Topical Bible: Staves

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical terminology, "staves" refers to rods or poles, often used for support, guidance, or as a symbol of authority. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, serving both practical and symbolic purposes.

Old Testament Usage

1. Practical Use: Staves were commonly used as walking sticks or tools for shepherds. In Exodus 12:11, during the Passover instructions, the Israelites were told, "And this is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover." Here, the staff (or stave) signifies readiness and mobility.

2. Symbol of Authority: In Numbers 17:8, Aaron's rod, which budded, was a stave that symbolized divine selection and authority. "The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds."

3. Construction and Transport: Staves were used in the construction and transportation of sacred objects. For instance, the Ark of the Covenant was designed with rings through which staves were inserted for carrying. Exodus 25:13-15 states, "And make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, so that the ark may be carried by them. The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed."

New Testament Usage

While the term "staves" is less frequently mentioned in the New Testament, the concept of a staff as a tool for travel and support is present. In Mark 6:8, Jesus instructs His disciples, "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts." Here, the staff is a symbol of reliance on God’s provision and protection during their mission.

Symbolic Significance

Throughout Scripture, staves often symbolize guidance, support, and authority. They are tools for shepherds, leaders, and travelers, representing God’s provision and the authority bestowed upon His chosen servants. The staff is a reminder of the shepherding role of leaders, as seen in Psalm 23:4, "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."

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, staves were essential tools for daily life, used by shepherds, travelers, and leaders. They were often crafted from sturdy wood, such as acacia, and could be adorned or left plain, depending on their purpose. The use of staves in religious and ceremonial contexts underscores their importance as symbols of divine authority and guidance.

Conclusion

The concept of staves in the Bible encompasses both practical and symbolic dimensions, reflecting their multifaceted role in the lives of biblical figures. Whether as tools for travel, symbols of authority, or instruments of divine service, staves hold a significant place in the biblical narrative, illustrating themes of guidance, provision, and leadership.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Plural of Staff.

2. (n.) pl. of Staff.

3. (pl.) pl. of Stave.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

STAVES

stavz (baddim): Ten or eleven Hebrew words are used in the Old Testament to describe various staffs, bars, and wooden rods used by the Hebrews (compare STAFF; ROD; SCEPTER). One word only is used to describe the staves or wooden poles used for carrying the holy furniture of the tabernacle from place to place. That word is badh (plural baddim), which occurs 28 times in Exodus and Numbers and 5 times in Kings and Chronicles (compare also Job 17:16 Hosea 11:6). The only passage in which these staves are mentioned by another name is 1 Chronicles 15:15, where the staves used for carrying the ark from its captivity into Jerusalem are called motah. The reason for this probably is that the original baddim had been lost during the long absence of the sacred chest from its home in the tabernacle.

In the wilderness wanderings, arrangements were made that four items of the holy furniture of the portable tabernacle should be carried on the shoulders of Levites, suspended on these staves. These were the golden altar of incense, the golden table for shewbread, the brazen altar of sacrifice, and the ark of the covenant (Exodus 35:12-16).

In the case of the large altar of sacrifice, which was in reality a hollow wooden chest covered with brass (bronze) plates (see ALTAR), four rings were attached to the brass grating which rose midway in the chest, and through these rings the staves passed. The staves were of acacia wood and were covered with brass plating. In the case of the three golden utensils of the sanctuary, the staves were of acacia wood, covered with gold plates.

The last mention of any of these staves is in 1 Kings 8:7-9, where it is stated of the ark, in the holy of holies in Solomon's Temple, that the ends of its staves were seen by anyone standing in the adjoining holy place, before (i.e. east of) the oracle. Priests only might view them there, the curtain being withdrawn. The writer of 1 Kings 8 adds that the staves were thus visible when he wrote, an item of evidence worthy of note as to the date of the document.

W. Shaw Caldecott

Strong's Hebrew

4133. motah -- a pole, bar (of a yoke)
... bands, heavy, staves, yoke. Feminine of mowt; a pole; by implication, an ox-bow;
hence, a yoke (either literal or figurative) -- bands, heavy, staves, yoke. ...
/hebrew/4133.htm - 6k

3027. yad -- hand
... broad, (broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, + creditor, custody,
debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship, force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work ...
/hebrew/3027.htm - 8k

Library

How Intent the Ruler Ought to be on Meditations in the Sacred Law.
... Thou shalt make four rings of gold, which thou shalt put in the four corners of
the ark, and thou shalt make staves of shittim-wood, and overlay them with gold ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xi how intent the.htm

Lo! Death was Prompt Beforehand, to Mock Satan
... When they put two beams together, to form the Cross: He broke them, even
the two staves, the guardians of them."18. Ezekiel put ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn lviii lo death was.htm

The Arrest
... "And straightway, while He yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with
him a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 14 43-52 the arrest.htm

The Captive Christ and the Circle Round Him
... 'And immediately, while He yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with
him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the captive christ and the.htm

The Arrest
... This composite force was armed with swords and staves"the former weapon belonging
perhaps to the Roman soldiers and the latter to the temple police"and ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter i the arrest.htm

