The Branch

A long time ago, Isaiah prophecied that “seven women shall take hold of one man saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” (Isa 4:1) Those who have interpreted this prophecy literally have wondered if, in dating, the odds could be so favorable towards men, and if men will be facing extinction. I’m going to take a different approach and look first at the word “hold” and in a subsequent essay, I will look at the idea of the “name.”

First, I have to clarify that this prophecy is not necessarily gender specific like it seems. Zechariah’s prophecy similarly said, “In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” (Zech 8:23) The one similarity between the two prophecies is the word “hold.”

So the word “hold” is used in both prophecies to describe an action to secure safety among both men and women. To what would you hold on for safety? Would your stocks be a source of financial security? Would your home retain it’s value? If you could keep your job, would you have stability in perilous times?

Would you trust in a branch? Jeremiah wrote, “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. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely…” (Jer 23:5-6)

Of this Branch, Isaiah said, in chapter 11 of his book, that because of his wisdom and understanding, all nations would be safe in God’s “holy mountain.” The nations are represented by various animals that normally are not able to be at peace together. “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” (Isa 11:10) The prophet Joseph Smith asked the Lord in D&C 113 “What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter?

Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.”

It seems to me that Isaiah uses a parallel phrase for “root of Jesse” when he says “stem of Jesse” in Isaiah 11:1-5.

Scriptural imagery with branches in it refers to either olive trees or grape vines. In the allegory of the olive tree in Jacob 5, the root remains good while the branches slowly become corrupted, producing bad fruit. The gardener prunes the bad branches and transplants them to other places in his vineyard. Of all the twelve tribes, only Christ, the son of David, tribe of Judah remained true to his Father and produced good fruit. Everyone else was “cut off.”

I propose that Jesus Christ is “the Branch,” the safe place prophecied by both Isaiah and Jeremiah. In both prophecies the word “hold” is used as the verb describing how both men and women take root in the safety of the gospel. “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” (Isa 27:5-6) In Christ, people from all nations will begin to produce the “fruit” of the gospel.

Jesus called himself the “true vine” in John 15 when he said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” He spoke of those who would come to “hold” on, and the fruit that they would bring to the table. At the last day, those that are “holding” in name only but not bringing fruit are to be purged. This shows us that there is safety in Christ on condition of a true connection that shows the fruit of abiding in him.

You might remember the plague which befell the children of Israel in Numbers 16. To emphasize the place of safety, Moses performed a miracle. One rod was taken from each tribe as a representation of their power and placed before the tabernacle. Only the Rod of Aaron budded and brought forth fruits (specifically almonds). (Num 17:8) Despite the many leaders of each of the twelve tribes, there was only one way to be saved by God. The word “rod” is used in Isaiah 11:1 as a parallel phrase to “branch.”

Everything that happened to Israel is a metaphor of God’s dealings with Israel and all those who follow Him. Just as Israel needed to follow Aaron by virtue of his priesthood leadership, we also need to “hold” to the “true vine.” Despite many legitimate leaders’ opinions, there is only one with the power to save. There is only one name and we must take it and be called by it no matter the consequences. This is a time of separation. The wheat must yield fruit to be distinguished from the tares. The olive branches must yield fruit to remain attached to the vine. The man in Isa 4:1 is Jesus Christ.

Other places you will see the word root: Rev 5, Eph 3:17-19