Jeremiah 23:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The days are approaching, declares the Lord, when I will restore the righteous branch to David. This reference pertains to Zerubbabel. Instead of 'the righteous branch,' Simmachus interprets it as 'the shoot of the righteous'; many suggest this is a veiled reference to Christ and, historically, to Josedec. He appoints wise leaders at the right moment, having shaped them through discipline to be more discerning, ensuring that the blessings they offer are received joyfully, as negligence and pride have been eradicated.

The prophet <...> declares regarding Christ: “Behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch. A King will reign and act wisely, executing judgment and righteousness upon the earth. In His days, Judah will be delivered, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is the name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord is our righteousness!’” (Jer. 23:5-6).

The Scriptures announce that a time will arrive when I will raise up a righteous branch for David, and He shall be called "The Lord is Our Righteousness." This profound truth was initiated in Zerubbabel but came to fruition in our Savior. While Zerubbabel could never be referred to as "The Lord our righteousness," Christ the Lord is indeed identified by that title. Prophets, apostles, the Archangel Gabriel, who heralded His conception, and the angels who served alongside Gabriel as they declared His birth to the shepherds, all bore witness to Him. Furthermore, neither Zerubbabel nor anyone of his kind bestowed upon the people the remarkable gifts that Jeremiah mentioned would be conferred by the great King arising from their lineage.

The unnecessary inclusion by the Seventy regarding the prophets must be completely eliminated. Following this is a section they left out, concluding with the inscription, To the prophets or against the prophets, which we will discuss in due time. Therefore, after rejecting the leaders of the Synagogue, namely the Scribes and Pharisees, and following the salvation of a remnant from Israel, the apostles of the Gospel are established in the stead of these previous rulers. This brings forth the Shepherd of Shepherds, the Supreme Ruler, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords—Christ our Redeemer. He is properly identified as the Righteous Branch or the Rising Sun of righteousness, of whom it is written: righteousness shall shine forth in His days (Ps.

The days are approaching, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous branch: a just King will govern, demonstrating wisdom and executing justice and righteousness upon the earth (Jer. 23:6). In His days, Judah will be delivered, and Israel will find hope; and by this name shall the Lord be called, Josedech, as noted by the Prophets. The uninformed Jews attempt to attribute this to Zerubbabel. However, they should recognize that Zerubbabel was not a king but a leader of the people, and he was not designated by the name Josedek, which does not pertain to him. This name signifies, The Lord our righteousness, or as the Syrian translation states, The Lord, justify us; and some of these interpretations do not apply to Zerubbabel.