Messianic Prophesy of “The Branch”

There are many titles and synonyms used in the Bible for our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). However, many people are not familiar with the verses that describe Him symbolically as parts of a plant, such as: branch, root, sprout, and bud.

We believe the Prophet Isaiah provides us with many details of Yeshua’s coming about 2,000 years ago as the suffering servant, Messiah ben (son of) Joseph. Isaiah uses some of these plant terms in Isaiah 53:1-4:

• “Who believes our report? To whom is the arm of ADONAI [God] revealed? For before him he grew up like a young plant, like a root out of dry ground. He was not well-formed or especially handsome; we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us. People despised and avoided him, a man of pains, well acquainted with illness. Like someone from whom people turn their faces, he was despised; we did not value him. In fact, it was our diseases he bore, our pains from which he suffered; yet we regarded him as punished, stricken and afflicted by God. But he was wounded because of our crimes, crushed because of our sins; the disciplining that makes us whole fell on him, and by his bruises we are healed.”

There are two main Hebrew words used by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah to figuratively describe the Messiah using plant terms. The most used word is “Tsemach” (tseh’makh). It appears 12 times in the Hebrew Bible. The other term is Netzer. Both words have been translated into English as “Branch.”

NETZER – THE BRANCH

This Hebrew word "netzer" is used in Isaiah 11:1 and is translated “Branch”:

• “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch (netzer) shall grow out of his roots:”

In his book, “What the Rabbis know about the Messiah,” Rachmiel Frydland states this about the word “netzer” as used in Isaiah 11:

• “The prophesy is important in at least two respects. First, it clearly narrows down the ancestry of the Messiah to Jesse and his descendants. For, ‘there shall come forth out of the stem of Jesse.’ Second, by the use of the Hebrew word, netzer, for branch, the prophesy specifies the place where the Messiah would live. The prophet could have used the other word for branch, Tsemah, which he did previously when describing Messiah…”

Rachmiel Frydland goes on to say that “the town Nazeret, is the word Netzer plus the feminine ending, designated by the [Hebrew] letter tav.” This describes the town of Nazareth in which Yeshua lived. He references Matthew 2:23:

• “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Therefore, he concludes that Messiah would be a “Netzer” (Branch) from “Natzeret” (Nazareth). This prophesy can clearly be linked to Yeshua, who was from the house of David, lived in Nazareth, and was Messiah ben Joseph.

TSEMACH – THE BRANCH

The use of plant terms to reference Messiah Yeshua is continued by the prophet Zechariah and others. In Zechariah, chapter 6, God provides us with a clear picture of Yeshua’s return as conquering King, Messiah ben (son of) David. These verses actually give us His name: “Yehoshua.”

Yehoshua is the Hebrew name of the person who led Israel into the Promised Land. His name was translated into English as “Joshua.” Yehoshua means: “the Lord saves or delivers, the Lord is salvation, or the Lord will save.”

In the 1st century, a shortened form of this name was “Yeshua.” Yeshua’s name means: “Salvation” / “Deliverer” / “He Saves.”

We have an example of the interchangeability of Yehoshua and Yeshua in “Nehemiah 8:17, where Joshua son of Nun, usually called Yehoshua Ben Nun, is called Yeshua Ben Nun. ‘From the days of Joshua [יֵשׁוּעַ–Yeshua] son of Nun until that day….’” (Source: Rhonda Balance).

The best description we have of the Branch is in Zech. 6:10-13. This Scripture is speaking prophetically of Messiah Yeshua. He is the one coming to be King and Priest and will rule over the entire earth. All honor and glory will be given to Him, and Him alone:

• “Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, who are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua [Yehoshua] the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak to him, saying, Thus speaketh YHVH of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of YHWH: Even He shall build the temple of YHWH; and He shall bear the glory, and Shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon his throne: and The counsel of peace shall be between them both."

THE BRANCH “SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE”

We believe that the “Branch” Zechariah is describing here can only be Messiah Yeshua. This tells us that He is the one who SHALL build Ezekiel’s future Temple and SHALL rule and reign from Jerusalem for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4).

There are Jewish rabbis who agree that this prophesy is speaking of a future Messiah. One source, The Messianic Temple by Rabbi Chaim Clorfene, states that this future Messiah will either build Ezekiel’s Temple or will cause an already built Ezekiel’s Temple to come down from heaven. Again, we see this as our Messiah Yeshua who is prophesied to set foot on the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem when He returns and from where He ascended (Zech 14:4; Acts 1:9-12).

The prophet Jeremiah provides us with more details about the “Branch” that descends from the line of David and whose kingdom is coming:

• Jer. 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.”

• Jer. 33:15, “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.”

HE WILL BE KING OF ALL NATIONS

Another important detail provided by the prophet Isaiah tells us that God-Fearers from the nations will be part of this King’s reign. In Isaiah 11:10, it states:

• “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”

Paul tells is in Eph. 2:1 that this was being fulfilled in his day:

• "Therefore, remember your former state: you Gentiles by birth - called the Uncircumcised by those who, merely because of an operation on their flesh, are called the Circumcised - at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Isra'el. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God's promise. You were in this world without hope and without God. But now, you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of the Messiah's blood."

FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT (TABERNACLES)

Every year at the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:34-43), we build a small sukkah (booth/tabernacle) with the roof consisting of tree branches and decorated with fruits from the fall harvest. This temporary structure is symbolic of the beautiful kingdom to come when Messiah will rule and reign for a thousand years. As we erect our temporary houses, we are rehearsing for the time when the “Branch” will build His Temple and tabernacle with us forever.

Isaiah tells us in 4:2:

• “In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.”

Ezekiel 37:24-28 tells us of this time when Yeshua will tabernacle with us as King:

• "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have ONE shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My Sanctuary [Temple] is in their midst forevermore.”

CONCLUSION

Clearly, the concept of “The Branch” provides us with an understanding of Messiah Yeshua as Messiah ben Joseph and His future coming as Messiah ben David. The Apostolic Writings tell us that we will rule and reign with Him. This is one reason why it is important for God-Fearers to learn ALL of God’s Word. Yeshua will re-establish the Torah (Law) and Temple services, which have always pointed to Him and will continue to do so in His future Kingdom.

Rev 5: 9-10 states, “And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Are we ready to rule and reign with the Branch?