8:16 (‘shoot’). In the NT four Greek words are translated ‘branch,’ but RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] points out that ‘layers of leaves’ are meant at Mar_11:8, and at Joh_12:13 palm-branches are in question. 2. ‘Branch’ is used figuratively for human offspring (Job_15:32), especially for the scion of a royal house (Dan_11:7); also for persons in lofty station (Isa_9:14). The Heb. netser, properly signifying ‘sprout’ or ‘shoot,’ but rendered ‘branch’ (Isa_11:1), is a designation of the Messianic king; not improbably this was in the Evangelist’s mind when he wrote Mat_2:23. We have the same English term at Jer_23:5; Jer_33:15, where another word, tsemach, is a title of the Messiah, intimating that this ‘shoot’ should arise out of ‘the low estate’ of the restored remnant. Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12, following Jeremiah, actually makes Tsemach a proper name. The Targ. on Jer. and Zech. unhesitatingly substitutes for it ‘the Messiah.’
J. Taylor.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909


"The branch of Jehovah" (Isa_4:2), the sprout of Jehovah, Messiah (Jer_23:5; Jer_33:15; Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12; Luk_1:78 margin). Fruit bearing, so as to "fill the face of the world with fruit" (Isa_27:6). He is at once a "branch" and a "root" (Isa_11:1; Isa_53:2). "The root and offspring (offshoot) of David" (Rev_22:16), the Brother of man and the Source of manhood. Luk_2:7 shows the depressed state of David's royal line, represented by Joseph and Mary, at the time when Jesus was born "out of the stem of Jesse" (the stump cut close to the roots at that time); "a root out of a dry ground." Perfect purity and grace were wrapped up under the root's seemingly unattractive scales. Sin had dried up the life of the humanity out of which He sprang.
Degenerate human nature, even Judaism, could never have produced Him. Though rooted in the dry ground of earth, He had a heavenly and self derived life. Believers being such "as He is in this world" (1Jn_4:17) are also "branches" in Him the living vine, yielding fruit instinctively, spontaneously, naturally, their love corresponding to His (John 15), "the branch of My planting" (Isa_60:21). "An abominable branch," a useless sucker cut away by the husbandman; else the tree's branch on which a malefactor was hung, and which was buried with him. "They put the branch to their nose" (Eze_8:17), expressing insolent security; they turn up their nose with scorn, or rather they held up a branch of tamarisk to their nose at daybreak, while singing hymns to the rising sun.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.


a title of Messiah: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a BRANCH shall grow out of his roots,” Isa_11:1. See also Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12; Jer_23:5; Jer_33:15. When Christ is represented as a slender twig, shooting out from the trunk of an old tree lopped to the very root and decayed, and becoming itself a mighty tree, reference is made,
1. To the kingly dignity of Christ, springing up from the decayed house of David;
2. To the exaltation which was to succeed his humbled condition on earth, and to the glory and vigour of his mediatorial reign.
Biblical and Theological Dictionary by Richard Watson
PRINTER 1849.


One of the names that Israelites of Old Testament times gave to the expected Messiah was ‘the Branch’. This arose from the Israelite expectation that the Messiah was to come from the ‘tree’ of David’s dynasty (Jer_23:5; Jer_33:15; cf. Isa_4:2; Isa_11:1; see MESSIAH).
After the Jews’ return from their Babylonian captivity, the name ‘branch’ was used in relation to Zerubbabel, the Jewish governor in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was a descendant of David in the royal line that eventually produced Jesus the Messiah (Hag_2:21-23; Zec_3:8-10; Zec_6:11-13; Mat_1:12-16; see ZERUBBABEL).
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary by Don Fleming
PRINTER 1990.


As trees, in Scripture, denote great men and princes, so branches, boughs, sprouts, or plants denote their offspring. In conformity with this way of speaking, Christ, in respect of His human nature, is styled a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch out of His roots (Isa_11:1) that is, a prince arising from the family of David.
A branch is the symbol of kings descended from royal ancestors, as branches from the root (Eze_17:3; Eze_17:10; Dan_11:7). As only a vigorous tree can send forth vigorous branches, a branch is used as a general symbol of prosperity (Job_8:16). From these explanations it is easy to see how a branch becomes the symbol of the Messiah (Isa_11:1; Isa_4:2; Jer_23:15; Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12; and elsewhere). Branch is also used as the symbol of idolatrous worship (Eze_8:17), probably in allusion to the general custom of carrying branches as a sign of honor. An abominable branch (Isa_14:19) means a tree on which a malefactor has been hanged. In Eze_17:3 Jehoiachim is called the highest branch of the cedar, as being a king.
The Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
by John Kitto.


