“BRANCH” (Heb. tsemach)

“BRANCH”

 (Heb. tsemach) (3:8; 6:12; Is. 4:2; Jer. 23:5) Strong’s #6780: The Hebrew term translated as BRANCH here means “Shoot” or “Twig.” This is one title for the coming Messiah, the “Branch” who would “shoot” up from the royal stock of David, a dynasty that had been interrupted with the Babylonian exile (Is. 11:1). Many of the prophets promised that a King from David’s line would reign in righteousness (Jer. 23:5, 6) and as a priest would reestablish true worship of the Lord (6:12, 13). In His ministry, Jesus Christ fulfilled these predictions by taking on both a royal (John 12:13–15; 1 Tim. 6:13–16) and a priestly role (Heb. 4:14).