on just one arm, but occasionally on both. Bracelets of antiquity were made of bronze, glass, iron, silver and gold and were often highly ornamented, sometimes being studded with jewels.

Enameled bracelets of various colors were among those used in ancient Egypt. On the arms of the mummy of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen there were thirteen bracelets made of gold, glass beads and semiprecious stones, eight of these ornaments being amulets. (See AMULET.) Assyrian monarchs wore armlets and bracelets, and bracelets were also common among other peoples, such as the Medes, Persians, Greeks and Romans. In Rome it was customary for women of high station to wear them for adornment and as amulets. Bracelets were sometimes given to Roman soldiers for acts of valor. The Hebrews wore bracelets and they were in general use from early times in Palestine, where archaeologists have found a number of them, made of various materials, particularly bronze.

Abraham’s servant gave Rebekah a gold nose ring and also two bracelets having a weight of ten shekels of gold. (Gen. 24:22, 30, 47) Among the items taken as war booty from the Midianites were bracelets, which were among the valuable articles the Israelites presented to God.—Num. 31:50.

Through Ezekiel, God represented himself as decking Jerusalem with bracelets and other ornaments. But since she had used such beautiful articles idolatrously and had prostituted herself, Jehovah foretold that he would punish her and would have these things taken from her.—Ezek. 16:11, 17, 38, 39.

Armlets or bracelets for the upper arm (ornaments usually decked with jewels) have been worn by monarchs as one of their insignia of regal authority or sovereign power. The bracelet King Saul of Israel wore upon his arm may have had such significance.—2 Sam. 1:10; see ORNAMENTS.

BRAMBLE

[Heb., ʼa·tadhʹ].

There are various suggestions as to the plant referred to by the Hebrew term. In Arabic the cognate word at times is used for the buckthorn (any of the variety of thorny shrubs classified under the botanical name of Rhamnus) and this identification is supported by the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate renderings of the Hebrew word. The buckthorn of Palestine is a straggling bush, growing from two to six feet (.6 to 1.8 meters) high, its twigs lined with sharp, strong prickles. Though frequent in the lower warmer regions of the country, it is also found in mountainous regions, as at Jerusalem. Another suggestion is the Rubus sanctus or Palestine blackberry, a bushlike plant with long arching stems, armed with prickles and thorns. The third plant recommended is the boxthorn or Lycium europaeum, a thorny shrub growing three to six feet (.9 to 1.8 meters) high, blossoming with small violet flowers and bearing small, round, edible red berries.

The bramble appears most prominently in the account of Judges 9:8-15 in which the olive tree, the fig tree and the vine are contrasted with the lowly bramble. As the rest of the chapter makes evident, the valuable plants represent those worthy persons, such as Gideon’s seventy sons, who did not seek the position of kingship over their fellow Israelites, while the bramble, useful only for fuel, represents the kingship of Abimelech, the murderer of all the sons of Gideon, his brothers, except one. (Judg. 9:1-6, 16-20) Jotham’s suggestion that the other figurative “trees” seek refuge in the shadow of the bramble was doubtless ironical, as the low-growing bramble obviously could not provide shadow for trees, especially the stately cedars mentioned.

The warning was given by Jotham that fire might come out of the bramble “and consume the cedars of Lebanon,” perhaps alluding to the ease with which the dry and leafless plant might catch fire during the hot summer months. Psalm 58:9 also shows the use of brambles for fuel, and these are still used by Arabs for that purpose.

The Hebrew word ʼa·tadhʹ also appears as the name of a place at Genesis 50:10.—See BRIERS, BRIER HEDGE; THORN.

BRANCH, SPROUT

In the Bible several Hebrew and Greek words are variously translated branch, sprout, sprig, shoot, offshoot, bough, twig and treetop. Branches of trees played a part in the worship of Israel. During the Festival of Booths, in the seventh month Ethanim or Tishri, branches of trees, including palm, olive, myrtle and poplar were used in constructing booths in which the people resided for the duration of the festival.—Lev. 23:40; Neh. 8:15.

At Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Nisan 9, 33 C.E., the crowd that had come to Jerusalem for the Passover and the Festival of Unfermented Cakes greeted him by waving palm branches, hailing him as the king of Israel. (John 12:12, 13) Likewise, the “great crowd” of John’s vision at Revelation, chapter 7, are shown waving palm branches as they attribute salvation to God, who is on the throne, and to the Lamb.—Rev. 7:9, 10.

FIGURATIVE USAGE

Jesus was brought up in the small town of Nazareth, meaning “Branch-town.” The apostle Matthew calls attention to Jesus’ being called a Nazarene (probably from the Hebrew neʹtser, “branch or sprout”) as a fulfillment of prophecy, likely referring to the prophecy at Isaiah 11:1.—Matt. 2:23.

The apostle Paul likens the congregation of the Jewish candidates naturally in line for the heavenly kingdom to an olive tree with a definite number of branches attached to the tree trunk. Wild olive branches (people of the nations, Gentiles) were grafted in to replace “broken off” natural branches (Jews) because only a few accepted Christ, the majority failing. Thus the full God-ordained number is completed, in its final state being composed of Jews and Gentiles.—Rom. 11:17-24.

“Offshoot” or “bough” and the related terms mentioned above are used in the Scriptures to denote a son or offspring, a descendant. In Jacob’s blessings to his sons he calls Joseph an offshoot (Heb., ben, son). (Gen. 49:22) Destruction leaving neither root nor bough symbolizes the wiping out of the family or of all of a certain kind, or complete destruction beyond possibility of revival.—Mal. 4:1; compare Isaiah 5:24; Hosea 9:16.

Sprout. Jesus Christ is prophetically spoken of in the Hebrew Scriptures as Jehovah’s servant “Sprout” (NW, Le) or the “Branch” (AV, AT), “Bud” (Ro). (Zech. 3:8) At Zechariah 6:12, 13, “the man whose name is Sprout” is described as building the temple of Jehovah and sitting as a priest upon his throne. This can apply to none other than Jesus Christ, since he alone could fill the office of king and priest under God’s arrangement. Jesus Christ is promised as a righteous “sprout” raised up to David. This One will execute righteousness and justice. (Jer. 23:5; 33:15; compare Isaiah 53:2; Revelation 22:16.) He is also called a twig and a sprout out of Jesse, David’s father.—Isa. 11:1.

The end of the dynasty of the kings of Babylon was pictured by likening it to a “detested sprout,” thrown away and not deserving of a burial.—Isa. 14:19.

Just as Jehovah the Creator causes the sprouting growth in garden plants and trees, so “sprout,” “bough” and similar terms are associated with prosperity, increase and blessings from Jehovah. (Isa. 4:2; 60:21, 22; Job 29:19) He has promised that “just like foliage [“a branch,” AV; “a green leaf,” RS] the righteous ones will flourish.”—Prov. 11:28.

BRAND MARKS

[Gr., stigʹma·ta, marks burnt in, brands, tattoos].

Among some pagans brand marks of various designs were burnt or inscribed into the