5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS Jeremiah 23:5–6 (NKJV) 

5 “Look, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “and I will raise up a righteous rising [Greek – anatole] for David, and a king will reign and understand and perform justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days both Judah will be delivered, and Israel will encamp confidently, and this is his name, which the Lord will call him: “Jozadak.” Jeremiah 23:5–6 (LES2) 

Here is a perfect example of why I have an issue with the Masoretic Text. The passage in this instance is a much beloved Scripture, but it is not the true word of God. The Masoretes, in their effort to remove a passage that clearly refers to Jesus have given us something that sounds good and is often quoted by Christians as referring to Jesus, but is not what was written in the ancient Septuagint that the early church used to prove Christ is the Messiah.

In verse 5, the MT says, “I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness.” Who could have a problem with that, except it is not what God said. The LXX records Jeremiah saying, “I will raise up a righteous rising [Greek – anatole] for David.” This Greek word for rising is used to describe the sun rising in the east, and we shall see that it is is a clear foreshadowing of Christ’s resurrection. (John 5:39, Luke 24:25-27) Jesus is the the king who fulfilled the rest of the prophecy in verse 5.

The next huge difference is the name by which Jeremiah says this coming king will be called. The MT says, “The Lord our righteousness.” This agrees with Paul’s words about Jesus.

30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (NKJV)

So my issue with the MT is not that it contradicts the New Testament, but that it is not what God spoke through Jeremiah. The LXX calls his name, “Jozadak,” a name is not nearly as inspiring until we discover its significance. 

Jeremiah prophesied about a future high priest named Jozadak, who would have a son named Joshua (Jesus in Greek). Here is what Zechariah prophesied about him.

11 And you will take silver and gold, and you will make crowns and place them upon the head of the great priest Joshua, the son of Jehozadak. 12 And you will say to him, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Behold, a man; Anatole is his name, and from beneath him he will rise up and build the house of the Lord. 13 And he will receive virtue, and he will sit and rule upon his throne... ” Zechariah 6:11–13a (LES2)

Notice that Jozadak (Jehozadak) will have a son named Jesus who will be crowned and rule upon his throne. Also, notice in verse 12 the mention of the word “Anatole” as another name for him, which cross references to Jeremiah 23:5, where he said that God would raise up a righteous Anatole for David! I do not think it would be going too far to translate “Anatole” as Risen One. This one rises from “beneath,” which we know is a reference to the lower parts of the earth. (Ephesians 4:9)

If we compare the MT version of Zechariah 6:11-13, we will see that the Masoretes were careful to change Zechariah to match Jeremiah.

11 Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’ Zechariah 6:11–13 (NKJV)

Instead of calling him the Risen One, Anatole, who rises up, he is called the branch who branches out.

Can you understand why I have very little love for the MT, which took an amazing prophecy about Christ and converted it into something that sounds good, but is not accurate? Very clever, like a snake.