📖 Biblical Definition
A Messianic title used twice in Revelation: the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed (Rev 5:5); I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star (Rev 22:16). The paradox of being both root (source) and offspring (descendant) of David resolves only through Christ's pre-existence as the eternal Son and His incarnation as David's descendant.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
ROOT OF DAVI, n.
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A scriptural Messianic title; in Revelation, Christ as both source and descendant of David.
📖 Key Scripture
Isaiah 11:10 — "There shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek."
Revelation 5:5 — "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book."
Revelation 22:16 — "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
Romans 15:12 — "There shall be a root of Jesse... in him shall the Gentiles trust."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Christ predates and post-dates David; modern Christianity sometimes flattens His pre-existence.
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Revelation 22:16 contains one of the most theologically dense self-descriptions of Christ in Scripture: I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Root means He is David's source; offspring means He is David's descendant. The two are simultaneously true only because Christ pre-existed as the eternal Son and was incarnated in time as David's descendant.
Modern Christianity sometimes flattens Christ's pre-existence, treating Him primarily as a historical figure who began at Bethlehem. Revelation refuses the flattening. The Lamb who was slain stands forever as the Root of David — the source from which David himself sprang — even as He is also David's offspring after the flesh. Worship the eternal Son who became David's Lord by being David's Lord.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek/Hebrew roots below.
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G4491 — rhiza — root
G1085 — genos — offspring
Usage
"Christ predates and post-dates David; modern Christianity sometimes flattens His pre-existence."
"The Lamb stands forever as the Root of David — the source from which David himself sprang."
"Worship the eternal Son who became David's Lord by being David's Lord."