Numbers 17:2
New International Version
“Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff.

New Living Translation
“Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel’s ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader’s name on his staff.

English Standard Version
“Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers’ house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs. Write each man’s name on his staff,

Berean Standard Bible
“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,

King James Bible
Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

New King James Version
“Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses—twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod.

New American Standard Bible
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and obtain from them a staff for each father’s household: twelve staffs, from all their leaders for their fathers’ households. You shall write each man’s name on his staff,

NASB 1995
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father’s household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households. You shall write each name on his rod,

NASB 1977
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father’s household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households. You shall write each name on his rod,

Legacy Standard Bible
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father’s household: twelve rods from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households. You shall write each name on his rod,

Amplified Bible
“Speak to the sons of Israel and get rods from them, a rod for each father’s household, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods. Write every man’s name on his rod,

Christian Standard Bible
“Speak to the Israelites and take one staff from them for each ancestral tribe, twelve staffs from all the leaders of their tribes. Write each man’s name on his staff.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Speak to the Israelites and take one staff from them for each ancestral house, 12 staffs from all the leaders of their ancestral houses. Write each man’s name on his staff.

American Standard Version
Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

English Revised Version
Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Speak to the Israelites, and get 12 staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their tribes. Write each man's name on his staff.

Good News Translation
"Tell the people of Israel to give you twelve walking sticks, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man's name on his stick

International Standard Version
"Tell the Israelis to take a rod—one from each ancestral house, that is, one from every leader, for a total of twelve rods. Write each tribal name on his rod.

Majority Standard Bible
“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,

NET Bible
"Speak to the Israelites, and receive from them a staff from each tribe, one from every tribal leader, twelve staffs; you must write each man's name on his staff.

New Heart English Bible
"Speak to the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods: write every man's name on his rod.

Webster's Bible Translation
Speak to the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

World English Bible
“Speak to the children of Israel, and take rods from them, one for each fathers’ house, of all their princes according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and take a rod from each of them, for a father’s house, from all their princes, for the house of their fathers—twelve rods; you write the name of each on his rod,

Young's Literal Translation
'Speak unto the sons of Israel, and take from them each a rod, for a father's house, from all their princes, for the house of their fathers, twelve rods; the name of each thou dost write on his rod,

Smith's Literal Translation
Speak to the sons of Israel, and take from them a rod, a rod according to the house of the father, from all the chiefs according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods: thou shalt write each his name upon his rod.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak to the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod by their kindreds, of all the princes of the tribes, twelve rods, and write the name of every man upon his rod.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and receive from each of them a rod by their kinships, from all the leaders of the tribes, twelve rods, and write the name of each one on his rod.

New American Bible
Speak to the Israelites and get from them a staff for each ancestral house, twelve staffs in all, from all the leaders of their ancestral houses. Write each man’s name on his staff;

New Revised Standard Version
Speak to the Israelites, and get twelve staffs from them, one for each ancestral house, from all the leaders of their ancestral houses. Write each man’s name on his staff,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Speak to the children of Israel, and take from every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, from all their princes according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods; write each man's name upon his rod.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Speak with the children of Israel and take a rod from them, a rod for the house of the fathers from the presence of all their Princes, for the house of their fathers, twelve rods, and write a man’s name on his rod.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; thou shalt write every man's name upon his rod.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Speak to the children of Israel, and take rods of them, according to the houses of their families, a rod from all their princes, according to the houses of their families, twelve rods, and write the name of each on his rod.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Aaron's Staff Buds
1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff, 3and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.…

Cross References
Hebrews 9:4
containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

Exodus 25:16
And place inside the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.

Exodus 25:21
Set the mercy seat atop the ark and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.

Exodus 16:33-34
So Moses told Aaron, “Take a jar and fill it with an omer of manna. Then place it before the LORD to be preserved for the generations to come.” / And Aaron placed it in front of the Testimony, to be preserved just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

1 Kings 8:9
There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 10:2
And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you are to place them in the ark.”

Deuteronomy 31:26
“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

2 Chronicles 5:10
There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of Egypt.

Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 5:4
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

Hebrews 7:11-14
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? / For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well. / He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ...

John 15:16
You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

Acts 1:24-26
And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen / to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.” / Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.

1 Samuel 12:7
Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers.

Isaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.


Treasury of Scripture

Speak to the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write you every man's name on his rod.

A rod.

