Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "root" carries significant metaphorical and theological weight, often symbolizing origin, foundation, and sustenance. The concept of a root is used both literally and figuratively throughout the Scriptures to convey deep spiritual truths and connections.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for root is "שֹׁרֶשׁ" (shoresh). It appears in various contexts, often to describe the literal roots of plants and trees, as seen in
Job 14:8: "Though its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil." However, the metaphorical use of "root" is more profound, symbolizing the source or origin of a person or nation.
One of the most significant uses of "root" is found in the prophetic literature, particularly in reference to the Davidic line.
Isaiah 11:1 prophesies, "Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit." This passage is widely interpreted as a messianic prophecy, pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word for root is "ῥίζα" (rhiza). The concept of root is used to illustrate spiritual truths and the nature of faith. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explains the seed sown on rocky ground: "But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away" (
Matthew 13:21). Here, the root represents the depth and resilience of one's faith.
The Apostle Paul also employs the metaphor of the root in his epistles. In
Romans 11:16-18, Paul discusses the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles using the imagery of an olive tree: "If the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the root, do not boast over those branches." This passage emphasizes the importance of the root as the source of spiritual nourishment and connection to God's promises.
The Root of JesseThe "Root of Jesse" is a messianic title that appears in both the Old and New Testaments.
Isaiah 11:10 states, "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious." This prophecy is echoed in the New Testament in
Revelation 5:5, where Jesus is referred to as the "Root of David," highlighting His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and His role as the eternal King.
Theological ImplicationsTheologically, the root symbolizes the foundational truths of the Christian faith, the source of spiritual life, and the connection to God's covenant promises. It underscores the importance of being deeply rooted in Christ, as expressed in
Colossians 2:7: "rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
In summary, the biblical concept of "root" serves as a powerful metaphor for understanding the origins, sustenance, and growth of faith, as well as the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To turn up the earth with the snout, as swine.
2. (v. i.) Hence, to seek for favor or advancement by low arts or groveling servility; to fawn servilely.
3. (v. t.) To turn up or to dig out with the snout; as, the swine roots the earth.
4. (n.) The underground portion of a plant, whether a true root or a tuber, a bulb or rootstock, as in the potato, the onion, or the sweet flag.
5. (n.) The descending, and commonly branching, axis of a plant, increasing in length by growth at its extremity only, not divided into joints, leafless and without buds, and having for its offices to fix the plant in the earth, to supply it with moisture and soluble matters, and sometimes to serve as a reservoir of nutriment for future growth. A true root, however, may never reach the ground, but may be attached to a wall, etc., as in the ivy, or may hang loosely in the air, as in some epiphytic orchids.
6. (n.) An edible or esculent root, especially of such plants as produce a single root, as the beet, carrot, etc.; as, the root crop.
7. (n.) That which resembles a root in position or function, esp. as a source of nourishment or support; that from which anything proceeds as if by growth or development; as, the root of a tooth, a nail, a cancer, and the like.
8. (n.) An ancestor or progenitor; and hence, an early race; a stem.
9. (n.) A primitive form of speech; one of the earliest terms employed in language; a word from which other words are formed; a radix, or radical.
10. (n.) The cause or occasion by which anything is brought about; the source.
11. (n.) That factor of a quantity which when multiplied into itself will produce that quantity; thus, 3 is a root of 9, because 3 multiplied into itself produces 9; 3 is the cube root of 27.
12. (n.) The fundamental tone of any chord; the tone from whose harmonics, or overtones, a chord is composed.
13. (n.) The lowest place, position, or part.
14. (n.) The time which to reckon in making calculations.
15. (v. i.) To fix the root; to enter the earth, as roots; to take root and begin to grow.
16. (v. i.) To be firmly fixed; to be established.
17. (v. t.) To plant and fix deeply in the earth, or as in the earth; to implant firmly; hence, to make deep or radical; to establish; -- used chiefly in the participle; as, rooted trees or forests; rooted dislike.
18. (v. t.) To tear up by the root; to eradicate; to extirpate; -- with up, out, or away.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DAVID, ROOT OFroot (he rhiza Daueid,Revelation 5:5;Revelation 22:16): Root here means stock, family, descendant, hence, "the Root of David" is that which descended from David, not that from which David descended. Jesus Christ in His human nature and family connections was a descendant of David, a member of his family.
