Bible Encyclopedias
Branch and Bough

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bransh : Represented by very many words in the Hebrew.

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

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

(3) כּפה , kippāh , Job 15:32 . Isaiah 9:14; Isaiah 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" (Isaiah 9:14 ).

(4) נצר , nēcer (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," Daniel 11:7 ), which may be planted out to grow (Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 60:21 ), or may be rooted out and thrown away (Isaiah 14:19 ).

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

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

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

(7) בּדּים , baddı̄m (plural only used; Ezekiel 17:6; Ezekiel 19:14 ).

(8) דּלית , dālı̄th (plural only used; Jeremiah 11:16 ).

(9) מטּה , maṭṭeh (Ezekiel 19:11 ).

(10) סעיף , ṣā‛ı̄ph (Isaiah 18:5; סעפה , ṣe‛appāh (plural) (Ezekiel 31:6 ); סרעפה , ṣar‛appāh (Ezekiel 31:5 ).

(11) ענף , ‛ānāph (Malachi 4:1; Psalm 80:11 ); ענף , ‛ănāph (Daniel 4:14 , Daniel 4:21 ); ענף , 'eneph (Ezekiel 36:8 ).

(12) פארה , pu'rāh , "a bough" (Isaiah 10:33 ); פארות , pō'rōth (pl. only) (Ezekiel 31:5 , Ezekiel 31:8 ).

(13) צמּרת , cammereth , "foliage" or "boughs of trees," literally "locks" or "fleece" of trees (Ezekiel 17:3; Ezekiel 31:3 ).

(14) קציר , ḳācı̄r (collective) (Job 14:9 ), "boughs" (Psalm 80:11 ), "branches."

(15) שׁבּלת , shı̄bbeleth , the two olive branches of Zechariah 4:12 .

(16) שׂוך , sōḳḥ , root meaning "to interweave" (Judges 9:49 ); שׂוכה , sōkhāh (Judges 9:48 ), "boughs."

(17) שׂריג , sārı̄gh (pl. only, שׂריגים , sārı̄ghı̄m ), "branches" (of the vine) (Genesis 40:10; Joel 1:7 ).

Represented in Greek in the New Testament:

(1) βαΐ́ον , baı́on (John 12:13 ), "a palm branch."

(2) κλάδος , kládos (Matthew 13:32; Matthew 21:8; Matthew 24:32; Mark 4:32; Mark 13:28; Luke 13:19; Romans 11:16 , Romans 11:17 , Romans 11:18 , Romans 11:19 , Romans 11:21 ).

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

(4) στίβας , stı́bas (= στοιβάς , stoibás ), a "twig" or "bough" (Mark 11:8 ).