Friday --The Day of Suffering.
... And straightway, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him
a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his last week/fridaythe day of suffering.htm

With those Also Who, as it were from Sleep...
... of them; and even when the time of His passion drew on, He delivered not up Himself,
but waited until they came to Him with "swords and staves." He said to ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/canon ix with those also.htm

The Opening of the Side of Jesus.
... Six archers soon after made their appearance, bringing with them ladders, spades,
ropes, and large iron staves for the purpose of breaking the legs of the ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlviii the opening of.htm

The Betrayal and Arrest.
... And straightway, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him
a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the betrayal and arrest.htm

This Said Jesus, and Went Forth with his Disciples to a Place ...
... still speaking, came Judas the betrayer, one of the twelve, and with him a great
multitude carrying lanterns and torches [3344] and swords and staves, from the ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xlviii this said jesus.htm

Thesaurus

Staves (50 Occurrences)
...STAVES. ... One word only is used to describe the staves or wooden poles used for carrying
the holy furniture of the tabernacle from place to place. ...
/s/staves.htm - 23k

Acacia-wood (27 Occurrences)
... half the height thereof. (DBY JPS). Exodus 25:13 And make staves of
acacia-wood and overlay them with gold. (DBY JPS). Exodus 25:23 ...
/a/acacia-wood.htm - 13k

Hand-staves (1 Occurrence)
Hand-staves. Handstaves, Hand-staves. Hand-stretch . Multi-Version
Concordance Hand-staves (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 39 ...
/h/hand-staves.htm - 6k

Shittim (34 Occurrences)
... thereof. (KJV WBS YLT). Exodus 25:13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim
wood, and overlay them with gold. (KJV WBS YLT). Exodus ...
/s/shittim.htm - 20k

Overlaid (50 Occurrences)
... round about. (YLT). Exodus 25:13 and thou hast made staves of shittim wood,
and hast overlaid them 'with' gold, (YLT). Exodus 25:24 ...
/o/overlaid.htm - 21k

Receptacles (7 Occurrences)
... Receptacles (7 Occurrences). Exodus 25:27 Close to the margin shall the rings
be, as receptacles of the staves to carry the table. (DBY). ...
/r/receptacles.htm - 8k

Overlayeth (19 Occurrences)
... gold round about; (YLT). Exodus 37:4 and he maketh staves of shittim wood,
and overlayeth them with gold, (YLT). Exodus 37:11 and ...
/o/overlayeth.htm - 11k

Lengthen (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:8 and they lengthen the staves, and the heads of the staves are seen from
the holy 'place' on the front of the oracle, and are not seen without, and ...
/l/lengthen.htm - 9k

Grate (6 Occurrences)
... On the grating were four rings through which the staves were passed by which the
altar was borne (Exodus 27:4, 7). If the ledge was for the priests to stand on ...
/g/grate.htm - 10k

Insert (4 Occurrences)
... Numbers 4:6 And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread
over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof. ...
/i/insert.htm - 7k

Resources

Who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus? | GotQuestions.org

Staves: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Staves (50 Occurrences)

Matthew 10:10
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
(KJV)

Matthew 26:47
And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
(KJV ASV)

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

Mark 14:43
And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
(KJV ASV)

Mark 14:48
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
(KJV ASV)

Luke 9:3
And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
(KJV)

Luke 22:52
Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
(KJV ASV)

Exodus 7:12
they cast down every man his staff, and they became serpents; but Aaron's staff swallowed up their staves.
(DBY)

Exodus 25:13
And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 25:14
And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 25:15
The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 25:27
Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 25:28
And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 27:6
And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 27:7
And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 30:4
And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 30:5
And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 35:12
The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 35:13
The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the showbread,
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 35:15
And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 35:16
The altar of burnt offering, with his brazen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 37:4
And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 37:5
And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 37:14
Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 37:15
And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 37:27
And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 37:28
And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 38:5
And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staves.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY)

Exodus 38:6
And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 38:7
And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 39:35
The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 39:39
The brazen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 40:20
And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Numbers 4:6
And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

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 staves thereof.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

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 the staves thereof:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Numbers 4:14
And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Numbers 17:2
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.
(DBY)

Numbers 17:6
And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and all their princes gave him a staff, one staff for each prince according to their fathers' houses, twelve staves, and the staff of Aaron was among their staves.
(DBY)

Numbers 17:7
And Moses laid the staves before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony.
(DBY)

Numbers 17:9
And Moses brought out all the staves from before Jehovah to all the children of Israel, and they looked and took each one his staff.
(DBY)

Numbers 21:18
The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT RSV)

1 Samuel 17:43
And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

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 staves thereof above.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

1 Kings 8:8
And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

1 Chronicles 15:15
And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

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 staves thereof above.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

2 Chronicles 5:9
And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

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

Zechariah 11:7
And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Subtopics

Staves

Staves (Long Poles) used As Weapons

Staves (Long Poles): Symbolical

Related Terms

Acacia-wood (27 Occurrences)

Hand-staves (1 Occurrence)

Shittim (34 Occurrences)

Overlaid (50 Occurrences)

Receptacles (7 Occurrences)

Overlayeth (19 Occurrences)

Lengthen (9 Occurrences)