Gen_49:22 (b) The word refers to the beneficent relationships of Joseph which were to extend beyond the boundaries of his own land, and of his own people. It gives us a picture of the Lord JESUS whose grace, love and mercy were to extend beyond the boundaries of Israel to all people on earth.

Pro_11:28 (b) The righteous will flourish from his union with GOD as a branch flourishes from its union with the vine.

Isa_4:2 (a) The prosperity of Israel in the day of the Lord is compared to the beautiful growth and rich fruit of the branch of a fruit tree. CHRIST also is called "the branch" in five Scriptures. In each of these passages He is called the branch for a different reason. In this particular Scripture CHRIST is the branch springing from the Father to reveal in His life, His actions and His words the beauty and the glory of the Father. CHRIST is more beautiful than all of the things which He has made. He is the express image of the beauty of the unseen GOD.

Isa_9:14 (a) Here the branch represents the affiliations, relationships and associations of the people. The entire "plant" of Israel was to be cut down.

Isa_11:1 (a) The Lord JESUS is compared to a branch of the tree, and Jesse is the trunk of the tree, for Jesse was in the direct line of CHRIST, one of His ancestors. The Lord JESUS came from Jesse, and yet as the root down out of sight, He was before Jesse, and Jesse came from Him. The branch here reveals the eternal character of CHRIST. He is like the Father in this respect. The branch is always of the same character, appearance, substance and essence as that from which it comes. So CHRIST in every respect is exactly like His Father. He was before Jesse in His deity, and He came from Jesse in His humanity.

Isa_17:9 (b) Several lessons may be learned from this branch. One is that the cities of Israel would be completely destroyed. There will be ruin but not extermination. Another lesson may be that some of the principal men of Israel will be left alive to continue the testimony of Israel.

Isa_60:21 (b) Israel here is represented as a remnant. The tree is largely gone, and only a small branch remains. The Lord will plant that branch so that it may become a tree again.

Jer_23:5 (b) Again CHRIST Himself is compared to a branch, David being the tree, and the Lord JESUS springing out of the line of David. It reveals His union with David. (See Jeremiah 33:15) In this place also CHRIST is represented as being exactly like His Father in His righteous character. He is absolutely holy and pure, as is GOD the Father. This branch has all the characteristics of the tree (the Father) in being perfectly sinless, perfectly righteous in every thought, word and deed.

Jer_33:16 (b) Strangely enough in this Scripture Israel is said to have the same name and the same character as the branch of Jer_23:5. You will note that the passage records "this is the name whereby SHE will be called." The reason for this is that the bride always takes the name of the one she marries and becomes a partaker of his character, his riches in glory, and his position. The queen rules in equality with the king. The passage reveals the wonderful union between CHRIST and His church. It reminds us of the marvelous truth of imputed righteousness. See Rom_4:6.

Eze_17:22 (b) The word in this passage indicates the king of the country, the one who is the highest among the people.

Zec_3:8 (a) This gives us another picture of the beauty of CHRIST JESUS our Lord. GOD Himself is the tree and the Lord JESUS is the branch. The type in this passage represents CHRIST as being the servant of GOD who will do everything that the Father wants done, and in the way the Father wishes to have it done. By His words and His work He reveals exactly the character and conduct of the Father. The branch is of course, as in the previous references, exactly the same in essence, in substance, in character, and in appearance as His Father.

Zec_6:12 (a) Again the Holy Spirit is revealing to us that the Lord JESUS, the branch, is the one who carries out exactly and in detail the will of His Father. What the Saviour did in building His church is exactly what the Father wanted done. He is a priest upon His throne. The priest is from the tribe of Levi, and the king is from the tribe of Judah. No one in Israel could be both a priest and a king, for the tribes were not permitted to cross with each other. The Saviour brought in a new dispensation. GOD the Father made Him head of the church, and also the King of the Kingdom of GOD. This was GOD's will. It is beautifully illustrated in the picture of the branch and the tree.

