Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – The LORD our Righteousness

The Targums, the Talmud, Midrashim, and medieval rabbis declare that the Messiah of Jeremiah 23 is called the LORD our Righteousness.

Jeremiah 23:5–6, declares that the righteous Branch of David will be called YHWH Tzidkenu—“The LORD our Righteousness.” Ancient and medieval Jewish sources affirm that this divine name belongs to the Messiah. The title reveals that the expected Redeemer would not merely bring righteousness but would Himself be the LORD’s righteousness for His people—a hope embedded in Jewish expectation long before the New Testament.

Rabbi David Kimchi (RaDaK) states, “By the righteous Branch is meant Messiah.” The Targum on the passage reads, “And I will raise up for David the Messiah the just.” Alfred Edersheim notes that rabbinic tradition derives one of the Messiah’s names from this verse: Jehovah our Righteousness. The Talmud (Baba Bathra 75b), Midrash on Psalms, and other sources confirm the same. Rabbi Abba Bar Kahana (Amoraic period, 200–500 AD) declares, “What is the name of the King Messiah? … His name is the Lord our Righteousness.” These witnesses show that the Messiah was expected to bear the name of the LORD Himself as the source of His people’s righteousness.

Ancient Jewish sources admit that the Messiah would be named Yahweh our righteousness.

Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Rabbi David Kimchi wrote in reference to this verse, ‘By the righteous Branch is meant Messiah.’ The compilers of the Targum agreed with Kimchi since they introduced Messiah by name in this passage. {Rays of Messiah’s Glory: Christ in the Old Testament – David Baron pg 78}

David Kimchi (RaDaK) lived from 1160-1235 and became the most famous of the Kimchi family. Of this family it was said “were it not for the Kimchis, there would be no Torah.” Kimchi was a grammarian who later wrote commentaries on the TaNaKH, including “Teshuvoth Lanotzrim” (Refutation to the Christians) refuting doctrines of Christianity.

Alfred Edersheim quotes other Rabbinic writings in reference to this passage:
On Jer. xxiii, 5, 6 the Targum has it: ‘And I will raise up for David the Messiah the just.’ This is one of the passages from which, according to Rabbinic views, one of the names of the Messiah is derived, viz.: Jehovah our Righteousness. So in the Talmud (Babha Bathra 75b), in the Midrash on Ps. xxii.1, Prov.xix.21, and in that on Lamentations I 16. {Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah pg 731}

For those not familiar, Alfred Edersheim was a Jew who became a believer in Messiah. Edersheim was educated in the Talmud and Torah at a Hebrew school. Due to his education, he was able to write about the time period of the 2nd Temple and Jesus in light of Rabbinic writings.

Aramaic Targum “Behold the days come says the Lord that I will raise up unto David a righteous Messiah and he shall reign as King and understand.”

“What is the name of the King Messiah? Rabbi Abba Bar Kahana said, ‘His name is the Lord our Righteousness.’” [Midrash Lamentations Rabbah 1.16.51; Pesikta de Rab Kahana 22.5a; Midrash on Psalms 21.2; Baba Bathra 75b, Babylonian Talmud; Yalkut Shimoni, fol. 384: all referring to Yirmeyahu 23:6 in the Tanakh]
Abba Bar Kahana was a Jewish sage of the “Amora” era which went from 200-500 AD.

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