Jeremiah 23:5-8

Du. and others reject these vv., which are also viewed with suspicion by Co. The use of the term "the Shoot" for the Messiah by Zechariah (Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12) shews that in his time it was an established expression, and therefore might naturally be employed as early as pre-exilic times in connexion with Messianic expectations which were even then current. Moreover, there can be little doubt that "our righteousness" (Heb. Ṣidḳenu) is an appellation chosen by the prophet as hinting (see on Jeremiah 23:1) at the name of the reigning king, Zedekiah (Heb. Ṣidḳiyahu). "What Zedekiah's name, received at his accession, set forth as an ideal, would be a realized fact in the time of the Messianic King" (Peake). Contrast the Messianic picture in Psalms 2 (specially Jeremiah 23:9) with that (so much more consonant with Jeremiah's character) given here of a wise and just ruler over a nation united and at peace. We have a prophecy less plainly Messianic in Jeremiah 30:9, where see note.