Branch

Branch [EBD]

a symbol of kings descended from royal ancestors (Ezek. 17:3, 10; Dan. 11:7); of prosperity (Job 8:16); of the Messiah, a branch out of the root of the stem of Jesse (Isa. 11:1), the "beautiful branch" (4:2), a "righteous branch" (Jer. 23:5), "the Branch" (Zech. 3:8; 6:12).

Disciples are branches of the true vine (John 15:5, 6). "The branch of the terrible ones" (Isa. 25:5) is rightly translated in the Revised Version "the song of the terrible ones," i.e., the song of victory shall be brought low by the destruction of Babylon and the return of the Jews from captivity.

The "abominable branch" is a tree on which a malefactor has been hanged (Isa. 14:19). The "highest branch" in Ezek. 17:3 represents Jehoiakim the king.

Branch [NAVE]

BRANCH,
Figurative
Prov. 11:28; Hos. 14:6; Isa. 60:21; John 15:2-5.
Pruning of, Isa. 18:5; Dan. 4:14; John 15:6; Rom. 11:17, 21.
Fruitless, cut off, John 15:2, 6.
A title of Christ, Psa. 80:15; Isa. 4:2; 11:1; Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Zech. 3:8; 6:12.
Symbolic name of Joshua, Zech. 6:12.
See: Grafting.

BOUGH [ISBE]

BOUGH - bou.

See BRANCH.

BRANCH ;BOUGH [ISBE]

BRANCH ;BOUGH - bransh: Represented by very many words in the Hebrew.

(1) zemorah used especially of a vine branch. The spies "cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes" (Nu 13:23). See also Ezek 15:2; Nah 2:2. "They put the branch to their nose" (Ezek 8:17), refers to some unknown idolatrous practice, as does also Isa 17:10, "thou plantest pleasant plants, and settest it with strange slips," or "vine slips of a strange (god)" the Revised Version, margin.

(2) yoneqeth, literally "a sucker." "The tender branch thereof will not cease" (Job 14:7). Used figuratively of Israel, Ps 80:11 (the Revised Version (British and American) "shoots"); Ezek 17:22 the King James Version; Hos 14:6, and of the wicked, Job 8:16 (the Revised Version (British and American) "shoots"), 15:30.

(3) kippah, Job 15:32. Isa 9:14; 19:15, the Revised Version (British and American) has "palm-branch," "Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day" (9:14).

(4) netser (of the same Hebrew root, according to many commentators, as Nazareth), literally "a little shoot springing from the root" ("out of a shoot from her roots," Dan 11:7), which may be planted out to grow (Isa 11:1; 60:21), or may be rooted out and thrown away (Isa 14:19).

(5) tsemach. The "branch" of Messianic prophecy. See PROPHECY. "In that day shall the branch (m "shoot" or "sprout") of Yahweh be beautiful and glorious" (Isa 4:2); "a shoot out of the stock of Jesse" (Isa 11:1); "a righteous branch" (Jer 23:5; 33:15): "my servant the Branch" (Zec 3:8); "the man whose name is the Branch" (Zec 6:12).

(6) qanah, is used for the "branches" of the golden candlesticks (Ex 25:32; 37:18 ff). Literally, qanah means a "reed."

There are a number of words, less frequently used, meaning "branch":

(7) baddim (plural only used; Ezek 17:6; 19:14).

(8) dalith (plural only used; Jer 11:16).

(9) maTTeh (Ezek 19:11).

(10) ca`iph (Isa 18:5; ce`appah (plural) (Ezek 31:6); car`appah (Ezek 31:5).

(11) `anaph (Mal 4:1; Ps 80:11); `anaph (Dan 4:14,21); `eneph (Ezek 36:8).

(12) pu'rah, "a bough" (Isa 10:33); po'roth (pl. only) (Ezek 31:5,8).

(13) tsammereth, "foliage" or "boughs of trees," literally "locks" or "fleece" of trees (Ezek 17:3; 31:3).

(14) qatsir (collective) (Job 14:9), "boughs" (Ps 80:11), "branches."

(15) shibbeleth, the two olive branches of Zec 4:12.

(16) soqch, root meaning "to interweave" (Jdg 9:49); sokhah (Jdg 9:48), "boughs."

(17) sarigh (pl. only, sarighim), "branches" (of the vine) (Gen 40:10; Joel 1:7).

Represented in Greek in the New Testament:

(1) baion (Jn 12:13), "a palm branch."

(2) klados (Mt 13:32; 21:8; 24:32; Mk 4:32; 13:28; Lk 13:19; Rom 11:16,17,18,19,21).

(3) klema, a slip or cutting of the vine, especially one cut off to be grafted into another plant (Jn 15:2,4,5,6).

(4) stibos (= stoibas), a "twig" or "bough" (Mk 11:8).

E. W. G. Masterman