Numbers 17:8 kjv
And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
Numbers 17:8 nkjv
Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.
Numbers 17:8 niv
The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.
Numbers 17:8 esv
On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.
Numbers 17:8 nlt
When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron's staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!
Numbers 17 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 16:5 | And he said to Korah and all his company, "In the morning the Lord will show who is his, and who is holy, and who will come near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him." | God's direct validation of His chosen. |
| Num 17:10 | And the Lord said to Moses, "Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels..." | A lasting perpetual sign against rebellion. |
| Exod 7:10 | So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. | Staff symbolizing delegated divine power. |
| Isa 11:1 | There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. | Messiah as new life/fruit from a dead lineage. |
| Heb 7:14-16 | For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah... not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. | Christ's priesthood through divine power. |
| Pss 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. | The blessedness and fruitfulness of the righteous. |
| Matt 7:16-20 | You will recognize them by their fruits... Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. | Distinguishing true vs. false by their fruits. |
| John 15:4-5 | Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me... | Fruitfulness through abiding in Christ. |
| Jer 1:11-12 | The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see an almond branch." Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it." | Almond as symbol of God watching His word. |
| 1 Cor 12:28 | And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating... | God's sovereign appointment of roles. |
| Rom 11:17 | But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others... | Metaphor of engrafting and divine sustenance. |
| Heb 9:4 | ...and in it were the gold urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. | Aaron's rod preserved as perpetual witness. |
| Joel 2:21-22 | ...for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine yield their full strength. | Divine blessing leading to flourishing life. |
| Luke 6:43-45 | For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit... | True character revealed by spiritual fruit. |
| Acts 2:33 | Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you yourselves are seeing and hearing. | Miraculous signs validating divine appointment/power. |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: | God granting gifts for specific service. |
| Exod 4:2-4 | The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff." And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent... | Staff as a tool for manifesting divine power. |
| Zech 4:6 | ...Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. | God's work achieved by divine power, not human strength. |
| Col 1:6 | ...the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in truth; | Fruitfulness of the gospel message. |
| 2 Cor 3:5-6 | Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant... | Divine sufficiency for ministry. |
| Ps 92:12-14 | The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord... They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green. | Fruitfulness and vitality from God's presence. |
Numbers 17 verses
Numbers 17 8 Meaning
Numbers 17:8 describes the miraculous event where Aaron's lifeless staff, among twelve tribal staffs, uniquely budded, blossomed, and bore ripe almonds overnight. This sign unequivocally confirmed Aaron's exclusive appointment to the priesthood by divine validation, thereby resolving the challenge to his and the tribe of Levi's priestly authority. The miracle symbolized divine anointing, life emerging from what was dead, and true spiritual fruitfulness originating from God.
Numbers 17 8 Context
Numbers 17 follows the severe judgments unleashed upon Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their followers in Numbers 16, who had challenged the God-given authority of Moses and Aaron concerning the priesthood. Despite the earth swallowing some rebels and divine fire consuming others, the congregation continued to murmur against Moses and Aaron, blaming them for the deaths. To permanently end this widespread murmuring and conclusively demonstrate His designated authority for the priesthood, God commanded each tribal leader to submit his staff, with his name inscribed, to be placed overnight in the Tent of Meeting before the Ark of the Testimony. The staff that showed signs of life would unequivocally identify God's chosen for the priestly office. This miracle was the definitive proof, aiming to silence all future contention against the divinely appointed Aaronic priesthood. The context underlines God's uncompromising selection process for sacred roles and stands as a polemic against human arrogance or usurpation of spiritual authority.
Numbers 17 8 Word analysis
And on the next day: Signifies the immediate, undeniable completion of the divine sign. It highlights the swiftness of God's action in confirming His word.
