Israel’s Messiah ‐ Messiah the Branch

There are many titles bestowed on Israel’s Messiah in the Tanach. Titles such as: אל עמנו ‘immanuel’ – God With Us, פלא ‘pele’ – Wonderful; יועץ ‘yoetz’ – Counsellor; גבור אל ‘el gibor’ – Mighty God; עד-אבי ‘avi ad’ – Everlasting Father; שלום-שר ‘sar shalom’ – Prince of Peace.

In the Book of Daniel, He is entitled Messiah the Prince. All these and many more are to be found in the Tanach.

Today we shall be focussing on those passages that depict Him as Messiah the Branch. “Branch” is an important Messianic title. There are two words for “Branch” – נצר ‘ne-tser’ and צמח ‘tse-mach.’

נצר ‘ne-tser’ first of all, denotes the human origin of the Messiah. In Isaiah 11, verses 1 and 2, we read: “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Perhaps that’s the passage from which we get that quotation in Matthew chapter 2, verse 23, where Messiah is depicted as coming out of Nazareth. “Nazareth” נצרת ‘nah-tse-ret’ is a play on נצר ‘ne-tser’, which means: green branch. So much for נצר ‘ne-tser.’

צמח ‘tse-mach’ is the other word for “Branch.” צמח ‘tse-mach’ denotes the divine origin of Messiah. There is a four-fold description of Messiah the Branch under the heading of

צמח ‘tse-mach’ – Messiah the Branch as a royal Messiah; as a divine Messiah; as servant Messiah, and as human Messiah!

Messiah the Branch צמח ‘tse-mach’ as the royal Messiah – Jeremiah chapter 23, verse 5: “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and righteousness in the earth.”” There is Messiah; the word for “Branch” is צמח ‘tse-mach’ which denotes His Divine origin. And He is called here: “The Branch of righteousness” raised up to David. That is, from David’s dynasty – “A King shall reign and prosper.” This is Messiah the Branch as a royal Messiah.

Secondly, divine Messiah – Messiah the Branch as a divine Messiah. In Jeremiah chapter 23, verse 6: “In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called:

צדקנו יהוה THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS – ADONAI TSIDKENU.”

There is the divine origin of Messiah. And again the word for “Branch” there is: צמח ‘tse-mach.’

It’s also found in Isaiah chapter 4 and verse 2: “In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious; and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped.” The word for “Branch” there is: צמח ‘tse-mach’ and Messiah is described as: יהוה צמח “the Branch of ADONAI” – “the Branch of the LORD.” That denotes His divine origin.

Thirdly, Messiah the Branch is depicted as Messiah the Servant in Zechariah the prophet, chapter 3 and verse 8: “Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign; for behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.” The word for “BRANCH” there is: צמח ‘tse-mach.’ Messiah there is described as God’s Servant. There are many passages in Isaiah, such as chapter 42, 49, 50, 52, and 53, in which Messiah is described as the Servant of the LORD: –

יהוה עבד ‘e-ved YHVH’

Fourthly, Messiah the Branch is described as a human Messiah. In Zechariah chapter 6, verse 12: “Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD…”” The word for “BRANCH” is again צמח ‘tse-mach’ and He is described as “the Man whose name is צמח ‘tse-mach’ the BRANCH!” – a human Messiah!

Again in Zechariah, chapter 13, verse 7: “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd and against the Man who is My Companion.” says the LORD of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones.”” There, Messiah is described as: “the Man who is My Companion.” – Companion of ADONAI the LORD of hosts. Here is the Messiah in His humanity.

So we have a four-fold portrait of Messiah the Branch: royal Messiah, divine Messiah, servant Messiah, human Messiah. In all these passages, the word used for “Branch” is: צמח ‘tse-mach.’

Now for the application! By way of conclusion, Messiah the Branch is here depicted as divine and human, inseparably united; the divine nature and the human nature.

In His human nature, He suffers, as is written in the Prophet Daniel: “Messiah the Prince shall be cut off (killed) but not for Himself.” In His human nature, He suffered. But in His divine nature, He reigns – “A King shall reign and prosper… now this is His name by which He will be called: צדקנו יהוה ADONAI TSIDKENU.” That refers to Messiah the Branch: נצר ‘ne-tser’ and צמח ‘tse-mach’ – two vital terms which depict the Messiah in His humanity and in His deity. Selah