Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. New Living Translation “Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel’s ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader’s name on his staff. English Standard Version “Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers’ house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs. Write each man’s name on his staff, Berean Standard Bible “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, King James Bible 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. New King James Version “Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses—twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod. New American Standard Bible “Speak to the sons of Israel, and obtain from them a staff for each father’s household: twelve staffs, from all their leaders for their fathers’ households. You shall write each man’s name on his staff, NASB 1995 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father’s household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households. You shall write each name on his rod, NASB 1977 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father’s household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households. You shall write each name on his rod, Legacy Standard Bible “Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father’s household: twelve rods from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households. You shall write each name on his rod, Amplified Bible “Speak to the sons of Israel and get rods from them, a rod for each father’s household, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods. Write every man’s name on his rod, Christian Standard Bible “Speak to the Israelites and take one staff from them for each ancestral tribe, twelve staffs from all the leaders of their tribes. Write each man’s name on his staff. Holman Christian Standard Bible Speak to the Israelites and take one staff from them for each ancestral house, 12 staffs from all the leaders of their ancestral houses. Write each man’s name on his staff. American Standard Version 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. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Speak to the Israelites, and get 12 staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their tribes. Write each man's name on his staff. Good News Translation "Tell the people of Israel to give you twelve walking sticks, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man's name on his stick International Standard Version "Tell the Israelis to take a rod—one from each ancestral house, that is, one from every leader, for a total of twelve rods. Write each tribal name on his rod. NET Bible "Speak to the Israelites, and receive from them a staff from each tribe, one from every tribal leader, twelve staffs; you must write each man's name on his staff. New Heart English Bible "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. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“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, World English Bible “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. Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“Speak to the sons of Israel, and take a rod from each of them, for a father’s house, from all their princes, for the house of their fathers—twelve rods; you write the name of each on his rod, Young's Literal Translation '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, Smith's Literal Translation Speak to the sons of Israel, and take from them a rod, a rod according to the house of the father, from all the chiefs according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods: thou shalt write each his name upon his rod. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSpeak to the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod by their kindreds, of all the princes of the tribes, twelve rods, and write the name of every man upon his rod. Catholic Public Domain Version “Speak to the sons of Israel, and receive from each of them a rod by their kinships, from all the leaders of the tribes, twelve rods, and write the name of each one on his rod. New American Bible Speak to the Israelites and get from them a staff for each ancestral house, twelve staffs in all, from all the leaders of their ancestral houses. Write each man’s name on his staff; New Revised Standard Version Speak to the Israelites, and get twelve staffs from them, one for each ancestral house, from all the leaders of their ancestral houses. Write each man’s name on his staff, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSpeak to the children of Israel, and take from every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, from all their princes according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods; write each man's name upon his rod. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated “Speak with the children of Israel and take a rod from them, a rod for the house of the fathers from the presence of all their Princes, for the house of their fathers, twelve rods, and write a man’s name on his rod. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Speak 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; thou shalt write every man's name upon his rod. Brenton Septuagint Translation Speak to the children of Israel, and take rods of them, according to the houses of their families, a rod from all their princes, according to the houses of their families, twelve rods, and write the name of each on his rod. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Aaron's Staff Buds1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“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, 3and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.