Numbers 17:6 kjv
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.
Numbers 17:6 nkjv
So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
Numbers 17:6 niv
So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron's staff was among them.
Numbers 17:6 esv
Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs.
Numbers 17:6 nlt
So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff.
Numbers 17 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 17:2 | "Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod... write each man's name..." | God's command preceding the action. |
| Num 17:3 | "...the rod of Aaron shall be for the house of Levi, for one rod..." | Clarifies Aaron's representation of Levi. |
| Exod 4:2-4 | "What is that in your hand?" And he said, "A rod." ...became a serpent. | Rod as a symbol of divine power and authority. |
| Exod 7:10-12 | Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh... became a serpent. | Rod as a tool for God's miraculous works. |
| Num 16:1-3 | Now Korah... took men... stood up against Moses and Aaron. | The rebellion challenging leadership. |
| Num 16:32-35 | The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up... fire came out... consumed. | God's judgment against rebellion. |
| Heb 5:4 | And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. | Divine appointment for priesthood is affirmed. |
| Exod 28:1 | "Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest." | God's initial call and appointment of Aaron. |
| Deut 10:8 | "At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to Him..." | Separation of Levi for holy service. |
| Josh 3:15 | ...the feet of the priests who bore the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows...). | Levites carrying the ark; priestly duty. |
| 1 Kgs 18:24 | "Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." | God's authentication through a sign. |
| Zech 6:12-13 | "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!... He shall build the temple of the Lord... and be a priest on His throne." | Prophecy of Messiah as both Priest and King. |
| Ps 110:4 | The Lord has sworn and will not relent, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." | Eternal priesthood; a type for Christ. |
| John 6:70 | Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" | Divine choice and election of followers. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people... | New Testament believers as a spiritual priesthood. |
| Eph 4:11 | And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers... | God appointing roles and authorities in His church. |
| 1 Sam 10:24 | And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen...?" | God's sovereign choice for leadership. |
| Rom 9:16 | So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. | Divine sovereignty in election, not human merit. |
| Num 1:16 | These were the ones chosen from the congregation, leaders of the tribes of their fathers... | Description of tribal leaders. |
| Rev 2:27 | "He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels..." | Rod symbolizing ultimate authority and judgment. |
| Mic 7:14 | "Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage, who dwell solitarily in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel." | Staff as a symbol of pastoral leadership. |
| Num 1:1-46 | Records the census and organization by tribes and "fathers' houses". | Context of Israel's tribal structure. |
Numbers 17 verses
Numbers 17 6 Meaning
Numbers 17:6 details the immediate obedience of the Israelite community to God's instruction given through Moses. Each of the twelve tribal leaders presented their distinct staff or rod, representing their respective "fathers' houses" or tribes. Notably, Aaron's rod was also included among these, specifically representing the tribe of Levi. This collection of twelve rods was an preparatory act commanded by God to definitively demonstrate His divinely chosen priesthood, silencing the persistent grumbling and challenges to Aaron's authority.
Numbers 17 6 Context
Numbers 17:6 occurs immediately after the profound challenge to divine authority in Numbers chapter 16, known as the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. This rebellion directly questioned Moses' divinely appointed leadership and, more critically, Aaron's exclusive right to the priesthood, asserting that "all the congregation is holy" (Num 16:3). God's immediate and devastating judgment on the rebels and their followers silenced the outward opposition, but a persistent "grumbling" continued among the Israelites, indicating a need for a definitive sign. Numbers 17 serves as God's response to provide an undeniable, visual, and perpetual validation of Aaron's chosen status for the priesthood. Historically, a rod or staff served as a powerful symbol of authority, leadership, and tribal identity in ancient Near Eastern cultures, making its use in this divine demonstration particularly resonant to the original audience.
Numbers 17 6 Word analysis
And Moses spake (וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ - Vayyedabber Mosheh):
וַיְדַבֵּר(Vayyedabber): A waw-consecutive perfect form of dabar (דבר), meaning "to speak, declare, command." This grammatical form emphasizes the immediate and sequential action of Moses in relaying God's precise command.- Signifies Moses acting as God's chosen intermediary and prophet.
- His speech implies communication of God's instructions directly to the people.
unto the children of Israel (אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל - 'el-b'ney Yisra'el):
בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל(b'ney Yisra'el): "Sons of Israel" or "children of Israel."- Indicates the entire community is being addressed, particularly important given the widespread grumbling and challenge to authority.
