The perpetuity of the house of Jesse is illustrated with a dramatic metaphor from the fields of Israel: “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots”; or, as the parallelism translates directly from the Hebrew, “There shall come forth a branch [khoter] out of the trunk of Jesse: indeed, a shoot [netzer] from his roots shall bear fruit.” The terms khoter and netzer can be used interchangeably, though in this case khoter is a branch or shoot from the trunk of the tree, whereas netzer is a shoot from the root system, and only a shoot or branch from the root can start new life.
Matthew may have referred to this prophecy when he saw in Jesus the fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23). Nazarene in Hebrew is notzri, the same root word used by Isaiah and variously translated “branch” or “shoot.” The olive tree is one of the few trees that can have apparently dead branches and even a dead trunk and still produce, sometime later, new life from the root. Characteristics of the olive tree are called to bear witness that the Messiah, a descendant of David, son of Jesse, would grow from the original root of the family tree of the royal house of David.
The “stem of Jesse” (Hebrew geza Yishai) is Jesus Christ (D&C 113:1–2). The “rod” (Hebrew khoter) is Joseph Smith (a descendant of Jesse and Ephraim; D&C 113:4). In the Topical Guide under “Joseph Smith,” this is the first passage listed.
The “branch” (netzer in Matthew 2:23) is Jesus Christ (as in other scriptures, for example, Jeremiah 23:5, all footnotes refer to the Savior).
Matthew sees fulfillment of a messianic prophecy in Jesus’ connection with Nazareth. We have no specific reference in biblical literature to prophets declaring that the Messiah would be a Nazarene, unless this is an allusion to Isaiah 11:1. Isaiah foreshadowed that a “branch” (netzer) would grow out of the root of Jesse—that is, from the Davidic line—and thus Jesus would be a Nazarene (notzri). Both Hebrew words come from the same root word.
Elder James E. Talmage taught in Jesus the Christ, “As made known to the prophet [Isaiah] and by him proclaimed, the coming Lord was the living Branch that should spring from the undying root typified in the family of Jesse.” 59 And Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that the Branch and the King are the Lord Jesus Christ when he returns to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 60
The “root of Jesse” (Hebrew shoresh Yishai, v. 10) is Joseph Smith. 61 Doctrine and Covenants 113:6 explains the fulfillment as follows:
1. A descendant of Jesse and Joseph on whom was laid much power. Brigham Young taught that “the Book of Mormon came to Ephraim, for Joseph Smith was a pure Ephraimite, and the Book of Mormon was revealed to him, and while he lived he made it his business to search for those who believed the Gospel.” 62
2. A rightful heir to the priesthood.
3. A holder of the keys of the kingdom.
4. His work would be an ensign to the nations.
5. His work would help gather Israel in the last days.
Thus in 2 Nephi 21, verses 1–5 and 10 refer to Jesus Christ and to Joseph Smith. We see this kind of multiple meaning in 1 Nephi 21 also.
The stem and the branch of Jesse are Jesus; verses 2–5 could only be Jesus. The same Being was described in 19:6. He is the personification of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, reverence, judgment, righteousness, equity, and faithfulness.
The rod and the root of Jesse are Joseph Smith; the description in Doctrine and Covenants 113:6 could only be Joseph Smith.