… 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 25:21 Set the mercy seat atop the ark and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark. 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. 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. Deuteronomy 10:2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you are to place them in the ark.” 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. 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 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. Hebrews 7:11-14 Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? / For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well. / He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ... John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Acts 1:24-26 And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen / to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.” / Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles. 1 Samuel 12:7 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. Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. Treasury of Scripture 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 you every man's name on his rod. A rod. 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… Numbers 2:3-30 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah… 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… twelve rods 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 4:2,17 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod… Psalm 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Jump to Previous Children House Household Houses Israel Leaders Princes Rod Rods Speak Twelve WriteJump to Next Children House Household Houses Israel Leaders Princes Rod Rods Speak Twelve WriteNumbers 17 1. Aaron's rod, among all the rods of the tribes, only flourishes10. It is left for a monument against the rebels Speak to the Israelites This directive is given to Moses, who serves as the intermediary between God and the Israelites. The Israelites are the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel, and are organized into twelve tribes. This phrase emphasizes the importance of communication between God and His chosen people, highlighting Moses' role as a prophet and leader. and take from them twelve staffs one from the leader of each tribe Write each man’s name on his staff Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to guide His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. He is the one instructed by God to collect the staffs. 2. The Israelites The chosen people of God, consisting of twelve tribes, each represented by a leader. They are the audience of God's command through Moses. 3. The Twelve Tribes Each tribe of Israel is represented by a leader who provides a staff with his name on it. This event is a test to confirm God's chosen leader. 4. Aaron The brother of Moses and the high priest. His staff is among those collected and will later be the one that buds, signifying God's choice. 5. The Tent of Meeting The sacred place where God meets with Moses and where the staffs are placed before the LORD as a test of divine selection. Teaching Points Divine Authority and LeadershipGod establishes His chosen leaders through clear signs. Just as Aaron's staff budded, God confirms His chosen leaders in our lives through His Word and Spirit. Obedience to God's Commands Moses' obedience in following God's instructions is a model for us. We are called to trust and obey God's directions, even when the purpose is not immediately clear. God's Sovereignty in Selection The budding of Aaron's staff is a reminder that God is sovereign in His choices. We must trust His wisdom in appointing leaders and roles within the church and community. Unity Among Believers The event with the staffs was meant to quell disputes among the tribes. In the church, we should strive for unity, recognizing and respecting God's appointments. Faith in God's Provision Just as God provided a clear sign of His choice, we can trust that He will provide guidance and confirmation in our lives when we seek His will earnestly. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 17:2?2. How does Numbers 17:2 demonstrate God's authority through leadership selection? 3. What role do the staffs play in understanding God's chosen leaders in Numbers 17:2? 4. How can we apply the principle of divine selection in our church today? 5. What scriptural connections exist between Numbers 17:2 and God's authority in the New Testament? 6. How does Numbers 17:2 encourage us to trust God's chosen leaders in our lives? 7. What is the significance of the staff in Numbers 17:2 for Israel's leadership? 8. How does Numbers 17:2 demonstrate God's authority over Israel? 9. Why were the leaders' staffs chosen as symbols in Numbers 17:2? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 17? 11. Does this miraculous event contradict other Bible passages that require signs to be witnessed multiple times for confirmation of God's will? (Numbers 17) 12. Numbers 27:12-14: Why is Moses barred from entering the Promised Land for striking the rock, which seems like a minor offense? 