Rod and flower from Jesse; Spirit’s seven gifts

Isaiah speaks still more explicitly: ‘A rod shall come forth from the stump of Jesse, and a flower shall blossom from his root. And the Spirit of God shall rest upon him — Spirit of wisdom and understanding, Spirit of counsel and might, Spirit of knowledge and piety; the Spirit of the fear of God shall fill him… And in that day the root of Jesse shall appear, and he who comes forth from it to rule the nations shall be the one in whom the nations hope, and his resurrection shall be glorious.’ (Isa 11:1-10; Rom 15:12)

By these words Isaiah announces that the Christ will be born of her who is of the race of David and of Abraham. For Jesse was Abraham’s descendant and David’s father; the Virgin who conceived the Christ was of that race — she was therefore the rod. And for that reason Moses used a rod to show his power to Pharaoh. (Ex 4:2-4) There are also other peoples for whom the rod is the sign of power. By the flower Isaiah means the flesh of Christ, which sprang up by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we said before. (Lk 1:35)