What the Bible says about Jesus as Branch from Jesse's Roots
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Several generations pass before God decrees the direction of Jesus' lineage: "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots" (Isaiah 11:1). Jesse lived at least eight generations after Judah during the days of the prophet Samuel. He and his family had lived in the town of Bethlehem in the territory of Judah for several generations—at least since the time of Boaz (Ruth 2:4). Matthew 1 and Luke 3 both mention Jesse in their genealogies.
In Romans 15:12, Paul connects Jesus descending from Jesse to the hope of the Gentiles: "And again, Isaiah [11:10] says: 'There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.'" Jesse's female ancestors include three Gentiles—Tamar (Genesis 38), Rahab (Joshua 2; Matthew 1:5), and Ruth (Ruth 4:13-22)—who are also Jesus the Messiah's ancestors. As Paul says, Jesus Christ became a servant "that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy" (Romans 15:9).
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Born of a WomanRelated Topics: Genealogy of Jesus Christ | Jesse, Root of | Jesse, Son of | Jesse, Stem of | Jesus as Branch from Jesse's Roots | Jesus Christ as the Branch | Jesus Christ's Birth, Prophecy of | Jesus Christ's Genealogy | Jesus Christ's Lineage | Lineage of Jesus Christ | Root Analogy | Root and Branch Analogy
This prophecy does not necessarily state where the Messiah would be born but that the home base, town, or city of the family of the Promised Seed would be Bethlehem Ephrathah. He was indeed born there. David's particular family line (see Ruth 4:18-22) begins with a son, Perez, that Tamar bore to Jacob's son, Judah. Five generations later, Salmon was born into that family line, and his son was Boaz, who married Ruth the Moabitess. These two, who made their home in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1, 19; 2:4), produced Obed, who fathered Jesse, David's father. Jesse and David were also from Bethlehem (I Samuel 16:1, 4, 18).
John W. Ritenbaugh
Leadership and Covenants (Part Eleven): SignsRelated Topics: Boaz and Ruth | David's Dynasty | Descendants of Perez | Jesse, Son of | Jesus as Branch from Jesse's Roots | Leadership and Covenants | Obed | Perez | Promised Seed | Tamar