Numbers 1:5-16
And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur…

Numbers 2:3-30
And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah…

Numbers 10:14-27
In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab…

twelve rods

Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Exodus 4:2,17
And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod…

Psalm 110:2
The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

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Children House Household Houses Israel Leaders Princes Rod Rods Speak Twelve Write
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Children House Household Houses Israel Leaders Princes Rod Rods Speak Twelve Write
Numbers 17
1. Aaron's rod, among all the rods of the tribes, only flourishes
10. It is left for a monument against the rebels














Speak to the Israelites
This phrase indicates a direct command from God to Moses, emphasizing the importance of communication between God and His chosen people, the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "speak" is "דבר" (dabar), which implies not just casual conversation but a formal declaration or command. Historically, this reflects the theocratic nature of Israelite society, where divine instructions were central to their identity and governance. It underscores the role of Moses as a mediator between God and the people, highlighting the importance of obedience and attentiveness to God's word.

and take from them
The instruction to "take" suggests an action that requires participation and cooperation from the Israelites. The Hebrew word "לקח" (laqach) means to take, receive, or acquire, often implying a purposeful and deliberate action. This reflects the communal aspect of the Israelites' relationship with God, where each tribe is involved in the unfolding of God's plan. It also sets the stage for a collective demonstration of God's authority and the validation of His chosen leaders.

twelve staffs
The number twelve is significant in biblical terms, representing completeness and the twelve tribes of Israel. The "staff" (Hebrew: "מטה" - matteh) is a symbol of authority and leadership, often used by shepherds and leaders. In the context of Numbers 17, the staffs represent the leaders of each tribe, and their selection is a precursor to God's demonstration of His chosen priesthood. This act serves as a tangible reminder of God's order and structure within the community.

one from the leader of each tribe
This phrase emphasizes the representative nature of the staffs, each belonging to a leader of one of the twelve tribes. The Hebrew word for "leader" is "נשיא" (nasi), which denotes a prince or chief, someone with authority and responsibility. This highlights the organized structure of Israelite society and the importance of leadership in maintaining order and obedience to God's commands. It also foreshadows the divine selection of Aaron's line for the priesthood, reinforcing the theme of God-ordained leadership.

Write each man’s name on his staff
The act of writing each leader's name on his staff personalizes the process and ensures clarity in identifying the chosen leader. The Hebrew verb "כתב" (katav) means to inscribe or record, indicating a permanent and official act. This serves as a reminder that God knows each individual by name and has a specific role and purpose for them. It also underscores the transparency and fairness of the process, as each tribe is equally represented and identified before God.

XVII.

(2) And take of every one of them . . . --Better, And take of them a rod for each father's house.

Twelve rods.--Some suppose that Aaron's rod was not included amongst the twelve. Others suppose that one rod only was taken for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. The latter supposition is more accordant with the terms here employed than the former, and is supported by Deuteronomy 27:12-13, where Joseph stands for the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, and Levi is included amongst the twelve tribes.

Write thou every man's name upon his rod.--This was in accordance with an Egyptian custom. (See Wilkinson's Ancient Egyptians, III. 388.) The prophet Ezekiel received a similar injunction (Ezekiel 37:16).

Verse 2. - Take of every one of them a rod. Literally, "take of them a rod, a rod," i.e., a rod apiece, in the way immediately particularized. מַטֶּה (Septuagint, ῥάβδον,) is used for the staff of Judah (Genesis 38:18) and for the rod of Moses (Exodus 4:2). It is also used in the sense of "tribe" (Numbers 1:4, 16). Each tribe was but a branch, or rod, out of the stock of Israel, and, therefore, was most naturally represented by the rod cut from the tree. 'The words used for scepter in Genesis 49:10, and in Psalm 45:7, and for rod in Isaiah 11:1, and elsewhere are different, but the same imagery underlies the use of all of them. Of all their princes... twelve rods. These princes must be those named in chapter 2 and 7. Since among these are to be found the tribe princes of Ephraim and Manasseh, standing upon a perfect equality with the rest, it is evident that the twelve rods were exclusive of that of Aaron. The joining together of Ephraim and Manasseh in Deuteronomy 27:12 was a very different thing, because it could not raise any question as between the two.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Speak
דַּבֵּ֣ר ׀ (dab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

and take
וְקַ֣ח (wə·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

from them
מֵֽאִתָּ֡ם (mê·’it·tām)
Preposition-m | Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

twelve
שְׁנֵ֥ים (šə·nêm)
Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

staffs,
מַטֶּה֩ (maṭ·ṭeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

[one]
מַטֶּ֣ה (maṭ·ṭeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

from the leader
נְשִֽׂיאֵהֶם֙ (nə·śî·’ê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist

of each
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

tribe.
אֲבֹתָ֔ם (’ă·ḇō·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

Write
תִּכְתֹּ֖ב (tiḵ·tōḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

each
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

man’s name
שְׁמ֔וֹ (šə·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his staff,
מַטּ֑וֹת (maṭ·ṭō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe


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