Topical Bible: Staffs

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In biblical times, staffs were more than mere walking sticks; they held significant symbolic and practical importance. A staff, often made of wood, served various purposes, from aiding in walking to symbolizing authority and divine power.

Symbol of Authority and Leadership

Staffs frequently appear in the Bible as symbols of authority and leadership. Moses' staff is perhaps the most notable example. God used Moses' staff to perform miracles and demonstrate His power to the Israelites and the Egyptians. In Exodus 4:2-4 , God instructs Moses to throw his staff on the ground, where it becomes a serpent, and then to pick it up again, turning it back into a staff. This act was a sign of God's authority vested in Moses.

Similarly, Aaron's staff played a crucial role in affirming his God-given authority. In Numbers 17:8 , Aaron's staff miraculously budded, blossomed, and produced almonds, signifying God's choice of Aaron and his descendants for the priesthood.

Instrument of Divine Power

Staffs were also instruments through which God demonstrated His power. In Exodus 14:16 , God commands Moses, "As for you, lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground." Here, the staff is a conduit for divine intervention, parting the Red Sea and allowing the Israelites to escape from Egypt.

In another instance, Moses uses his staff to bring water from a rock at Horeb, as recorded in Exodus 17:5-6 . God instructs Moses to strike the rock with his staff, providing water for the thirsty Israelites, further demonstrating the staff's role in manifesting God's provision and care.

Symbol of Judgment and Correction

Staffs also symbolize judgment and correction. In Psalm 23:4 , the psalmist writes, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Here, the staff represents God's guidance and protection, offering comfort and correction to the believer.

In the prophetic literature, staffs are sometimes associated with judgment. For example, in Isaiah 10:5 , God refers to Assyria as "the rod of My anger," using the imagery of a staff to convey His instrument of judgment against Israel.

Practical Uses

Beyond their symbolic meanings, staffs had practical uses in daily life. Shepherds used staffs to guide and protect their flocks, as seen in the imagery of Psalm 23. The staff was an essential tool for shepherds, helping them to manage sheep and fend off predators.

Staffs also served as walking aids, providing support and stability on long journeys. In Genesis 32:10 , Jacob reflects on his journey, saying, "For with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps." This highlights the staff's role as a companion and support during travel.

Conclusion

In summary, staffs in the Bible are rich in symbolism and function. They represent authority, divine power, judgment, and correction, while also serving practical purposes in the lives of biblical figures. Through the use of staffs, God communicated His will, demonstrated His power, and provided for His people.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Plural of Staff.

2. (n.) Plural of Staff.

Strong's Hebrew

4294. matteh -- a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe
... shaft, branch, a tribe NASB Word Usage branch (3), branches (1), half-tribe* (13),
rod (18), rods (6), scepter (2), spears (1), staff (33), staffs (1), supply ...
/hebrew/4294.htm - 6k

4731. maqqel -- a rod, staff
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a rod, staff NASB Word Usage rod
(1), rods (6), staff (5), staffs (1), stick (2), sticks (1), wand (1), war ...
/hebrew/4731.htm - 6k

4938b. misheneth -- a staff
... a staff. Transliteration: misheneth Short Definition: staff. Word Origin from shaan
Definition a staff NASB Word Usage staff (10), staffs (1). 4938a, 4938b. ...
/hebrew/4938b.htm - 5k

Library

Mornings in the College Chapel
... There has become familiar among us, through the devotion of successive staffs of
Preachers, a clearer sense of the simplicity and reality of religion, which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/peabody/mornings in the college chapel/title page.htm

The Scourging of Jesus.
... of the furious multitude to the forum, which they did with the utmost brutality,
at the same time loading him with abuse, and striking him with their staffs. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxii the scourging of.htm

The Call by the Sea
... Aged men leaning upon their staffs, hardy peasants from the hills, fishermen from
their toil on the lake, merchants and rabbis, the rich and learned, old and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 25 the call by.htm

If any one Supposes that this Want of Mutual Harmony Between his ...
... wicked who advance. Hope and patience are to be the staffs to lean upon,
whenever we are weary with the trials of the world. As for ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xviii if any one.htm

Jesus' Last Journey to Jerusalem.
... there go I also.". Jesus said, "Come then.". The disciples arose and clasping
their staffs were ready to depart. Then Jesus turned to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/stead/king of the jews/chapter ii jesus last journey.htm

The Life of Constantine.
... stands much on the same level as the biographies of generals in the late civil war,
or of presidents, written by admiring members of their staffs or cabinets ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/section 1 the life of.htm

The Death of the Blessed virgin Mary at Ephesus
... condition. [191] They had long staffs with crooks and knobs of different
shapes in their hands which showed their rank. They wore ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xviii the death of the.htm

The Economic Challenge to the Church
... the past five years, agricultural colleges have been prevented from adding advisers
on cooperative organization to their extension staffs, retail merchants ...
/.../church cooperation in community life/chapter iii the economic challenge.htm

At Capernaum
... The sick were brought upon couches, they came leaning upon staffs, or, supported
by friends, they tottered feebly into the Saviour's presence. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 26 at capernaum.htm

To the Right Hon. Henry Pelham, First Lord Commissioner of the ...
... That pride defames humanity, and calls. The being mean, which staffs or strings
can raise.323. That pride, like hooded hawks, in darkness soars,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/young/youngs night thoughts/to the right hon henry.htm

Thesaurus

Staffs (47 Occurrences)
...Staffs (47 Occurrences). ... Matthew 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes,
Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staffs to take me? ...
/s/staffs.htm - 19k

Stag (5 Occurrences)

