As trees denote, in figurative language, great men and princes, so branches, boughs, and plants denote their offspring. Christ is called "the Branch," the "rod out of the stem of Jesse," and "branch out of his roots," Isaiah 11:1; 53:2; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; being a royal descendant of the princely house of David, Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15 . The word branch also illustrates the union of believers with Christ, John 15:5,6 . It is used in Ezekiel 8:17 as a symbol of idolatrous worship, probably in allusion to the carrying of fragrant boughs in honor of idols.