In biblical literature, the imagery of stumps is often used to convey themes of judgment, hope, and renewal. The concept of a stump, the remnant of a tree that has been cut down, serves as a powerful metaphor throughout Scripture, symbolizing both the consequences of divine judgment and the promise of future restoration.

Judgment and Hope

One of the most notable references to a stump is found in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 6:13, the prophet speaks of the land being laid waste, yet a remnant will remain: "And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land." . Here, the stump represents the faithful remnant of Israel, a symbol of hope and continuity despite the devastation of judgment.

The Stump of Jesse

The imagery of a stump is further developed in Isaiah 11:1, where the prophet foretells the coming of the Messiah: "Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit." . Jesse, the father of King David, represents the Davidic line, which appeared to be cut down during the Babylonian exile. However, the prophecy assures that from this seemingly dead stump, a new shoot—the Messiah—will emerge, bringing hope and salvation to Israel and the nations.

Symbol of Renewal

The metaphor of the stump is not limited to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the concept of renewal and new life from what seems dead is echoed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the New Testament does not explicitly use the term "stump," the underlying theme of life emerging from death is central to the Christian faith. The resurrection is the ultimate fulfillment of the hope symbolized by the stump of Jesse, as Jesus, the promised Messiah, brings eternal life to all who believe.

Theological Implications

The imagery of stumps in the Bible underscores the dual themes of judgment and redemption. It serves as a reminder of God's righteous judgment against sin and disobedience, as well as His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. The stump signifies that even in the face of apparent destruction, God's purposes will prevail, and His plans for salvation and restoration will be accomplished.

Practical Application

For believers, the image of the stump encourages faith and perseverance. It reassures Christians that God's promises are steadfast, even when circumstances seem dire. The stump of Jesse is a testament to God's faithfulness and a call to trust in His redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. As such, it inspires hope and confidence in the ultimate fulfillment of God's kingdom.

Christ's Prayer Answered.
... STUMPS AND ROOTS. ... It used to be a pastime of the boys in eastern Ohio to pile
great heaps of brush upon huge stumps in newly-cleared land. ...
/.../rees/the heart-cry of jesus/chapter iv christs prayer answered.htm

The vineyards
... "The vines in the vineyard, children, are like these men. Look at the vine stumps,
they are black, and hard, and they look dry and barren. ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xxviii the vineyards.htm

How the Soul is to Carry it Self in the Faults it Doth Commit ...
... fallen, and wouldst have fallen according to thy inclination and appetite: What
can be expected from the slippery ground of our nature, but stumps, bryers and ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap xvii how the soul.htm

The Lutheran and Reformed Confessions.
... Luther was the originating, commanding reformer, 'born,' as he himself says, 'to
tear up the stumps and dead roots, to cut away the thorns, and to act as a ...
/.../ 39 the lutheran and.htm

The High Woods
... Soon logs and stumps, standing out of the water, marked the mouth of the Caroni;
and we had to take a sweep out seaward to avoid its mud- banks. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vii the high woods.htm

A Letter from a West Indian Cottage Ornee
... six months ago, all is now a fresh impenetrable undergrowth of green; creepers covering
the land, climbing up and shrouding the charred stumps; young palms ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter v a letter from.htm

The Northern Mountains
... across a shallow ford, and then up another hillside"this time with care, for the
felled logs and brushwood lay all about a path full of stumps, and we needed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xi the northern mountains.htm

Original Sin
... Original sin is like that tree, in Daniel 4:43, though the branches of it were hewn
down, and the main body of it, yet the stumps and root of the tree were left ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/3 original sin.htm

On a Piece of Chalk. A Lecture to Working Men.
... containing vegetable matter. But that layer tells a wonderful history. It is
full of stumps of trees standing as they grew. Fir-trees are ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/ix on a piece of.htm

The Second Awakening.
... Many lay down and rolled over and over for hours at a time. Others rushed wildly
over the stumps and benches, and then plunged, shouting Lost! ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xiv the second awakening.htm

Stumps (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Stumps (2 Occurrences). Isaiah 6:13 And even if
there is still a tenth part in it, it will again be burned ...
/s/stumps.htm - 7k

Stump (7 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The legs; as, to stir one's stumps. ... 12. (n.) To bowl down the stumps of,
as, of a wicket. 13. (vi) To walk clumsily, as if on stumps. ...
/s/stump.htm - 10k

Wicket (1 Occurrence)
... It consists of three rods, or stumps, set vertically in the ground, with one or
two short rods, called bails, lying horizontally across the top. ...
/w/wicket.htm - 7k

Stubble (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The stumps of wheat, rye, barley, oats, or buckwheat,
left in the ground; the part of the stalk left by the scythe or sickle. ...
/s/stubble.htm - 15k

Stung (1 Occurrence)

/s/stung.htm - 6k

Palm (49 Occurrences)
... Today the numerous salt-encrusted stumps of wild palm trees washed up all along
the shores of the Dead Sea witness to the existence of these trees within ...
/p/palm.htm - 35k

Tree (245 Occurrences)
... Today the numerous salt-encrusted stumps of wild palm trees washed up all along
the shores of the Dead Sea witness to the existence of these trees within ...
/t/tree.htm - 75k

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