Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4400 Vegetation and food  »  4512 staff

The staff was a basic item of personal property

It was carried at most times

1 Samuel 14:27 See also Genesis 47:31; Judges 6:21; Hebrews 9:4

It was carried by travellers

Genesis 32:10 See also Exodus 12:11; Matthew 10:5-10 pp Mark 6:7-13 pp Luke 9:1-6

It was carried by shepherds

Micah 7:14 See also Psalm 23:4; Zechariah 11:7,10-14

The staff was sometimes a symbol of authority

Genesis 49:10 See also Genesis 38:18,25; Numbers 21:17-18; Judges 5:14; 2 Kings 18:21 pp Isaiah 36:6; Matthew 27:28-30 pp Mark 15:19

God's miraculous power was manifest through Moses' and Aaron's staffs

Exodus 4:2-5,15-17; Exodus 7:8-12,14-20 the plague of blood; Exodus 8:5-6 the plague of frogs; Exodus 8:16-17 the plague of gnats; Exodus 9:22-24 the plague of hail; Exodus 10:12-14 the plague of locusts; Exodus 14:15-16 the parting of the Red Sea; Exodus 17:5-13

The budding of Aaron's staff:

Numbers 17:1-10; Hebrews 9:4 Numbers 20:7-13

See also

5071  Aaron
5101  Moses
5513  sceptre
7784  shepherd