Numbers 17:6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff--one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron's staff was among them.

◄ Numbers 17:6 ►

New International Version
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them.

New Living Translation
So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff.

English Standard Version
Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs.

Berean Standard Bible
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them.

King James Bible
And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

New King James Version
So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

New American Standard Bible
So Moses spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a staff, one for each leader, for their fathers’ households, twelve staffs in all, with the staff of Aaron among their staffs.

NASB 1995
Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods.

NASB 1977
Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods.

Legacy Standard Bible
Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods.

Amplified Bible
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a rod, one for each leader according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

Christian Standard Bible
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff, one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. Aaron’s staff was among them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff, one for each of the leaders of their ancestral houses, 12 staffs in all. Aaron’s staff was among them.

American Standard Version
And Moses spake unto the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

Contemporary English Version
Moses told the people what the LORD had commanded, and they gave him the walking sticks from the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron's from the Levi tribe.

English Revised Version
And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Moses spoke to the Israelites. Their leaders gave him 12 staffs, one from the leader of each of their tribes. Aaron's staff was among them.

Good News Translation
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a stick, one for each tribe, twelve in all, and Aaron's stick was put with them.

International Standard Version
So Moses spoke to the Israelis, and each of the tribe leaders gave him a rod, one for each leader, according to their ancestral tribes, for a total of twelve rods. Aaron's rod was one of them.

Majority Standard Bible
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff?one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron?s staff was among them.

NET Bible
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff, one for each leader, according to their tribes--twelve staffs; the staff of Aaron was among their staffs.

New Heart English Bible
Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and all their leaders gave him rods, one for each leader, according to their ancestral houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

World English Bible
Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, a total of twelve rods. Aaron’s rod was among their rods.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Moses speaks to the sons of Israel, and all their princes give to him one rod for a prince, one rod for a prince, for their fathers’ house—twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron [is] in the midst of their rods;

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses speaketh unto the sons of Israel, and all their princes give unto him one rod for a prince, one rod for a prince, for their fathers' house, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron is in the midst of their rods;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses will speak to the sons of Israel, and all their chiefs will give to him a rod for one chief, a rod for one chief, according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods: and Aaron's rod in the midst of their rods.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Moses spoke to the children of Israel: and all the princes gave him rods one for every tribe: and there were twelve rods besides the rod of Aaron.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Moses spoke to the sons of Israel. And all the leaders gave him rods, one for each tribe. And there were twelve rods, aside from the rod of Aaron.

New American Bible
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and all their leaders gave him staffs, twelve in all, one from each leader of their ancestral houses; and Aaron’s staff was among them.

New Revised Standard Version
Moses spoke to the Israelites; and all their leaders gave him staffs, one for each leader, according to their ancestral houses, twelve staffs; and the staff of Aaron was among theirs.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was in the midst of their rods.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe told the children of Israel and all their Princes gave him a rod, a rod for a Ruler, twelve rods for all the house of their fathers, and the rod of Ahron was in the center of their rods.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses spoke unto the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and all their chiefs gave him a rod each, for one chief a rod, according to the house of their families, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was in the midst of the rods.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Aaron's Staff Buds
…5The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.” 6So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff— one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them. 7Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

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 7:10-12
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. / But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. / Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs.

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.

Psalm 105:26-27
He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron, whom He had chosen. / They performed His miraculous signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.

Exodus 4:2-4
And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. / “Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it. / “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

1 Samuel 12:6-8
Then Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is the One who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. / 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. / When Jacob went to Egypt, your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He sent them Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

Deuteronomy 31:9
So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.

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.

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 7:35-36
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. / He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

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.

2 Corinthians 3:7-8
Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, / will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

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

Romans 9:4
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

Exodus 28:1
“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.

Treasury of Scripture

And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

A rod a-piece, for each prince one.

Numbers 17:2
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.

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Aaron Apiece Children Houses Israel Leaders Moses Prince Princes Rod Rods Twelve

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Aaron Apiece Children Houses Israel Leaders Moses Prince Princes Rod Rods Twelve

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

Berean Study Bible

So Moses spoke to the Israelites
This phrase highlights the role of Moses as the intermediary between God and the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "spoke" is דָּבַר (dabar), which implies not just speaking but conveying a message with authority. Moses, as God's chosen leader, communicates divine instructions, emphasizing the importance of obedience and the transmission of God's will to His people. Historically, Moses' leadership is pivotal, as he guides the Israelites through the wilderness, serving as a model of faithfulness and dedication.

and each of their leaders gave him a staff
The "staff" (Hebrew: מַטֶּה, matteh) is a symbol of authority and leadership. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a staff was often associated with power and governance. By each leader giving Moses a staff, it signifies their submission to God's authority and the acknowledgment of their roles within the community. This act of giving the staff is a physical representation of their leadership and responsibility over their respective tribes.

one for each leader of their tribes
This phrase underscores the organized structure of the Israelite community, with each tribe having a designated leader. The twelve tribes of Israel, descending from the twelve sons of Jacob, form the foundational structure of the nation. The leaders' participation in this event signifies unity and collective responsibility among the tribes, highlighting the importance of order and leadership in fulfilling God's covenantal promises.

twelve staffs in all
The number twelve is significant in biblical numerology, often representing completeness and divine order. The twelve staffs symbolize the entirety of the Israelite nation, each tribe being an integral part of God's chosen people. This completeness reflects God's covenant with Israel, promising to make them a great nation. The staffs collectively represent the unity and diversity within the community, each contributing to the whole.

And Aaron’s staff was among them
Aaron's inclusion is crucial, as it foreshadows the divine selection of the priestly line. Aaron, as the high priest, represents the spiritual leadership of Israel. His staff being among the others signifies his equal standing with the tribal leaders, yet it also sets the stage for God's miraculous confirmation of his unique role. This highlights the theme of divine election and the establishment of the priesthood, which is central to Israel's worship and relationship with God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - And the rod of Aaron was among the rods. As there was no prince from whom this rod could have come, and as there were twelve rods without it, this must mean that Moses did not keep Aaron's rod separate (which might have caused suspicion), but let it be seen amongst the others.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

So Moses
מֹשֶׁ֜ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

spoke
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person 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 each
כָּֽל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

of their leaders
נְשִֽׂיאֵיהֶ֡ם (nə·śî·’ê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist

gave
וַיִּתְּנ֣וּ (way·yit·tə·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

him a
אֶחָ֜ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

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

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

for each
אֶחָד֙ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of the leaders
לְנָשִׂ֨יא (lə·nā·śî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist

of their tribes,
אֲבֹתָ֔ם (’ă·ḇō·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

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

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

And Aaron’s
אַהֲרֹ֖ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

staff
וּמַטֵּ֥ה (ū·maṭ·ṭêh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

was among
בְּת֥וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

[them].
מַטּוֹתָֽם׃ (maṭ·ṭō·w·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

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OT Law: Numbers 17:6 Moses spoke to the children of Israel (Nu Num.)