David, Root of

Phrase applied to Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation (Rv 5:5; 22:16). Though “root” usually means “source,” the metaphor depicts Jesus as David’s royal descendant, as indicated by the parallel word “offspring” in Revelation 22:16. That is, Jesus came from King David’s family as a branch grows from a rooted tree (cf. Is 11:1).

See also Jesse, Root of.