Names of God including the word “branch”
Three names include the word “branch.” For more information, click on the name.
Branch (see below)
Branch
Two Hebrew words are translated “branch.” Netser refers to young branches or sprouts. The imagery of stumps, roots, shoots, and branches is messianic and reappears throughout the prophets, especially in Isaiah and Jeremiah. Tsemakh is a noun that comes from the Hebrew verb for sprouting or shooting. The verb is often used in connection with these messianic names and links with other names (e.g. Jer. 23:5-6; 33:15-16; Zech. 3:8; 6:12). The root of David leads prophetically to the sprouting shoot of the Messiah (Christ) who is descended from him. David expected his house to grow or sprout (2 Sam. 23:5). Ezekiel reiterated that expectation, speaking of the horn of David (Ezek. 29:21; Ps.132:17-18). These are all prophetic messianic names of Jesus (Yeshua‘).
The Dead Sea Scrolls speak of Dawid as a Messianic term explaining the prophecy about David’s descendant being a Son of God (2 Sam. 7:14).
The Greek Old Testament used anatolē to translate the Hebrew word for sprouting. The same word appears in Luke 1:78 (anatolē exhypsous – Sunrise from on high, literally the one springing from on high) and Heb. 7:14 (anatetalken).
Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the branch by springing up from David and the tribe of Judah to become the Priest-king of the kingdom of God.
Branch (Netser) in Isaiah 11:1
Branch in Hebrew:
Netser
Strong’s Concordance number: 5342
Bible reference: Isa. 11:1
A shoot [khoter] will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1 NIV)
Branch (Tsemakh) in Zechariah 3:8
Tsemakh
Strong’s Concordance number: 6780
Bible references: Zech. 3:8; 6:12
Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. (Zechariah 3:8 NIV)
Two similar prophetic names of Jesus are the Branch of the Lord and the Righteous Branch. Zechariah connected the messianic term with the role of the servant of the Lord.
