The Branch of the Lord

After prophesying of destruction and captivity which will humble the children of Israel, Isaiah looks beyond those events to their restoration:

In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the earth excellent and comely to them that are escaped of Israel.

2 Nephi 14:2, Isaiah 4:2

What did Isaiah mean by “the branch of the Lord?”

As I’ve pondered this verse today, I’ve thought of three interpretations.

First, the branch of the Lord could refer to the blessings which the children of Israel receive as they repent and turn their hearts to God. Isaiah frequently provides two synonymous phrases to clarify his meaning. This phrase has a parallel structure with the following one:

In that day shall…	be…
the branch of the Lord	beautiful and glorious
the fruit of the earth	excellent and comely

So the “branch of the Lord” or the “fruit of the earth” could represent prosperity: good food which is available not only in abundance but which the children of Israel are able to savor because of their freedom.

Some Bible translations adopt this interpretation. For example, here is this verse in the Contemporary English Version:

The time is coming when the LORD will make his land fruitful and glorious again, and the people of Israel who survive will take great pride in what the land produces.

A second interpretation is that the branch refers to Jesus Christ. Nephi tells us that his purpose in quoting Isaiah is to teach us about Christ (2 Nephi 11), so it stands to reason that he has found many references to the Savior in the chapters he has chosen to include. The King James translators chose not to capitalize the word “branch” in this passage, but many other English translations of the Bible do so, which connects it with several Old Testament prophecies of Christ:

• “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isaiah 11:1, 2 Nephi 21:1).
• “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” (Jeremiah 23:5; see also Jeremiah 33:15).
• “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH” (Zechariah 3:8; see also Zechariah 6:12).

In this interpretation, Jesus is the branch because he comes from the Father, is connected to the Father, and leads us to Him.

A third interpretation is that we become the branch of the Lord as we bind ourselves to Him. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). I think it’s significant that smaller congregations in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are called “branches” of the Church. As we gather to worship Him, we draw strength from Him and from each other. The connection provides the nourishment.

Today, I will be grateful for the many ways God is reaching out to me. I’ll be grateful for the blessings I have received from Him. I’ll be grateful for the gift of His Son, who brings me closer to Him. And I’ll be grateful for my association with other believers who help me stay connected with the Savior.