Moses went into: Moses is God's direct instrument, tasked with witnessing and publicizing the divine confirmation. His role adds legitimacy and solemnity to the event.
the tent of the testimony (’ohel ha-’eduth): Refers to the Tabernacle, specifically where the Ark of the Testimony (containing the Ten Commandments, symbols of God's covenant and law) was situated. This location emphasizes that the miracle occurred in God's holy presence, underlining its divine origin and sacred nature.
and behold, (wəhinnēh): An exclamation used to draw immediate attention to something astonishing or significant that is about to be revealed, highlighting the miraculous and unexpected nature of the event.
the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi:
- the staff of Aaron (maṭṭeh ’ahărōn): A wooden rod symbolizing authority and leadership, akin to a shepherd's crook or a scepter. The Hebrew word maṭṭeh also means "tribe," connecting Aaron's individual authority directly to his tribal lineage as chosen by God.
- for the house of Levi: Specifies that God's validation extended beyond Aaron personally, confirming the perpetual priestly privilege for his descendants within the tribe of Levi. This was crucial for establishing the hereditary priesthood.
had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.:
- had sprouted (wayyiḡmōl, from gāmal): While often meaning "to wean" or "to ripen," in this context, it signifies the astonishing commencement of growth from a dead object. It implies rapid, divine initiation of life.
- and put forth buds (tzitz): Denotes the emergence of small shoots, the very beginning of new life from the seemingly dead wood.
- and produced blossoms (peraḥ): Describes the flourishing of flowers, indicating the beauty and progressive development of the life within the staff, moving beyond mere survival to a stage of full potential.
- and yielded ripe almonds (sheqedim): This is the culminating miracle. A dry staff not only resurrected with life, budded, and flowered, but also brought forth mature, edible fruit overnight. This complete lifecycle manifestation demonstrates divine power that defies natural processes entirely. The almond tree (shaqed) is significant as one of the first trees to bloom in the Near East, making its quick fruit production a powerful sign of divine vigilance. Furthermore, the Hebrew word for "almond" (shaqed) is linguistically linked to the verb "to watch" (shaqad), implicitly connecting this miracle to God "watching over" His word to ensure its fulfillment (as seen in Jer 1:11-12).
Numbers 17 8 Bonus section
- Permanent Sign: The miraculously-budded staff of Aaron was instructed by God to be preserved in the Ark of the Covenant (Num 17:10, Heb 9:4), along with the pot of manna and the tablets of the Law. This placement made it a perpetual witness to God's choice and a memorial against rebellion, reinforcing the enduring nature of divine ordination.
- Contrasting Authority: This miracle explicitly contrasts man's claim to authority (like Korah's) with God's authentic conferral of authority. While human authority might seem to emerge from societal status or democratic will, divine authority is confirmed by signs of supernatural life and fruitfulness.
- The Miraculous Overnight Growth: The fact that the entire biological process, from dormant wood to ripe fruit, occurred overnight is key to the sign's undeniable nature. It demonstrates not just life, but life sustained and matured by an omnipotent power. There was no natural explanation possible, forcing acknowledgement of divine intervention.
Numbers 17 8 Commentary
Numbers 17:8 encapsulates a profound theological truth about divine selection and the source of true spiritual authority. God did not merely select Aaron and Levi; He unmistakably validated His choice through an unparalleled miracle. A dry, lifeless wooden staff, representing human inability and separation from divine life, instantaneously came alive, not merely budding but progressing through every stage of botanical development to bear ripe almonds. This supernatural event rendered God's affirmation of the Aaronic priesthood indisputable. It underscored that authentic anointing and fruitfulness originate solely from the power of God, transcending human wisdom, claims, or merit. The flourishing rod confirmed God's commitment to His appointed channels and served as a stark warning against challenging His established order. Typologically, Aaron's resurrected staff prefigures the ultimate validation of Christ's eternal priesthood and kingship through His own resurrection from the dead. Just as the staff yielded fruit, Christ's death and resurrection yield spiritual fruit in the lives of His followers, demonstrating His unique divine authority as our High Priest.