Below the center are a tree, an ox, and an ass. The tree is the "Jesse Tree" from [[prophecy]], which says that a shoot will sprout from the stump of Jesse (the father of [[King David]]) ''"A shoot shall sprout from the stump (tree) of Jesse and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him"'' ([[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] 11:1-2). The ox and the ass are also from an Old Testament prophecy. Sometimes they are shown near the Christ child, providing warmth from their breath ''"The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s master's crib"'' (Isaiah 1:3).