Joh_15:2 (a) This branch is a picture of the Christian, who, because he is joined to CHRIST JESUS the vine, lives the kind of a life that CHRIST the vine lived. The branch lives because the vine lives. (Joh_14:19) When any person trusts CHRIST JESUS with his soul and receives Him (Joh_1:12), he becomes at once a member of GOD's church, a part of CHRIST's body. The Holy Spirit accomplishes this miracle. Uzziah tried to be both a priest and king, and GOD smote him with leprosy as a punishment. (2Ch_26:16) King Saul tried to be both a priest and a king, and GOD punished him by taking away the Kingdom of Israel from him. (1Sa_13:9).
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types
press 1957.


Branch
(represented by various Heb. and Greek words). As trees in Scripture denote great men and princes, so branches, boughs, sprouts, or plants denote their offspring. In conformity with this way of speaking, Christ, in respect of his human nature, is styled a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots (Isa_11:1), that is, a prince arising from the family of David. This symbol was also in use among the ancient poets (Sophocles, Electra, 4:18; Homer, Iliad, ii, 47, 170, 211, 252, 349; Pindar, Olymp. ii, 6, etc.). And so, even in our English tongue, the word imp, which is originally Saxon and denotes a plant, is used to the same purpose, especially by Fox the martyrologist, who calls King Edward the Sixth an imp of great hope; and by Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex, in his dying speech, who has the same expression concerning the same prince (Wemyss, Clavis Symbolica). "The prophet," as Lowth observes, "having described the destruction of the Assyrian army under the image of a mighty forest, represents, by way of contrast, the great person who makes the subject of this chapter as a slender twig, shooting out from the trunk of an old tree, cut down, lopped to the very root, and decayed, which tender plant, so weak in appearance, should nevertheless prosper. The aged trunk denoted the royal house of David, at that time in a forlorn and contemptible condition, like a tree of which nothing was left but a stump underground" (Jer_32:5; Jer_33:15; Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12). Christ's disciples are called branches with reference to their union with him (Joh_15:5-6). Thus a branch is the symbol of kings descended from royal ancestors, as branches from the root (Eze_17:3; Eze_17:10; Dan_11:7). As only a vigorous tree can send forth vigorous branches, a branch is used as a general symbol of prosperity (Job_8:16). From these explanations it is easy to see how a branch becomes the symbol of the Messiah (Isa_11:1; Isa_4:2; Jer_23:15; Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12; and elsewhere). SEE MESSIAH; SEE PALM.
Branch is also used as the symbol of idolatrous worship (Eze_8:17), probably in allusion to the general custom of carrying branches as a sign of honor. Hence God complains by the prophet that the Jews carried branches as if they did him honor, but they held them to their noses like mockers; that is, they mocked him secretly when they worshipped him publicly; they came with fair pretences and wicked hearts. Dathe remarks that a writer on the religion of the Persians enumerates among the sacred furniture a bundle of twigs, called barsom in the old Persic language, which they hold in their hands while praying. Michaelis says that they held it before the face, opposite to the holy fire. Spencer also observes that the heathen, in the worship of their deities, held forth the branches of those trees which were dedicated to them. An abominable branch (Isa_14:19) means a tree on which a malefactor has been hanged. In Eze_17:3, Jehoiachim is called the highest branch of the cedar, as being a king. Branches are mentioned in many other places in Scripture; in some cases as symbols of prosperity, in others of adversity (Gen_49:22; Job_15:32; Psalm 8:11, 15; Isa_25:5; Eze_17:6). SEE BOUGH.

CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.





Norway

FACEBOOK

Participe de nossa rede facebook.com/osreformadoresdasaude

Novidades, e respostas das perguntas de nossos colaboradores

Comments   2

BUSCADAVERDADE

Visite o nosso canal youtube.com/buscadaverdade e se INSCREVA agora mesmo! Lá temos uma diversidade de temas interessantes sobre: Saúde, Receitas Saudáveis, Benefícios dos Alimentos, Benefícios das Vitaminas e Sais Minerais... Dê uma olhadinha, você vai gostar! E não se esqueça, dê o seu like e se INSCREVA! Clique abaixo e vá direto ao canal!


Saiba Mais

  • Image Nutrição
    Vegetarianismo e a Vitamina B12
  • Image Receita
    Como preparar a Proteína Vegetal Texturizada
  • Image Arqueologia
    Livro de Enoque é um livro profético?
  • Image Profecia
    O que ocorrerá no Armagedom?

Tags