- This collective address signifies accountability and required participation from the whole nation.
and every one of their princes (וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ כָּל־נְשִׂ֣יאֵיהֶ֔ם - vayyit'nu 'elav kol-nes'i'ehem):
נְשִׂיאֵיהֶם(nesīʾehem): "their princes," derived from nasi' (נָשִׂיא), meaning "prince," "leader," or "chief." These were the recognized tribal heads.- Emphasizes that the authoritative representatives of each tribe were directly involved in this act.
- Their participation was crucial as it underscored the obedience and legitimacy of the communal response to God's instruction through their designated leaders.
gave him a rod apiece (מַטֶּ֥ה לְנָשִׂ֖יא אֶחָ֑ד - maṭṭeh l'nasīʾ echad):
מַטֶּה(maṭṭeh): "rod," "staff," or "branch." It is the same word that can also mean "tribe."- Symbolized authority, leadership, and also, in this context, the specific tribal lineage and identity.
אֶחָ֑ד(echad): "one" or "each one." The singular focus ("one rod for each prince") emphasizes precision in following God's command.
according to their fathers' houses (לְבֵית֙ אֲבֹ֣תָם - leveit 'avotam):
בֵית אֲבֹתָם(beit avotam): "house of their fathers" or "their ancestral households/tribes."- Highlights the patriarchal, genealogical structure of Israelite society and confirms the traditional representation.
- Reinforces that each rod represented a specific, recognized lineage and not just random individuals.
even twelve rods (שְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ מַטּ֔וֹת - shenēm 'asār maṭṭōṯ):
שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר(shenēm 'asār): "twelve."- Signifies the full representation of all twelve tribes of Israel (excluding Levi as a separate priestly tribe here, with Aaron representing Levi directly).
- The completeness of the number "twelve" underscores that the entire nation was represented in this pivotal moment of validation.
and the rod of Aaron was among their rods (וּמַטֵּ֥ה אַהֲרֹ֖ן בְּת֣וֹךְ מַטּוֹתָֽם - umaṭṭēh 'Aharon b'ṯōḵ maṭṭōṯām):
מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן(maṭṭēh 'Aharon): "rod of Aaron."- Crucially, Aaron's rod was included alongside, not separate from, the other tribal rods. This placement integrated him as the representative of Levi, albeit a Levi designated for unique priestly service.
- The "among their rods" phrase suggests he was treated as one of the princes in this initial collection, yet God's purpose for his rod was distinct from the rest, as revealed in the subsequent verses. This set the stage for divine distinction within human structures.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And Moses spake unto the children of Israel": This phrase highlights Moses' role as the divine messenger, indicating direct communication of God's will to the entire assembly. It sets up the following action as a direct consequence of this divine word.
- "every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses": This repetition and precise phrasing emphasize the meticulous fulfillment of God's command. It underlines the concept of representative leadership where each tribe, through its appointed leader and ancestral line, fully participated in the demonstration.
- "even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods": The total of "twelve rods" represents the unified community of Israel. The immediate follow-up about "the rod of Aaron...among their rods" sets Aaron and Levi apart as uniquely distinguished by God's plan within the larger tribal structure, hinting at the special priestly role that will be validated.
Numbers 17 6 Bonus section
The "rod" (מַטֶּה - matteh) in this context is often understood as a dried stick, implying that it was a dead piece of wood. The miraculous budding, blossoming, and bearing of ripe almonds (Num 17:8) from such a lifeless object served as a powerful sign of God's life-giving power and sovereign choice, echoing a theme of bringing life from death, which foreshadows resurrection and new life in Christ. The location for collecting these rods was likely the Tent of Meeting, specifically "before the Lord," symbolizing God's direct involvement and authority in the process. The act of placing the rods "before the testimony" (Num 17:4) within the tabernacle, where God's presence dwelled, indicates that this was not merely a human selection but a divine confirmation within the sphere of His holiness and covenant. The outcome served as a lasting deterrent and witness (Num 17:10) against future rebellion against God's established order.
Numbers 17 6 Commentary
Numbers 17:6 is a pivotal narrative moment following severe judgment. It demonstrates the immediate and precise compliance of the Israelite leaders to God's instruction, preparing for the irrefutable authentication of Aaron's priestly office. By each tribal prince bringing a distinct rod "according to their fathers' houses," the verse establishes communal representation and affirms the structured order of God's people. Aaron's rod, integrated amongst them, yet specifically designated, sets the stage for God's sovereign distinction of the Levites for perpetual priesthood. This act underscores divine order, quiets dissent through clear demonstration, and ensures that all Israel witnessed and acknowledged God's appointed authority.