Exploring the possibilities of the Jesse Tree
Jesse Tree Images
Adam
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Genesis 2:4-9, 3:1-3
Tree of Life, man woman, serpent, apple, spade, pickaxe
Eve
Genesis 2:18-23, 3:4-6
Tree, man, worman, serpent, apple, spindle, distaff
Noah
Genesis 6:11-22, 7:1-24, 8:1-22, 9:1-18
Noah and his family were spared by God when He sent a worldwide flood. Symbols are the ark, an oar, a dove, a sprig of olive in its beak, rainbow.
Abraham
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Genesis 12:1-7, 15:1-5, 17:1-8, 18:1-15, 21:1-7
Torch, altar, 12 stars, sword, mountain, The Lord had told Abram to leave his country and go a new Land. God gave him a new name – Abraham.
Sarah
Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-8
Baby Isaac, Sarah’s circle, tent, cradle. Sarah was the wife of Abraham. She remained childless for a long time. God blest them with their son Isaac.
Isaac
Genesis 21:1-8, 22:1-14
Bundles of wood, ram in a bush, fire and knife. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son; an angel appeared telling them to sacrifice a lamb..
Melchizadek
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Genesis 14:18-20, Ps 110:4, Hebrews 7
Melchizadek is often viewed as the character who foreshadowed Christ. He is symbolised by a loaf of bread, chalice, Mitre, crown and censer.
Rebekah
Genesis 24:13-21, 24:57-67
Jug and water, camel. Rebekah was chosen by Isaac’s servants for his bride as she was the only one who offered water to him and their camels
Jacob
Genesis 28:10-22, 29:9-12
Ladder, sun, and full moon encircled with 12 stars, kettle. Joseph had a vision of a ladder, reaching into heaven with angels going up and down it.
Judah
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Genesis 29:35, 37:26-38
Crown sceptre. A lion is the symbol of the tribe of Judah.
Rachel
Genesis 29:9-12, 19-20, 30:22-24, 35:16-20
Hour glass, Shepherd’s crook, loved by Jacob. She was childless so the birth of Joseph was a great joy, however she died at the birth of Benjamin.
Joseph
Genesis 37; 39; 40; 41:42; 43; 44; 45
Bucket, well, silver coin, multi-colored coat, dreams, sun, moon and eleven stars, sheaf of wheat, Egyptian column, sceptre and chain.
Miriam
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Ex 2:1-10, 15:20-22, Numbers 12; 20:1-2
Saved her brother Moses, Song of Miriam, leader of the Hebrew women when they escaped from Egypt. Tamborine, music notes and dance.
Moses
Ex 3:1-12; 4; 20:1-17
Basket in the bulrushes, baby in the basket, tablets of stone, burning bush, water from the rock, Ten Commandments, rod and serpent.
Aaron
Numbers 17:1-11; 20:1-29; Ex 32:1-35
Aaron’s symbols are a budding almond staff, a rod and a snake. A golden censer symbolising Aaron as a priest. A golden calf.
Joshua
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Joshua 1:1-2;6:1-27
Joshua was a major figure in the events of the Exodus. He accompanied Moses to Mt Sinai.
Symbols are rams, horn, trumpet, the fall of Jericho.
Gideon
Judges 6:11-22; 6:25-27; 6:36-40; 7:1-25; 8:1-18
God asked Gideon to free the people of Israel. Each man had a torch concealed inside a jar, they went into battle, broke the jars surprising the enemy.
Samson
Judges 13:2-24; 15:1-30
Samson was given strength by God; he performed heroic feats – killing a lion and destroying a pagan temple. Delilah cut his hair and he was powerless.
Deborah
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Judges 4:4-7; 5:1-31
Deborah was a female judge, a peacemaker, a warrior, a poet, a great prophetess. A woman of fire and enthusiam. A crown and a palm tree.
Ruth
Ruth 2:1-23; 3:1-18; 4:1-12
Sheaf of wheat, straw. Ruth remains loyal to her mother-in-law, Naomi, “Your people will be my people.” Ruth gleans wheat in the fields of Boaz.
Boaz
Ruth 2:1-23; 4:7
Boaz took care of Ruth and Naomi making sure they had…
Samuel
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
1 Samuel 3:1-19; 16:11-13
Lamp, temple, crown, horn of oil. The beginning of the kingdom.
