📖 Biblical Definition
"The Righteous Branch" is Jeremiah’s specific Messianic title: "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. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:5-6; cf. 33:15). The qualifier "righteous" distinguishes Him from Israel’s historical kings whose unrighteousness brought judgment. Isaiah, Zechariah, and others use the Branch-image (Isaiah 11:1; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12). Christ is therefore Branch from the stump of Jesse, Branch reigning in justice, Branch who is Himself "the LORD our righteousness."
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Jer 23:5 Messianic title; Branch who is also YHWH-Tsidkenu.
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Jeremiah's specific Messianic title (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." The qualifier righteous distinguishes this coming Branch from the unrighteous Davidic descendants whose covenant-failures had brought judgment. Jeremiah continues in v 6: "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" — Hebrew YHWH-Tsidkenu. The Branch is therefore not just righteous IN HIMSELF but is also the source of righteousness FOR HIS PEOPLE. The title is a deity-claim: He bears YHWH's name. Repeated in Jer 33:15-16.
📖 Key Scripture
Jeremiah 23:5-6 — "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. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Jeremiah 33:15-16 — "In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David... and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness."
1 Corinthians 1:30 — "Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Both halves of Jeremiah 23:5-6 must be held: Branch executes righteousness AND is YHWH our righteousness for His people.
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Jeremiah 23:5 names a righteous Branch; Jeremiah 23:6 names Him YHWH our righteousness. The two halves are inseparable: He IS righteous (His character) and He IS our righteousness (our imputed standing). Paul's gospel of imputed righteousness in Romans and 1 Corinthians 1:30 builds on this prophetic foundation.
Recover both halves: Christ righteous in Himself; Christ-our-righteousness for us. The Branch is the imputed-righteousness gospel in prophetic seed-form.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew tsemach tsedaqah + YHWH-Tsidkenu.
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['Hebrew', 'H6780', 'tsemach', 'branch']
['Hebrew', 'H6666', 'tsedaqah', 'righteousness']
['Hebrew', 'H3072', 'YHWH-Tsidkenu', 'YHWH our righteousness']
Usage
"Righteous Branch is also YHWH our righteousness."
"Both halves: His character + our imputed standing."
"Foundation of Paul's imputed-righteousness gospel."