The stump of Jesse refers to the Davidic line of kings beginning with David the son of Jesse. This is a reference to the royal family tree. The problem is the family tree is referred to as a royal stump. This indicates that Isaiah saw the day coming when the royal dynasty of David would be cut down and rejected by the Lord. These kings had rejected the Lord so long that the Lord cuts their tree down. This will happen in King Zedekiah’s day and will be addressed by Jeremiah.

Yet, from the root of the promise to David concerning his royal dynasty a branch will grow and bear fruit. The Lord had promised David that one of his own sons would sit on David’s throne and rule forever.

This Branch that grows directly from the root of the promise will be the Messiah.

Jesus' lineage that connects him directly to David is recorded in Luke 3:23-37, but not to the branches of the family tree that run through Ahaz, Mannasseh, Zedekiah and others.

Jeremiah 22:28-30 records the removal of the wicked branch of Davidic kings from God’s promise.

Jesus is indeed the Son of God and savior of mankind.
In his ministries before God Jesus also serves as
a prophet to his generation,
a priest who represents men to God and God to man, and a man who will rule the entire world as king.

1. Prophet – Moses said another prophet like him was coming (Deut.18:15). According to Acts 3:22-24, Jesus was that prophet. The crowds received Jesus as a prophet (Matt. 21:11, 46), and Jesus’ claimed to be a prophet (Luke 4:24).

2. Priest – The priests of the Old Testament came from the line of Aaron of the tribe of Levi. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, yet the New Testament makes it clear that Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek who was not even Jewish. Melchizedek was a priest because he had been chosen by God. The book of Hebrews explains the priesthood of Jesus to the Jewish people. The priests of Aaron served on earth in a man-made temple that was a shadow of heaven. Jesus is a priest who can enter the true heavenly temple and actually remove sin from man in the presence of God.

2. King – Jesus is seated at God’s right hand ruling all creation from heaven now, but we are awaiting his return when he will be King of the whole earth (Zechariah 14:9).