Numbers 17:9 kjv
And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
Numbers 17:9 nkjv
Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.
Numbers 17:9 niv
Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD's presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.
Numbers 17:9 esv
Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the LORD to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff.
Numbers 17:9 nlt
When Moses brought all the staffs out from the LORD's presence, he showed them to the people. Each man claimed his own staff.
Numbers 17 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 4:2-4 | "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." ... it became a serpent... | Moses' rod becomes sign of divine power |
| Ex 7:9-10 | "When Pharaoh says to you... cast down your rod before Pharaoh... it will become a serpent." | Aaron's rod validates divine commission |
| Lev 8:1-36 | Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons and set them apart... | Aaron's priesthood instituted |
| Deut 10:5 | I put the tablets in the ark, as the Lord commanded me... | The ark houses items of God's covenant |
| Psa 110:4 | The Lord has sworn and will not change: "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." | Eternal priesthood established by divine oath |
| Isa 11:1 | A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. | Prophecy of Christ, the Messiah, bearing fruit |
| Jer 1:11-12 | The word of the Lord came to me, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see an almond branch." | Almond tree signifies God's watchful hastening |
| Ezek 37:1-14 | "Can these bones live?" ... "I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life." | God's power to bring life from death |
| Matt 7:16-20 | "You will recognize them by their fruits." | Goodness is known by the fruit it bears |
| Luke 6:43-44 | "A good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit." | Trees known by fruit, confirming identity |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me... bears much fruit." | Abiding in Christ brings fruitfulness |
| Acts 2:24 | God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. | Resurrection, life overcoming death |
| Rom 4:19-21 | Abraham did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God... | God brings life out of what is "dead" |
| Rom 8:11 | If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you... | The Spirit gives life from death |
| 1 Cor 15:20-22 | But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits... | Christ's resurrection is life-giving fruit |
| 2 Cor 3:6 | who has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant... | Ministry is from God, not self-appointed |
| Heb 5:4 | No one takes this honor upon himself, but he receives it when called by God... | Divine calling is essential for priesthood |
| Heb 7:16-17 | who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement... but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. | Christ's priesthood is of an indestructible life |
| Heb 9:4 | In it were the golden urn which held the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. | Aaron's rod preserved as a testimony |
| Jas 3:12 | Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? | Fruits reflect the true nature |
Numbers 17 verses
Numbers 17 9 Meaning
Numbers 17:9 describes the public revelation of God's chosen priesthood. After the rods of the tribal leaders were placed before the Lord, Aaron's rod alone miraculously blossomed and produced ripe almonds. This event served as undeniable divine confirmation of Aaron's exclusive right and God's sanction for the Levitical priesthood, settling the challenge against his authority once for all. It signified life and fruitfulness emanating directly from divine choice, contrasting with the barrenness of human presumption.
Numbers 17 9 Context
Numbers 17:9 is situated immediately following the dramatic conclusion of Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16. That rebellion challenged Moses' leadership and Aaron's divinely appointed priesthood, resulting in the earth swallowing the rebels and a plague killing 14,700 Israelites. To decisively end all murmuring and complaints against Aaron's priestly authority, God commanded a unique test. Each tribal leader was to present a staff, representing their tribe, and Aaron was to present his staff representing the tribe of Levi. These twelve staffs were to be laid up overnight "before the Lord" in the Tent of Meeting. The rod that sprouted would indicate God's chosen leader for the priesthood. This verse describes the outcome: only Aaron's rod demonstrated miraculous life, visibly bearing buds, blossoms, and ripe almonds. This event permanently validated the unique and exclusive Aaronic priesthood. Historically, it solidified the structure of leadership and worship in the nascent Israelite nation, establishing that religious authority derived solely from divine appointment, not human election or lineage beyond God's explicit command.
Numbers 17 9 Word analysis
- And when Moses brought out all the rods:
- Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Moshe): The chosen mediator between God and Israel. His role here is crucial in performing the ritual impartially and witnessing the miracle.
