Meaning of Tzemach

Name: Karen Zeida

Subject: Meaning of the word "Tzemach"

Message: Hello,
I am sorry to ask what I am sure will seem a foolish question, however, I am having a hard time finding out what the word "Tzemach" means. Would you please let me know? I have tried researching on the internet to no avail. Thank you for your time. I really appreciate it.

Shalom,

karen

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Dear Karen,

Thank you for your correspondence.

In our eyes, no question is foolish. The answer to this one is not so easy to find if you don't know the Hebrew language.

The word "Tzemach" therefore is obviously Hebrew, and it literally means "branch." The prophets identified that even though the lineage of the kings from David would be cut off, that God would raise up a righteous "branch" [Tzemach] from that family tree. It is like a tree having been cut down, but then a sprout comes up from the stump.

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD.
When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch (Tzemach);
And He will reign as King and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
"In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called,
The LORD our righteousness.'

King Zedekiah was the last of the reigning Kings from the lineage of David. When Judea was overthrown by Babylon the scripture tells us:

"They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon."

We see Jesus [Yeshuah, or Yahoshua], "Son of David" as the fulfillment of this prophecy and that is why we chose the name "Tzemach."

Blessings from the Tzemach Institute for Biblical Studies,

Jim Wingerter
Director of Multimedia Communications