Rod
Rod [1]
( מקּל , maḳḳēl , מטּה , maṭṭeh , שׁבט , shēbheṭ ; ῥάβδος , rhábdos ): Little distinction can be drawn between the Hebrew words used for "rod" and "staff." Maḳḳēl is the word used in Genesis 30:37 ff for the twigs of poplar put by Jacob before his sheep, and in Jeremiah 1:11 of the "rod of an almond-tree." Maṭṭēh is used of a rod in the hand, as the "rods" of Moses and of Aaron ( Exodus 4:2 ff; Exodus 7:9 ff, etc.). Shēbheṭ is used, but sometimes also maṭṭeh , of the rod used for correction ( Exodus 21:20; 2 Samuel 7:14; Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 13:24; Isaiah 10:5 , etc.). In Psalm 23:4 ("Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me"), however, shēbheṭ is the shepherd's rod, figurative of divine guidance and care. In Ezekiel 21:10 , Ezekiel 21:13 , the word stands for the royal scepter. In the New Testament "rod" is used of a rod of correction ( 1 Corinthians 4:21 ), Aaron's rod ( Hebrews 9:4 ), a ruler's rod "of iron" (severity, as in Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15 ), a measuring rod ( Revelation 11:1 ). See also Armor; Arms .
