Lexical Summary
choter: Shoot, Branch
Original Word:חֹטֵר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:choter
Pronunciation:kho'-ter
Phonetic Spelling:(kho'-ter)
KJV: rod
NASB:rod, shoot
Word Origin:[from an unused root of uncertain signification]
1. a twig
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
rod
From an unused root of uncertain signification; a twig -- rod.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionbranch or twig, a rod
NASB Translationrod (1), shoot (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
— metaphor absolute
branch, twig,
Isaiah 11:1 "" ; construct
rod,
Proverbs 14:3.
see below .
(√ of following; meaning unknown).
Topical Lexicon
Botanical Imageryחֹטֵר evokes the picture of a fresh shoot or twig that pushes forth from the trunk or roots of a tree. Ancient Near Eastern agriculture prized such growth as evidence that a seemingly dormant stump still contained life-giving sap. The term therefore became a vivid metaphor for new beginnings, hidden vitality, and divinely ordained renewal.
Occurrences in Scripture
Proverbs 14:3 links the “shoot” to discipline: “A fool’s proud talk invites a rod of discipline, but the lips of the wise protect them.” Here the shoot serves figuratively as the corrective instrument that meets arrogance. The same word inIsaiah 11:1 turns from chastisement to hope: “A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.” Both uses share the idea of something slender yet potent—whether bringing reproof to the foolish or salvation to the faithful.
Historical Background
After the Babylonian exile the royal house of David appeared cut down, like a felled tree. Prophets employed arboreal language to assure the remnant that God’s covenant with David endured beneath the surface. The imagery of חֹטֵר resonated with returning exiles who had witnessed desolation yet still observed green shoots emerging from tree stumps across Judea’s hills.
Messianic Expectation
Isaiah’s oracle identifies the shoot as a future Davidic king endowed with the Spirit of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2-5). Jewish expectation crystallized around this figure, anticipating an ideal ruler whose humble origin contrasts with the proud rulers condemned earlier (Isaiah 10:33-34). The New Testament writers recognize Jesus of Nazareth as that promised shoot, born in obscurity yet destined to reign eternally (Matthew 2:23;Revelation 22:16).
Moral Instruction
Proverbs places חֹטֵר in the realm of practical wisdom. The rod that meets proud speech warns readers that unchecked arrogance invites painful consequences. By pairing the shoot with discipline, the verse teaches that God’s corrective measures, though sometimes sharp, ultimately aim to cultivate righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).
Theological Significance
1. Continuity of Covenant: The shoot imagery testifies that divine promises survive apparent ruin. God preserves a remnant through whom His redemptive plan unfolds.
2. Humility and Exaltation: The slender shoot contrasts with lofty cedars, underscoring that God often advances His purposes through humble means (Philippians 2:6-11).
3. Spirit-Empowered Leadership:Isaiah 11 connects the shoot with the seven-fold Spirit, foreshadowing the Spirit-filled ministry of Christ and, by extension, Spirit-empowered service in the Church (Acts 1:8).
Practical Ministry Applications
• Preaching: Use the shoot motif to encourage congregations facing decline, emphasizing God’s ability to bring new life from stumps of disappointment.
• Discipleship: Contrast the rod of Proverbs with the life-giving shoot of Isaiah to illustrate both correction and restoration in spiritual growth.
• Evangelism: Present Jesus as the promised shoot who fulfills Israel’s hopes and offers Gentiles inclusion in His flourishing kingdom (Romans 15:12).
Summary
חֹטֵר appears sparingly yet speaks powerfully: as a rod it chastens, as a shoot it promises Messiah. Together the two occurrences reveal a God who confronts pride and cultivates hope, ensuring that from the stump of human failure a fruitful Branch will emerge for the salvation of the world.
Forms and Transliterations
חֹ֖טֶר חֹ֣טֶר חטר Choter ḥō·ṭer ḥōṭer
Links
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Interlinear Hebrew •
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Englishman's Greek Concordance •
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