And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
Ver. 12. And spake unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying] That is, confidently and constantly affirm and aver it; that, notwithstanding all unlikelihood and unbelief on the people's part, Almighty God will surely bring it to pass; this heap of words importeth so much; for "do ye think the Scripture speaketh in vain?" saith St James, not without some holy indignation, James 4:5 .
Behold the man whose name is The Branch] The man Christ Jesus, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, Romans 1:3; and as a Branch grew out of his roots, Isaiah 11:1. See Trapp on " Zec 3:4 " Joshua, that he might not be exalted above measure with the abundance of this new honour, or think of himself more highly than he ought to think, 2 Corinthians 12:7 Romans 12:3, is given to understand that he is crowned for no other cause than this, that the Jews might understand that there should One arise that should be both a king and a priest also for ever, after the order of Melchisedec; and his name should be the Branch, not only because when he was a child he grew in age and in wisdom, and in grace with God and men (which is Vatablus' reason), but because he is the root, fountain, and foundation of all the faithful, who do grow up and increase in him, with the increase of God: hence it followeth,
He shall grow up out of his place, and shall build the temple of God] That is, the Church, which at all times hath been gathered together by Christ, through the preaching of the gospel.
And he shall grow up out of his place] Or he (the Branch) shall branch up de sub se, from under himself; he shall be born of himself, as it were, of poor parentage; for this Branch grew out of the root of Jesse, when that goodly family was sunk so low, as from David the king to Joseph the carpenter. He that writeth the life of King Edward VI saith of his tutors, Dr Cox and Mr John Cheek, that they were men of mean birth; but so well esteemed for virtue and learning, that they might well be said to be born of themselves (Sir John Heywood).
And he shall build the temple of the Lord] i.e. The spiritual temple, that temple, the Church, the glory whereof was far greater than the glory of the former, Haggai 2:9. See Trapp on " Hag 2:9 " And this he should do in the quality of a king, and with royal magnificence. "Ye also, as lively stones, elect and precious, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood," &c., 1 Peter 2:5 .