- brought out: Implies a public, transparent demonstration. No hidden elements.
- all the rods (כָּל-הַמַּטּוֹת, kol-ha'mattot): Emphasizes that every rod, representing every challenging tribal leader, was included and present. This ensures no accusations of favoritism or partiality could arise. Matteh (מַטֶּה) refers to a staff, rod, or even a branch; it can also denote a tribe, signifying here the leaders of each tribe.
- from before the Lord:
- before the Lord (מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה, mil-lipney Adonai): In the most holy presence, signifying divine oversight and authentication. The act took place in the Tabernacle, underscoring the sacred and inviolable nature of God's decision.
- to all the children of Israel,:
- to all the children of Israel (אֶל-כָּל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, el-kol-b'nei Yisrael): Highlights the public and universal witness of the miracle. This was not a private demonstration, but for the entire congregation, ensuring their full conviction and silencing dissent.
- they looked, and behold,
- they looked (וַיִּרְאוּ, vayiru): Implies a collective, observant gaze. They saw with their own eyes.
- and behold (וְהִנֵּה, v'hinneh): An interjection of exclamation, drawing attention to the sudden, surprising, and extraordinary nature of what was revealed. It emphasizes the miraculous.
- Aaron's rod had sprouted, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded ripe almonds.
- Aaron's rod (מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן, matteh Aharon): The specific, singular object of divine favor. It directly counteracted the claims of all other tribal leaders.
- had sprouted (פָרַח פָּרַח, parach parach): The Hebrew uses a doubled root (פָרַח, parach) which means "to bud," "sprout," or "flourish." The repetition emphasizes the immediate and visible emergence of life.
- brought forth buds (גִּבְעֹלִים, giv'olim): The initial, nascent signs of growth; undeveloped flower stalks or sprouts.
- bloomed blossoms (וַיָּצֵץ צִיץ, vayatzetz tzitz): Fully opened flowers. This indicates full manifestation and beauty of life. Tzitz (צִיץ) is the flower itself.
- yielded ripe almonds (וַיִּגְמֹל שְׁקֵדִים, vayigmol sh'qedim): The complete and mature fruit. The progression from barren wood to fruit in one night is the climax of the miracle. Sheqëdîm (שְׁקֵדִים) are almonds, one of the earliest trees to bloom in spring, hence associated with "hastening" or "watching" (Jer 1:11-12), implying God's swift and vigilant execution of His word.
Numbers 17 9 Bonus Section
The almond tree's characteristic of being one of the first trees to bud in spring (around January-February in Israel) might carry additional symbolic weight. In Jeremiah 1:11-12, God reveals the almond branch (שָׁקֵד, shaqed) to Jeremiah and declares, "for I am watching over my word to perform it." This play on words, where the Hebrew for almond sounds similar to "watching" or "hastening," subtly connects the instant fruitfulness of Aaron's rod to God's vigilant and swift execution of His will and promises, particularly regarding the sacred office of the priesthood. This immediate, complete maturation, contrary to nature, underscored the absolute sovereignty and immediacy of God's confirmation of Aaron. The permanence of the rod in the Ark testified against future dissent.
Numbers 17 9 Commentary
Numbers 17:9 serves as a profound divine verdict against usurpation of religious authority. In a single night, a dead, dry staff, representing the designated leader of the Levitical priesthood, bypassed all natural laws to display a full cycle of life and fruitfulness—sprouting, budding, blossoming, and yielding ripe almonds. This miraculous sign, performed before the whole congregation, established irrevocably that Aaron and his lineage were God's unique choice for priestly service, a role not earned by merit or tribal right but granted by divine decree. The complete process of fruitfulness underscored God's power to grant life and legitimacy, authenticating His chosen representatives through visible, tangible evidence. The placement of the rod in the Ark of the Covenant later (Heb 9:4) ensured a permanent reminder of this divine validation and a deterrent against future rebellion.