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.
Numbers 17:2 in other translations
| BSB | “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, |
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| WEB | “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. |
| ASV | 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. |
| YLT | ‘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, |
| DARBY | Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them a staff, a staff for each father's house, of all their princes according to the houses of their fathers, twelve staves: thou shalt write each one's name upon his staff. |
| BBE | Say to the children of Israel that they are to give you rods, one for every family, for every chief, the head of his father's house, making twelve rods; let every man's name be placed on his rod. |
| Webster | 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. |
What does Numbers 17:2 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 17:2-5
Nu 17:1-13. Aaron's Rod Flourishes.
2-5. Speak unto the children of Israel--The controversy with Moses and Aaron about the priesthood was of such a nature and magnitude as required a decisive and authoritative settlement. For the removal of all doubts and the silencing of all murmuring in the future regarding the holder of the office, a miracle was wrought of a remarkable character and permanent duration; and in the manner of performing it, all the people were made to have a direct and special interest. take of every one ... princes ... twelve rods--As the princes, being the oldest sons of the chief family, and heads of their tribes, might have advanced the best claims to the priesthood, if that sacred dignity was to be shared among all the tribes, they were therefore selected, and being twelve in number--that of Joseph being counted only one--Moses was ordered to see that the name of each was inscribed--a practice borrowed from the Egyptians--upon his rod or wand of office. The name of Aaron rather than of Levi was used, as the latter name would have opened a door of controversy among the Levites; and as there was to be one rod only for the head of each tribe, the express appointment of a rod for Aaron determined him to be the head of that tribe, as well as that branch or family of the tribe to which the priestly dignity should belong. These rods were to be laid in the tabernacle close to the ark (compare Nu 17:10 and He 9:4), where a divine token was promised that would for all time terminate the dispute.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 17:1-7
It is an instance of the grace of God, that, having wrought divers miracles to punish sin, he would work one more to prevent it. Twelve rods or staves were to be brought in. It is probable that they were the staves which the princes used as ensigns of their authority; old dry staves, that had no sap in them. They were to expect that the rod of the tribe, or prince, whom God chose to the priesthood, should bud and…
Numbers 17:2 in the original Hebrew
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Cross references for Numbers 17:2
- Psalms 110:2
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
- Psalms 125:3
For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
- Micah 7:14
Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
- Ezekiel 21:13
Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord God.
- 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
And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
- Ezekiel 37:16-20
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. …
- 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. Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab. Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar. …
- Ezekiel 19:14
And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
- 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. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. …
- Exodus 4:17
And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
- Ezekiel 21:10
It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
all their princes.
1:5-16; 2:3-30; 10:14-27
twelve rods.
Ge 49:10; Ex 4:2,17; Ps 110:2; 125:3; Eze 19:14; 21:10,13
Eze 37:16-20; Mic 7:14
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Numbers 17:1
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
- 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.
- Numbers 17:3
And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
Numbers 17:2 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Habla á los hijos de Israel, y toma de ellos una vara por cada casa de los padres, de todos los príncipes de ellos, doce varas conforme á las casas de sus padres; y escribirás el nombre de cada uno sobre su vara. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Dis à Éléazar, fils d’Aaron, le sacrificateur, qu’il relève les encensoirs du milieu de l’incendie, et répands-en le feu au loin, car ils sont sanctifiés, – |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Rede zu den Kindern Israel und nimm von ihnen je einen Stab für ein Vaterhaus, von allen ihren Fürsten, nach ihren Vaterhäusern, zwölf Stäbe; du sollst den Namen eines jeden auf seinen Stab schreiben. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Loquere ad filios Israël, et accipe ab eis virgas singulas per cognationes suas, a cunctis principibus tribuum, virgas duodecim, et uniuscujusque nomen superscribes virgæ suæ. |