Numbers 17:6

And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

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Word by word — the Hebrew

Word	Hebrew	Strong’s	Meaning
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֜ה mo.Sheh	H4872	Mosheh · proper noun, a man's name
spake	וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר vay.da.Ber	H1696	perhaps properly · conjunction + verb, piel sequential imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular
children	בְּנֵ֣י be.Nei	H1121	a son (as a builder of the family name) · noun, common masculine plural construct
Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל Yis.ra.'El	H3478	Jisrael · proper noun, a place name
princes	נְשִֽׂיאֵיהֶ֡ם ne.si.'ei.Hem	H5387	properly · noun, common masculine plural construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine plural
gave	וַיִּתְּנ֣וּ vai.yi.te.Nu	H5414	to give · conjunction + verb, qal sequential imperfect, 3rd person masculine plural
rod	מַטֶּה֩ ma.Teh	H4294	a branch (as extending) · noun, common masculine singular absolute
prince	לְנָשִׂ֨יא le.na.Si'	H5387	properly · preposition + noun, common masculine singular absolute
one	אֶחָ֜ד 'e.Chad	H259	properly · cardinal number, feminine singular absolute
fathers’	אֲבֹתָ֔ם 'a.vo.Tam	H1	father · noun, common feminine plural construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine plural
houses	לְבֵ֣ית le.Veit	H1004	a house (in the greatest variation of applications · preposition + noun, common masculine singular construct
twelve	עָשָׂ֖ר 'a.Sar	H6240	ten (only in combination) · cardinal number, both genders singular absolute
rods	מַטֶּ֨ה ma.Teh	H4294	a branch (as extending) · noun, common masculine singular absolute
rod	מַטּ֑וֹת ma.Tot	H4294	a branch (as extending) · noun, common feminine plural absolute
Aaron	אַהֲרֹ֖ן 'a.ha.Ron	H175	Aharon · proper noun, a man's name
among	בְּת֥וֹךְ be.Tokh	H8432	a bisection · preposition + noun, common masculine singular construct
rods	וּמַטֵּ֥ה u.ma.Teh	H4294	a branch (as extending) · conjunction + noun, common masculine singular construct

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Numbers 17:1-7

Here we have, I. Orders given for the bringing in of a rod for every tribe (which was peculiarly significant, for the word here used for a rod sometimes signifies a tribe, as particularly Num 34:13), that God by a miracle, wrought on purpose, might make it known on whom he had conferred the honour of the priesthood. 1. It seems then the priesthood was a preferment worth seeking and striving for, even by the princes of the tribes. It is an honour to the greatest of men to be employed in the service of God. Yet perhaps these contended for it rather for the sake of the profit and power that attended the office than for the sake of that in it which was divine and sacred. 2. It seems likewise, af…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 17:6

the rod of Aaron was among their rods--either one of the twelve, or, as many suppose, a thirteenth in the midst (Heb 9:4). The rods were of dry sticks or wands, probably old, as transmitted from one head of the family to a succeeding.

John Gill on Numbers 17:6

And Moses spake unto the children of Israel,.... What the Lord had bid him say unto them concerning the rods, which they hearkened unto and observed: and everyone of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one; every prince of the several tribes, and so a rod for every tribe, as well as for each prince: according to their father's houses, even twelve rods; there being twelve tribes named after their fathers, or the patriarchs, the twelve sons of Jacob; and Joseph having two tribes which sprung from him, called after his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, there were twelve rods besides that of Aaron; and so the Vulgate Latin version renders the words with the next clause,"and there…

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John Calvin on Numbers 17:5-7

And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod. Aaron, indeed, had been previously chosen; but the expression here refers to his manifestation; [105] because God is said again to choose those, whom He has chosen by His secret counsel, when He brings them forth into the sight of men with their peculiar marks of distinction; and this not once only, but as often as he confirms their election by new indications. And this seems to be spoken of by way of concession, as if God would pass over all His former decrees, and invite the people afresh to take cognizance of the matter. With this view tie states that He will put an end to all the malevolent and noisy detractions of the people, so that Aaron…

Dictionary and topics

Aaron — The eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, a daughter of Levi (Ex. 6:20). Some explain the name as meaning mountaineer, others mountain of strength, illuminator. He was born in Egypt three years before…
Law of Moses — Is the whole body of the Mosaic legislation (1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 23:25; Ezra 3:2). It is called by way of eminence simply “the Law” (Heb. Torah, Deut. 1:5; 4:8, 44; 17:18, 19; 27:3, 8). As a written…
Witness — More than one witness was required in criminal cases (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). They were the first to execute the sentence on the condemned (Deut. 13:9; 17:7; 1 Kings 21:13; Matt. 27:1; Acts 7:57, 58).…
Desert, Journey Of Israel Through The · God’s choice of Aaron confirmed — God’s choice of Aaron confirmed

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Numbers 17:6

Word by word — the Hebrew

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Numbers 17:1-7

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 17:6

John Gill on Numbers 17:6

John Calvin on Numbers 17:5-7

Dictionary and topics

Numbers 17:6

Word by word — the Hebrew

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Numbers 17:1-7

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 17:6

John Gill on Numbers 17:6

John Calvin on Numbers 17:5-7

Dictionary and topics

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Numbers 17:4

Rashi on Numbers 17:5