ROOT
root (shoresh; rhiza): Frequently mentioned in the Old Testament and New Testament, but almost always in a figurative sense, e.g. "root of the righteous" (Proverbs 12:3, 12); "root that beareth gall" (Deuteronomy 29:18); "Their root shall be as rottenness" (Isaiah 5:24); "root of bitterness" (Hebrews 12:15). Also of peoples: "they whose root is in Amalek" (Judges 5:14); of Assyria (Ezekiel 31:7); "Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up" (Hosea 9:16); "Judah shall again take root downward" (2 Kings 19:30; compareIsaiah 27:6;Isaiah 37:31); the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10Romans 15:12); root of David (Revelation 5:5;Revelation 22:16).
ROOT OF JESSE
(shoresh yishay (Isaiah 11:10); rhiza tou Iessai (Romans 15:12)): The Hebrew and Greek words are practically the same in meaning. "Root" means descendant, branch of the family or stock. The Messianic king was to be of the family of Jesse the father of David. InRomans 15:12 Paul quotes the Septuagint ofIsaiah 11:10. Jesus is a branch or descendant of the family of Jesse, as well as of David.
See alsoDAVID, ROOT OF.
ROOT OF DAVID
SeeDAVID, ROOT OF.
Greek
4491. rhiza -- aroot... a
root. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: rhiza Phonetic Spelling:
(hrid'-zah) Short Definition: a
root, that which comes from the
root Definition
...4492. rhizoo -- to cause to takeroot
... to cause to takeroot. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: rhizoo Phonetic Spelling:
(hrid-zo'-o) Short Definition: Iroot, fix by theroot Definition: I...
1610. ekrizoo -- to uproot
... to uproot. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekrizoo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-rid-zo'-o) Short Definition: Iroot out,root up Definition: Iroot out, pluck...
4998. sophron -- of sound mind, self-controlled
... Biblical (4998 ) describes ", but rather'" (K. Wuest,, 2, 46). Thisroot (,
"soundness") then reflects living in balance. [Theroot...
3474. moros -- dull, stupid, foolish
... 3474 (theroot of the English terms, "moron, moronic") -- properly, (insipid), flat
("without an edge"); (figuratively) "mentally inert"; dull in understanding...
1388. dolos -- a bait, fig. craft, deceit
... with) their . [1388 () is theroot of: 1386 (), 1387 () and 1389 ().]. Word
Origin from theroot del- Definition a bait, fig. craft...
1143. dakno -- to bite
... Word Origin from a prim.root dak- Definition to bite NASB Word Usage bite (1).... A
prolonged form of a primaryroot; to bite, ie (figuratively) thwart -- bite....
2348. thnesko -- to die
... Cognate: 2348 (theroot of , "death") -- (spiritually or physically); subject to
death....root than- Definition to die NASB Word Usage dead (7), died (2)....
3105. mainomai -- to rage, be mad
... 3105 (theroot of the English terms, "maniac" and "mania") -- to rave, full of inner
rage (fury); to act as though out of one's senses -- getting (angry) it...
2300. theaomai -- to behold, look upon
... to significantly (). [2300 () is theroot of 2302 ("spectacle in a theatre"),
theroot of the English term, "theatre."]. Word Origin...
Strong's Hebrew
8328. shoresh -- aroot... 8327, 8328. shoresh. 8329 . a
root. Transliteration: shoresh Phonetic
Spelling: (sheh'-resh) Short Definition:
root. Word Origin
...5428. nathash -- to pull or pluck up,root out
... nathash. 5429 . to pull or pluck up,root out. Transliteration: nathash Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-thash') Short Definition: uproot. Word Origin a prim....
6131. aqar -- to pluck orroot up
... 6130, 6131. aqar. 6132 . to pluck orroot up. Transliteration: aqar Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-kar') Short Definition: uproot.... dig down, pluck up,root up....
8330. shoresh -- aroot
... shoresh. 8331 . aroot. Transliteration: shoresh Phonetic Spelling: (sho'-resh)
Short Definition: roots....root. (Aramaic) corresponding to sheresh --root....
6136a. iqqar --root, stock
...root, stock. Transliteration: iqqar Short Definition: stump. Word Origin (Aramaic)
corresponding to eqer Definitionroot, stock NASB Word Usage stump (3)....
8329. Sheresh -- "root," a man of Manasseh
... 8328, 8329. Sheresh. 8330 . "root," a man of Manasseh. Transliteration: Sheresh
Phonetic Spelling: (sheh'-resh) Short Definition: Sheresh....
