Numbers 17:10
New International Version
The LORD said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.”

New Living Translation
And the LORD said to Moses: “Place Aaron’s staff permanently before the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a warning to rebels. This should put an end to their complaints against me and prevent any further deaths.”

English Standard Version
And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.”

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”

King James Bible
And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

New King James Version
And the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die.”

New American Standard Bible
But the LORD said to Moses, “Put the staff of Aaron back in front of the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, so that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me and they do not die.”

NASB 1995
But the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die.”

NASB 1977
But the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they should not die.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Yahweh said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die.”

Amplified Bible
But the LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony [in the ark], to be kept as a [warning] sign for the rebellious and contentious, so that you may put an end to their murmurings [of discontent] against Me, so that they do not die.”

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD told Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the testimony to be kept as a sign for the rebels, so that you may put an end to their complaints before me, or else they will die.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD told Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the testimony to be kept as a sign for the rebels, so that you may put an end to their complaints before Me, or else they will die.”

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that thou mayest make an end of their murmurings against me, that they die not.

Contemporary English Version
But the LORD told Moses, "Put Aaron's stick back! Let it stay near the sacred chest as a warning to anyone who might think of rebelling. If these people don't stop their grumbling about me, I will wipe them out."

English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that thou mayest make an end of their murmurings against me, that they die not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said to Moses, "Put Aaron's staff back in front of the words of my promise, and keep it there as a sign to warn any other rebels. Then you will stop their complaints about me, and they won't die."

Good News Translation
The LORD said to Moses, "Put Aaron's stick back in front of the Covenant Box. It is to be kept as a warning to the rebel Israelites that they will die unless their complaining stops."

International Standard Version
Then the Lord instructed Moses, "Return Aaron's rod before the testimony to be kept for a reminder against the rebels so that you may put an end to their complaints against me and so that they won't die."

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”

NET Bible
The LORD said to Moses, "Bring Aaron's staff back before the testimony to be preserved for a sign to the rebels, so that you may bring their murmurings to an end before me, that they will not die."

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said to Moses, "Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they not die."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again, before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

World English Bible
Yahweh said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the covenant, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you may make an end of their complaining against me, that they not die.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the Testimony, for a charge, for a sign to the sons of rebellion, and you remove their murmurings from off Me, and they do not die”;

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Put back the rod of Aaron, before the testimony, for a charge, for a sign to the sons of rebellion, and thou dost remove their murmurings from off me, and they do not die;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to Moses, Turn back Aaron's rod before the testimony, for preservation, for a sign for the sons of contradiction; and thou shalt finish their murmurings from me, and they shall not die.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to Moses: Carry back the rod of Aaron into the tabernacle of the testimony, that it may be kept there for a token of the rebellious children of Israel, and that their complaints may cease from me lest they die.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to Moses: “Carry back the rod of Aaron into the tabernacle of the testimony, so that it may be kept there as a sign of the rebellion of the sons of Israel, and so that their complaints may be quieted before me, lest they die.”

New American Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses: Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the covenant, for safe keeping as a sign to the rebellious, so that their grumbling against me may cease and they might not die.

New Revised Standard Version
And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the covenant, to be kept as a warning to rebels, so that you may make an end of their complaints against me, or else they will die.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to Moses, Bring Aaron's rod back before the testimony, to be kept as a token for the rebellious children; so that their murmurings may cease from me, that they die not.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to Moshe: “Return the rod of Ahron before the Testimony to be kept for a sign to the rebellious children, that their complaining will cease from me and they will not die.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and the LORD said unto Moses: 'Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept there, for a token against the rebellious children; that there may be made an end of their murmurings against Me, that they die not.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said to Moses, Lay up the rod of Aaron before the testimonies to be kept as a sign for the children of the disobedient; and let their murmuring cease from me, and they shall not die.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Aaron's Staff Buds
9Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff. 10The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.” 11So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.…

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 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.

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.

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.

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 132:17
There I will make a horn grow for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.

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

Jeremiah 1:11-12
And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied. / “You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”

Ezekiel 37:16-19
“And you, son of man, take a single stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and to all the house of Israel associated with him.’ / Then join them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand. / When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you explain to us what you mean by these?’ ...

John 15:1-5
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...

Romans 11:17-24
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”

Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said to Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and you shall quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

bring Aaron,s

Hebrews 9:4
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

for a token

Numbers 16:38,40
The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel…

Exodus 16:32
And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 31:19-26
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel…

rebels heb.