13. Why does no archaeological record exist of a preserved staff that supposedly remained as a sign for the Israelites? (Numbers 17:10) 14. Joshua 17:3-6: Is the story of Zelophehad's daughters inheriting land plausible in a strict patriarchal society, or does it conflict with known ancient customs? What Does Numbers 17:2 Mean Speak to the Israelites- The opening command, “Speak to the Israelites,” underscores that the initiative comes directly from the LORD (cf. Numbers 17:1; Exodus 19:3). - This reminds the people that Moses is merely the messenger; the words and instructions are God’s, carrying divine authority (Deuteronomy 5:24). - After the recent rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16), God addresses the entire congregation, making sure everyone hears the solution to their doubts about priestly leadership. and take from them twelve staffs - A “staff” (or rod) was a common symbol of authority and identity for a tribal leader (Genesis 49:10; Exodus 4:2). - By asking for twelve staffs, God ensures each tribe is equally represented. No tribe is left out, preventing later claims of favoritism (Joshua 4:2–3). - The use of ordinary wooden staffs highlights that any miraculous outcome must be credited to God alone, not to some special human craftsmanship (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:27–29). one from the leader of each tribe - Leadership is front-and-center: “one from the leader of each tribe.” The confrontation is not with the rank-and-file but with the very heads who had questioned Aaron’s priesthood (Numbers 16:2). - God graciously gives these leaders a tangible opportunity to submit to His choice instead of their own ambitions (Proverbs 16:9). - The principle of representative testing mirrors earlier events, such as the twelve spies (Numbers 13:2–3), where each tribe’s fate was tied to its leader’s faithfulness. Write each man’s name on his staff - Inscribing the names eliminates any confusion about which staff belongs to whom, making the forthcoming miracle unmistakable (Isaiah 45:19). - It personalizes accountability: every chief will see God’s verdict on his own leadership claim (2 Chronicles 19:6). - Names signify covenant identity; God has a pattern of writing names to affirm belonging or judgment—e.g., engraving the tribes on the high priest’s breastpiece (Exodus 28:21) and Christ’s promise to write the overcomer’s name on Him (Revelation 3:12). summary Numbers 17:2 sets up a decisive, God-ordained test to silence rebellion and confirm His chosen priesthood. By gathering ordinary staffs from every tribal leader and marking each with a name, the LORD prepares an unmistakable demonstration that authority comes from Him alone and is not determined by human rivalry. XVII.(2) And take of every one of them . . . --Better, And take of them a rod for each father's house. Twelve rods.--Some suppose that Aaron's rod was not included amongst the twelve. Others suppose that one rod only was taken for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. The latter supposition is more accordant with the terms here employed than the former, and is supported by Deuteronomy 27:12-13, where Joseph stands for the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, and Levi is included amongst the twelve tribes. Write thou every man's name upon his rod.--This was in accordance with an Egyptian custom. (See Wilkinson's Ancient Egyptians, III. 388.) The prophet Ezekiel received a similar injunction (Ezekiel 37:16). Verse 2. - Take of every one of them a rod. Literally, "take of them a rod, a rod," i.e., a rod apiece, in the way immediately particularized. מַטֶּה (Septuagint, ῥάβδον,) is used for the staff of Judah (Genesis 38:18) and for the rod of Moses (Exodus 4:2). It is also used in the sense of "tribe" (Numbers 1:4, 16). Each tribe was but a branch, or rod, out of the stock of Israel, and, therefore, was most naturally represented by the rod cut from the tree. 'The words used for scepter in Genesis 49:10, and in Psalm 45:7, and for rod in Isaiah 11:1, and elsewhere are different, but the same imagery underlies the use of all of them. Of all their princes... twelve rods. These princes must be those named in chapter 2 and 7. Since among these are to be found the tribe princes of Ephraim and Manasseh, standing upon a perfect equality with the rest, it is evident that the twelve rods were exclusive of that of Aaron. The joining together of Ephraim and Manasseh in Deuteronomy 27:12 was a very different thing, because it could not raise any question as between the two.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Speakדַּבֵּ֣ר ׀ (dab·bêr) Verb - Piel - Imperative - 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 take וְקַ֣ח (wə·qaḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 3947: To take from them מֵֽאִתָּ֡ם (mê·’it·tām) Preposition-m | Direct object marker | third person masculine plural Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case twelve שְׁנֵ֥ים (šə·nêm) Number - md Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) staffs, מַטֶּה֩ (maṭ·ṭeh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe [one] מַטֶּ֣ה (maṭ·ṭeh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe from the leader נְשִֽׂיאֵהֶם֙ (nə·śî·’ê·hem) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist of each כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every tribe. אֲבֹתָ֔ם (’ă·ḇō·ṯām) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 1: Father Write תִּכְתֹּ֖ב (tiḵ·tōḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3789: To grave, to write each אִ֣ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person man’s name שְׁמ֔וֹ (šə·mōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 8034: A name on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against his staff, מַטּ֑וֹת (maṭ·ṭō·wṯ) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe Links Numbers 17:2 NIVNumbers 17:2 NLT Numbers 17:2 ESV Numbers 17:2 NASB Numbers 17:2 KJV Numbers 17:2 BibleApps.com Numbers 17:2 Biblia Paralela Numbers 17:2 Chinese Bible Numbers 17:2 French Bible Numbers 17:2 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 17:2 Speak to the children of Israel (Nu Num.) |
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