📖 Biblical Definition
Recurring Messianic title in the prophets: the Branch (tsemach) of David. Used by Jeremiah ("a righteous Branch," 23:5; 33:15), Zechariah ("my servant the BRANCH," 3:8; "the man whose name is The BRANCH," 6:12), and Isaiah ("branch of the LORD," 4:2; "a Branch shall grow out of his roots," 11:1). The image: a fresh sprout from the apparently-dead stump of David's house. After the exile, David's monarchy looked dead; the prophets foretold a Branch that would rise.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Recurring Messianic title; fresh sprout from David's apparently-dead stump.
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Recurring Messianic title across the prophets. Hebrew tsemach — sprout, branch, that which springs up. Used by Jeremiah twice (23:5: "a righteous Branch... a King shall reign and prosper"; 33:15: "the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David"), Zechariah twice (3:8: "my servant the BRANCH"; 6:12-13: "the man whose name is The BRANCH... and he shall build the temple of the LORD: even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne"), Isaiah twice (4:2: "branch of the LORD"; 11:1: "a Branch shall grow out of his roots"). The image is theologically sharp: David's monarchy was cut down to a stump after the exile, but YHWH promised a fresh sprout from that stump — the Davidic line was not finally dead. Christ is the Branch; He fulfills the prophecies in His resurrection from the apparent-dead-end of crucifixion.
📖 Key Scripture
Jeremiah 23:5 — "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth."
Isaiah 11:1 — "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."
Zechariah 6:12-13 — "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Often missed in NT-only readings; the cumulative prophetic force of the Branch-titles is essential to OT Messianic expectation.
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NT-only readers can miss how thoroughly the Messianic Branch is established in the prophets. Five major Branch-prophecies across three prophets, written over ~200 years, all converging on a single figure: a fresh sprout from David's stump, righteous, a king, a priest, the temple-builder. Christ ties them all together; He is the Branch.
Recover the prophetic chorus: the Messianic expectation was rich, specific, and persistent. Christ's coming fulfilled what was already long-spoken.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew tsemach.
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['Hebrew', 'H6780', 'tsemach', 'branch, sprout']
['Hebrew', 'H1755', 'dor', 'generation']
Usage
"Fresh sprout from David's apparently-dead stump."
"Five Branch-prophecies across three prophets."
"Christ fulfills."