David
2 Samuel 2:3-7; 16:1-13
Young lion, sling shot and 5 stones, 6 pointed star, shepherds crook, harp, crown, horn of oil, tower and key. A shepherd for the people.
Solomon
1 Kings 3:5-27; 5:2-5; 6; 7; 8; 10; 11
Scales of justice, Solomons Temple, judgement of Solomon – 2 women a baby and a sword, A scroll and a sceptre, to symbolise his rule as king.
Amos
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Amos 5:24;7:1-9; 7:14-15; 8:1-14; 9:1-10
Sycamore, figs, shepherd. He spoke of righteousness and justice as an ever flowing stream. Oppressed and voiceless. Locusts, fire, plumbline, ripe fruit.
Daniel
Daniel 3:24-27; 6:10-23
Lion, hour glass, ram with four horns. Fiery furnace.
Elijah
2 Kings 2:1-15; 1 Kings 17: 1-24; 18:17-46
Burning Chariot, whirlwind, stone altar, raven. He also had God perform miracles for him, raising the dead, bringing fire down from the sky, and having himself taken up, by a whirlwind.
Elizabeth/Zechariah
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Luke 1:5-6; 1:24-25; 1:39-45
Baby John, incense, doves, Temple, Mary’s visit, pen and tablet, trumpet.
Esther
Esther 5:1-8; 7:1-4
Royal robes, golden sceptre, crown. Esther is a young Jewish woman living in exile in the Persian diaspora.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel 1:1-3; 24:1-14; 36:26; 40:1-4; 44:1-3
Closed gate. Broken chain. A turreted gateway. An image of the new Jerusalem city. A heart of stone – a tender responsive heart. A cooking pot.
Hezekiah
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
2 Kings 18:1-6
Empty tent, tablets of the law, tears. Hezekiah purified and repaired the temple, purged its idols, and reformed the priesthood
Hosea
Hosea 3:24-27; 6:10-23; 11:1-11
Divine love endures to heal and renew. Israel rushing to ruin forgetful of God. Righteous, steadfast love, fidelity to God. “I bent down and fed them.”
Isaiah
Isaiah 1:10-20; 2:4; 7:14; 6:1-13; 8:11-9:7; 9:6-7
Altar, throne, scroll and lamp. Fire, tongs with hot coals. Swords would be beat into plowshares. And he foretells when Emmanuel (God is with us) would be born.
Jeremiah
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Jeremiah 1:4-10; 9:1-3; 17:7-8; 18:1-11; 27:1-7
Tears, he was called the weeping prophet. Yokebar, stone. Jeremiah urged a change of heart and turning to the one true God. Potter and clay.
Jesse
Isaiah 11:1-9; 11:L10
Crimson robes and shepherds staff. He is seen lying with Jesse Tree growing from him. He was the father of David. He is in the genealogy of Jesus.
Jesus
Luke 2:1-7; Mt 1:18-25
Chi Rho, manger – crib, King – orb, Mary, Joseph, Good Shepherd, peace maker, lover and observer of nature.
Job
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Job 1:20-22; 38:2-4; 42:3
Cross. Job was a good and prosperous family man who is beset with dreadful disasters that take away all that he holds dear, both family and health.
John the Baptist
Luke 1:57-80; 3:1-20; 7:18-30
Shell, baptism, fire and water, repentance, wilderness, honey and wild locusts.
Jonah
Jonah 1:1-4; 2:1-10; 3:1-10
Jonah is asked by God to go to Nineveh. He went on a ship in the other direction. There is a storm. He is thrown overboard, and swallowed by a whale. He ends up in Nineveh.
Joseph
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Mt 1:18; 1:20-21; 2:19-20; 2:21-23; Luke 2:4-51
Carpenters tools, teaching his trade, white lily. God speaks to him in a dream. He protects Mary and Jesus.
Judith
Judith 13:7-10
Sword, shield, 12 branch candle. Judith’s story is variant on David and Goliath story where a seemingly weaker person triumphs.
Mary
Luke 1:26-38
Heart, white flower, 12 star crown, 12 star halo, blue or red clothing, annunciation of the angel, visit to Elizabeth, baby Jesus.
Micah
Adam is a Hebrew word meaning “man.”
Micah 1:1-4; 6:6-8; 7:8
Broken sword and lance. Temple on mountain. “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be light to me.
Nehemiah
Nehemiah 2:17-18; 8:10
Stone wall. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He was the cup-bearer to the king. “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
Anna and Simeon
R
B.