the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Branch
Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
or 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 (Isaiah 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 (Ezekiel 17:3; Ezekiel 17:10; Daniel 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 (Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 4:2; Jeremiah 23:15; Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12; and elsewhere). Branch is also used as the symbol of idolatrous worship (Ezekiel 8:17), probably in allusion to the general custom of carrying branches as a sign of honor. An abominable branch (Isaiah 14:19) means a tree on which a malefactor has been hanged. In Ezekiel 17:3 Jehoiachim is called the highest branch of the cedar, as being a king.
Public Domain.
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Branch'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/kbe/b/branch.html.