6136. iqqar --root, stock
... 6135, 6136. iqqar. 6136a .root, stock. Transliteration: iqqar Phonetic
Spelling: (ik-kar') Short Definition: stump. stump (Aramaic...
8327. sharash -- to deal with the roots
... 8326, 8327. sharash. 8328 . to deal with the roots. Transliteration: sharash
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-rash') Short Definition:root....
5423. nathaq -- to pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off
...root Definition to pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off NASB Word Usage break
(1), broke apart (1), broken (2), burst (1), drag off (1), draw away (1...
5255. nasach -- to pull or tear away
... Word Origin a prim.root Definition to pull or tear away NASB Word Usage tear away
(1), tear down (1), torn (1), uprooted (1). destroy, pluck,root....
Library
Whether Covetousness is theRoot of all Sins?
... OF THE CAUSE OF SIN, IN RESPECT OF ONE SIN BEING THE CAUSE OF ANOTHER (FOUR
ARTICLES) Whether covetousness is theroot of all sins?...
The Poetry of aRoot Crop
... THE POETRY OF AROOT CROP. Underneath their eider-robe Russet swede and
golden globe, Feathered carrot, burrowing deep, Steadfast...
"The Axe is Laid to theRoot. "
... XXXI. "THE AXE IS LAID TO THEROOT.". "And now also the axe is laid unto theroot
of the trees.... FRUIT OR FIRE! "The axe is laid to theroot of the trees."....
Seed Scattered and TakingRoot
... SEED SCATTERED AND TAKINGROOT. 'And Saul was consenting unto his death.
And at that time there was a great persecution against the...
Love is theRoot of all Other Passions. ...
... CHAPTER II. Love is theroot of all other passions.? Sec. 1. Love is theroot of
all other passions. Sec. 2. The wonderful depravity of our natural love....
Self is theRoot, the Tree, and the Branches of all the Evils of...
... Address 111: Self is theroot, the tree, and the branches of all the evils
of our? Self is theroot, the tree, and the branches...
Humility is theRoot of Charity, and Meekness the Fruit of Both. ....
... John xiii. 35. Chapter V. Humility is theroot of charity, and meekness the fruit
of both.? Humility is theroot of charity, and meekness the fruit of both....
Fragment xxx. "The Axe unto theRoot," He Says, Urging us to the...
... Fragment XXX. "The axe unto theroot," he says, urging us to the knowledge
of the truth? [4846] "The axe unto theroot," [4847...
Love theRoot of all Good Things; Cupidity, of all Evil Ones.
... A Treatise on the grace of christ, and on original sin, Chapter 21 [XX.]"Love
theRoot of All Good Things; Cupidity, of All Evil Ones....
How the Old Law WouldRoot Out Anger not Only from the Actions but...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XV. How the Old Law wouldroot out anger not only
from the actions but from the thoughts. But why should we...
Thesaurus
Root (54 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) The underground portion of a plant, whether a true
root or a tuber, a bulb
or rootstock, as in the potato, the onion, or the sweet flag.
...Slayer (23 Occurrences)
... flee there. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Numbers... holy oil.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Numbers...
Alway (26 Occurrences)
... Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Root in WEB KJV
WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV).... (Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)....
Kohathite (18 Occurrences)
... Kohathites. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). Numbers... Uzziel.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). Numbers...
Kin (18 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV).... Therefore spread your skirt over your handmaid;
for you are a near kinsman." (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV NIV)....
Conspire (18 Occurrences)
... kill him. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). 1 Kings... to Gibbethon.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). 1 Kings...
Stablish (12 Occurrences)
... his saints. (Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV). 2 Thessalonians... and word.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). 2 Thessalonians...
Cook (17 Occurrences)
... (Root in BBE DBY). Exodus 23:19 The best of the first-fruits of your land are to
be taken into the house of the Lord your God.... (Root in BBE NIV)....
Ax (12 Occurrences)
... Ax (12 Occurrences). Matthew 3:10 "Even now the axe lies at theroot of the
trees.... (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Aramean (17 Occurrences)
... presents. And the LORD gave victory to David whithersoever he went. (Root in
JPS NAS NIV). 2 Samuel... thousand men. (Root in JPS NAS NIV). 1...
Resources
What is the meaning of root of Jesse in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a root of bitterness? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is the love of money the root of all kinds of evil? | GotQuestions.orgRoot: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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