/s/stag.htm - 8k

Staff (91 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Luke 9:3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey-neither staffs,
nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece. ...
/s/staff.htm - 38k

Wallet (7 Occurrences)
... Luke 9:3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey-neither staffs, nor wallet,
nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece. (WEB ASV). ...
/w/wallet.htm - 8k

Incense-altar (2 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:15 And the incense-altar, and its staffs, and the anointing oil, and the
sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle ...
/i/incense-altar.htm - 7k

Trafficked (7 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Zechariah 11:7 So I fed the flock of slaughter, especially the
oppressed of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The ...
/t/trafficked.htm - 8k

Tunic (24 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Luke 9:3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey-neither staffs,
nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece. ...
/t/tunic.htm - 13k

Tunics (16 Occurrences)
... Luke 9:3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey-neither staffs, nor wallet,
nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece. (See NAS RSV). ...
/t/tunics.htm - 10k

Tended (7 Occurrences)
... (WEB NIV). Zechariah 11:7 So I fed the flock of slaughter, especially the
oppressed of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The ...
/t/tended.htm - 8k

Particularly (4 Occurrences)
... NAS). Zechariah 11:7 So I fed the flock of slaughter, especially the oppressed
of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The one ...
/p/particularly.htm - 9k

Resources

How were Pharaoh's magicians able to perform miracles? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Aaron in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of Aaron's rod? | GotQuestions.org

Staffs: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Staffs (47 Occurrences)

Matthew 26:47
And while he was yet speaking, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staffs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
(WBS)

Matthew 26:55
In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staffs to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
(WBS)

Mark 14:43
And immediately while he was yet speaking, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staffs, from the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders.
(WBS)

Mark 14:48
And Jesus answered and said to them, Have ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staffs to take me?
(WBS)

Luke 9:3
He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey-neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece.
(WEB WBS)

Luke 22:52
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to him, Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staffs?
(WBS)

Exodus 7:12
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 25:13
And thou shalt make staffs of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
(WBS)

Exodus 25:14
And thou shalt put the staffs into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
(WBS)

Exodus 25:15
The staffs shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
(WBS)

Exodus 25:27
Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staffs to bear the table.
(WBS)

Exodus 25:28
And thou shalt make the staffs of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
(WBS)

Exodus 27:6
And thou shalt make staffs for the altar, staffs of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
(WBS)

Exodus 27:7
And the staffs shall be put into the rings, and the staffs shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.
(WBS)

Exodus 30:4
And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by its two corners, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staffs to bear it with.
(WBS)

Exodus 30:5
And thou shalt make the staffs of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
(WBS)

Exodus 35:12
The ark, and its staffs, with the mercy-seat, and the vail of the covering,
(WBS)

Exodus 35:13
The table, and its staffs, and all its vessels, and the show-bread,
(WBS)

Exodus 35:15
And the incense-altar, and its staffs, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle,
(WBS)

Exodus 35:16
The altar of burnt-offering, with its brazen grate, its staffs, and all its vessels, the laver and its foot,
(WBS)

Exodus 37:4
And he made staffs of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
(WBS)

Exodus 37:5
And he put the staffs into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
(WBS)

Exodus 37:14
Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staffs, to bear the table.
(WBS)

Exodus 37:15
And he made the staffs of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.
(WBS)

Exodus 37:27
And he made two rings of gold for it under its crown, by the two corners of it, upon its two sides, to be places for the staffs to bear it with.
(WBS)

Exodus 37:28
And he made the staffs of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
(WBS)

Exodus 38:5
And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staffs.
(WBS)

Exodus 38:6
And he made the staffs of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass.
(WBS)

Exodus 38:7
And he put the staffs into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it with; he made the altar hollow with boards.
(WBS)

Exodus 39:35
The ark of the testimony, and its staffs, and the mercy-seat,
(WBS)

Exodus 39:39
The brazen altar, and its grate of brass, its staffs, and all its vessels, the laver and its foot,
(WBS)

Exodus 40:20
And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staffs on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark:
(WBS)

Numbers 4:6
And shall put on it the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staffs of it.
(WBS)

Numbers 4:8
And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staffs of it.
(WBS)

Numbers 4:11
And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to it its staffs.
(WBS)

Numbers 17:2
"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.
(See NIV)

Numbers 17:6
Moses spoke to 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.
(See NIV)

Numbers 17:7
Moses laid up the rods before Yahweh in the tent of the testimony.
(See NIV)

Numbers 21:18
The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staffs. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:
(WBS NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 17:43
And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staffs? and the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
(WBS)

1 Kings 8:7
For the cherubim spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the staffs thereof above.
(WBS)

1 Kings 8:8
And they drew out the staffs, that the ends of the staffs were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are to this day.
(WBS)

1 Chronicles 15:15
And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staffs on it, as Moses commanded, according to the word of the LORD.
(WBS)

2 Chronicles 5:8
For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark, and the staffs of it above.
(WBS)

2 Chronicles 5:9
And they drew out the staffs of the ark, that the ends of the staffs were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is to this day.
(WBS)

Habakkuk 3:14
Thou didst strike through with his staffs the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
(WBS)

Zechariah 11:7
So I fed the flock of slaughter, especially the oppressed of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The one I called "Favor," and the other I called "Union," and I fed the flock.
(WEB WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Staffs

Related Terms

Hind (4 Occurrences)

Stage (5 Occurrences)

Staffs (47 Occurrences)

Hart (10 Occurrences)

Oryx (2 Occurrences)

Greyhound (1 Occurrence)

Fallow-deer (2 Occurrences)

Fallowdeer (1 Occurrence)

Royal (154 Occurrences)