1 Samuel 2:12
Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

1 Samuel 30:22
Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

Psalm 57:4
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

and thou

Numbers 17:5
And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

Jump to Previous
Aaron Aaron's Ark Children Death Die End Kept Mayest Moses Murmurings Outcries Quite Rebellion Rebellious Rebels Rod Sign Staff Stop Testimony Token
Jump to Next
Aaron Aaron's Ark Children Death Die End Kept Mayest Moses Murmurings Outcries Quite Rebellion Rebellious Rebels Rod Sign Staff Stop Testimony Token
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














And the LORD said to Moses
This phrase underscores the direct communication between God and Moses, a central theme in the Pentateuch. The Hebrew word for "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This divine instruction highlights Moses' role as a mediator between God and the Israelites, reinforcing the authority and authenticity of the message.

Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony
The "staff" symbolizes authority and leadership, and Aaron's staff had miraculously budded, blossomed, and produced almonds as a divine sign of his chosen priesthood. The "Testimony" refers to the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of the Law. Placing the staff before the Testimony signifies God's endorsement of Aaron's priesthood and serves as a perpetual reminder of His sovereign choice.

to be kept as a sign to the rebellious
The Hebrew word for "sign" is "oth," which often denotes a miraculous or divine indicator. This sign was meant for the "rebellious," referring to those who challenged Aaron's priestly authority. Historically, this rebellion is linked to Korah's insurrection, where the legitimacy of Aaron's priesthood was questioned. The staff serves as a tangible reminder of God's judgment and mercy.

This will put an end to their grumbling against Me
The "grumbling" of the Israelites is a recurring theme in the wilderness narrative, reflecting their lack of faith and trust in God's provision and leadership. The Hebrew root "lun" conveys a sense of complaint or murmuring. By establishing Aaron's authority through the staff, God aims to quell dissent and restore order among His people.

so that they will not die
This phrase underscores the gravity of rebellion against God's ordained leadership. The consequence of such rebellion is death, highlighting the seriousness of sin and disobedience. God's provision of a sign is an act of grace, offering the Israelites a means to avoid judgment and maintain their covenant relationship with Him. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's desire for repentance and life rather than judgment and death.

(10) Bring Aaron's red again before the testimony.--Better, Put back (literally, make to return) Aaron's rod . . . It is not stated here that the rod was put within the ark. Nor is it so stated in Exodus 16:33 with regard to the pot of manna. Neither of these was within the ark when it was brought into Solomon's temple (1Kings 8:9); but this statement is by no means inconsistent with that contained in Hebrews 9:4, inasmuch as the assertion that there was nothing but the tables of the law in the ark at that time does not prove that there were not other things in it at an earlier period, and may be thought to suggest the inference that such was actually the case. The Jews have a tradition that when King Josiah ordered the ark to be put in the house which King Solomon built, the rod of Aaron and the pot of manna and the anointing oil were hidden with the ark, and that at that time the rod of Aaron had buds and almonds.

Verse 10. - Before the testimony. By comparison with verse 7 this should mean before the ark in which the "testimony" lay. In Hebrews 9:4, however, the rod is said to have been in the ark, although before Solo-men's time it had disappeared (1 Kings 8:9). We may suppose that after it had been inspected by the princes it was deposited for safer preservation and easier conveyance inside the sacred chest. To be kept for a token against the rebels. Rather, "against the rebellious," literally, "children of rebellion" (cf. Ephesians 2:2, 3). It could only serve as a token as long as it retained the evidences of having sprouted and fruited, either miraculously in a fresh state, or naturally in a withered state. As a fact, however, it does not appear that the lesson ever needed to be learnt again, and therefore we may suppose that the rod was left first to shrivel with age, and then to be lost through some accident.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The LORD
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

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

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

staff
מַטֵּ֤ה (maṭ·ṭêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

back
הָשֵׁ֞ב (hā·šêḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

in front
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the Testimony,
הָעֵד֔וּת (hā·‘ê·ḏūṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5715: Testimony

to be kept
לְמִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת (lə·miš·me·reṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4931: A guard, watch, charge, function

as a sign
לְא֖וֹת (lə·’ō·wṯ)
Preposition | Noun - common singular
Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence

for the rebellious,
לִבְנֵי־ (liḇ·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

so that you may put an end
וּתְכַ֧ל (ū·ṯə·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

to their grumbling
תְּלוּנֹּתָ֛ם (tə·lūn·nō·ṯām)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8519: Exalted, lofty

against Me,
מֵעָלַ֖י (mê·‘ā·lay)
Preposition-m | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

lest
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

they die.”
יָמֻֽתוּ׃ (yā·mu·ṯū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT Law: Numbers 17:10 Yahweh said to Moses Put back (Nu Num.)
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