4464. rhabdos

Lexicon

rhabdos: Rod, staff, scepter

Original Word: ῥάβδος
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: rhabdos
Pronunciation: HRAHB-dos
Phonetic Spelling: (hrab'-dos)
Definition: Rod, staff, scepter
Meaning: a rod, staff, staff of authority, scepter.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

rod, scepter, staff.

From the base of rhapizo; a stick or wand (as a cudgel, a cane or a baton of royalty) -- rod, sceptre, staff.

see GREEK rhapizo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a staff, rod
NASB Translation
rod (5), scepter (2), staff (5).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4464: ῤάβδος

ῤάβδος, ῤάβδου, ἡ (probably akin to ῤαπίς, Latinverber; cf. Curtius, § 513), in various senses from Homer down; the Sept. for מַטֶּה, שֵׁבֶט, מַקֵּל, מִשְׁעֶנֶת, etc., a staff; walking-stick: equivalent to a twig, rod, branch, Hebrews 9:4 (Numbers 17:2ff, Hebrew text ff); Revelation 11:1; a rod, with which one is beaten, 1 Corinthians 4:21 (Plato, legg. 3, p. 700 c.; Plutarch, others; πατάσσειν τινα ἐν ῤάβδῳ, Exodus 21:20; Isaiah 10:24); a staff: as used on a journey, Matthew 10:10; Mark 6:8; Luke 9:3; or to lean upon, Hebrews 11:21 (after the Sept. of Genesis 47:31, where the translators read מַטֶּה, for מִטָּה, a bed; (cf. προσκυνέω, a.)); or by shepherds, Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15, in which passages as ἐν ῤάβδῳ ποιμαίνειν is figuratively applied to a king, so ῤάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ, with a rod of iron, indicates the severest, most rigorous, rule; hence, ῤάβδος is equivalent to a royal scepter (like שֵׁבֶט, Psalm 2:9; Psalm 45:8; for שַׁרְבִיט, Esther 4:11; Esther 5:2): Hebrews 1:8 (from Psalm 45:8).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the base of ῥαβδίζω (rhabdizō), meaning "to beat with a rod."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H7626 שֵׁבֶט (shebet): A rod, staff, or scepter, often used to denote authority or tribal identity.
• H4294 מַטֶּה (matteh): A staff or rod, used for support, guidance, or as a symbol of authority.

These Hebrew terms share similar meanings with ῥάβδος, emphasizing the continuity of these symbols across the Old and New Testaments. They highlight the rod's role in leadership, discipline, and divine authority.

Usage: The term ῥάβδος is used in the New Testament to denote a physical rod or staff, often symbolizing authority, discipline, or guidance. It appears in contexts ranging from shepherding to royal authority.

Context: The Greek word ῥάβδος (rhabdos) is a versatile term found in the New Testament, carrying connotations of authority, guidance, and discipline. It is used both literally and metaphorically, reflecting its varied applications in ancient culture.

• Literal Use: In its most basic sense, ῥάβδος refers to a physical rod or staff. This could be a shepherd's staff used for guiding and protecting sheep, as seen in the pastoral imagery of the Bible. For example, in Hebrews 11:21, Jacob is described as worshiping "leaning on the top of his staff."

• Symbol of Authority: The term also signifies authority and power, akin to a scepter. In Revelation 2:27, the victorious are promised to "rule them with an iron scepter," indicating dominion and governance.

• Instrument of Discipline: ῥάβδος is used to describe a rod of correction or punishment. In 1 Corinthians 4:21, Paul rhetorically asks, "Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?" Here, the rod symbolizes corrective discipline.

• Metaphorical Use: Beyond its physical representation, ῥάβδος can symbolize spiritual authority and guidance. The imagery of a shepherd's staff is often used to depict God's guidance and protection over His people.

The use of ῥάβδος in the New Testament reflects its cultural significance in the ancient world, where rods and staffs were common tools and symbols. They were essential for shepherds, symbols of royal authority, and instruments of discipline, all of which are reflected in the biblical text.

Forms and Transliterations

ράβδοι ράβδοις ραβδον ραβδόν ράβδον ῥάβδον ραβδος ράβδος ῥάβδος ραβδου ράβδου ῥάβδου ράβδους ραβδω ράβδω ῥάβδῳ ράβδων rabdo rabdō rabdon rabdos rabdou rhabdo rhabdō rhábdoi rhábdōi rhabdon rhábdon rhabdos rhábdos rhabdou rhábdou

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 10:10 N-AFS
GRK: ὑποδήματα μηδὲ ῥάβδον ἄξιος γὰρ
NAS: or a staff; for the worker
KJV: shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman
INT: sandals nor a staff worthy [is] indeed

Mark 6:8 N-AFS
GRK: εἰ μὴ ῥάβδον μόνον μὴ
NAS: except a mere staff-- no bread,
KJV: [their] journey, save a staff only; no
INT: if not a staff only no

Luke 9:3 N-AFS
GRK: ὁδόν μήτε ῥάβδον μήτε πήραν
NAS: neither a staff, nor
KJV: neither staves, nor
INT: way neither clubs nor bag

1 Corinthians 4:21 N-DFS
GRK: θέλετε ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρὸς
NAS: Shall I come to you with a rod, or
KJV: you with a rod, or in
INT: desire you with a rod I should come to

Hebrews 1:8 N-NFS
GRK: καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς εὐθύτητος
NAS: AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER
KJV: and ever: a sceptre of righteousness
INT: and the sceptre of righteousness [is]

Hebrews 1:8 N-NFS
GRK: τῆς εὐθύτητος ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας
NAS: SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.
KJV: of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy
INT: of righteousness [is] the sceptre of the kingdom

Hebrews 9:4 N-NFS
GRK: καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος Ἀαρὼν ἡ
NAS: and Aaron's rod which budded,
KJV: and Aaron's rod that budded, and
INT: and the rod of Aaron

Hebrews 11:21 N-GFS
GRK: ἄκρον τῆς ῥάβδου αὐτοῦ
NAS: [leaning] on the top of his staff.
KJV: the top of his staff.
INT: top of the staff of him

Revelation 2:27 N-DFS
GRK: αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ ὡς
NAS: AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON,
KJV: them with a rod of iron; as
INT: them with a rod iron as

Revelation 11:1 N-DFS
GRK: κάλαμος ὅμοιος ῥάβδῳ λέγων Ἔγειρε
NAS: like a staff; and someone said,
KJV: a reed like unto a rod: and the angel
INT: a reed like a staff saying Rise

Revelation 12:5 N-DFS
GRK: ἔθνη ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ καὶ
NAS: the nations with a rod of iron;
KJV: nations with a rod of iron: and
INT: nations with a rod iron and

Revelation 19:15 N-DFS
GRK: αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ καὶ
NAS: and He will rule them with a rod of iron;
KJV: them with a rod of iron: and
INT: them with a rod iron and

Strong's Greek 4464
12 Occurrences

ῥάβδῳ — 5 Occ.
ῥάβδον — 3 Occ.
ῥάβδος — 3 Occ.
ῥάβδου — 1 Occ.