O Root of Jesse – What Does This Mean?

Encore Post: O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom they will do homage, Come quickly to deliver us.

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur, veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardere.

The title in today’s antiphon comes from Isaiah 11. The people of Israel had been unfaithful to God, worshiping the idols of the gentiles around them. He had already destroyed the northern kingdom with the Assyrian Empire. Isaiah predicted that eventually the same would happen to the southern kingdom. The house of David would eventually be destroyed as well. Isaiah prophesied that the root of this tree would sprout again. The messiah would come to be that branch from the root of Jesse, King David’s father. His will be an everlasting kingdom.

Isaiah then switches images. The Root of Jesse was to be a flag to which the gentiles would rally. Before electronic communication, armies used trumpets and flags to keep their forces together and is send orders to every unit. An old proverb says that even the most thorough battle plan does not survive the beginning of conflict. Loud sounds, explosions, clash of weapons, and, in modern times, the smoke of firearms causes chaos impossible to shout over. At times when soldiers loose track of where they are, the look for their unit flag and national flag. They make their way to the flag and the forces reassemble.

The Messiah will be, Isaiah tells us, the flag to which the people of Israel and the gentiles will gather. He will bring people together in peace. The antiphon focuses on the absolute power the Messiah will have over all kings. It calls on him to free us from their power and not be late.

When the Messiah did come, the freedom he granted was over Satan, sin and our flesh. He did this with the sacrifice of his own life in our place. When he rose from the grave, he broke its seal and opened the kingdom to all believers. When he comes again, he will complete that liberation, when we, free from sin, will live for him and with him forever.

O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree,
Free them from Satan’s tyranny
That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save,
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Lutheran Service Book, 357, Stanza Four

Rev. Robert E. Smith
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Indiana