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Friday, December 19, 2008

The Tree of Jesse

Arbre de Jessé/ Tree of Jesse
Guiard des Moulins, Historical Bible
14th -15th century
Français 159, fol. 175,
Illuminated Manuscript
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris


Isaiah, Chapter 11, verses 1-3:-

“ And there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots..."


Christ is the "shoot of Jesse" by his descent from Jesse's son, King David

In the medieval period, heredity was all-important.The Tree of Jesse was a means of illustrating the actual royal descent of Jesus, especially for royalty and the nobility, including those who had joined the clergy.

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