Greek word · G4464

ῥάβδος

rabdos

rod

A stick or rod of wood, used as a traveller's walking staff, a shepherd's staff, a rod for striking, or a ruler's sceptre. The setting decides which. On a journey it means the walking stick that doubled as protection.

Appears 12 times in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ῥάβδος, -ου, ἡ

[in LXX chiefly for מַטֶּה (e.g. Genesis 47:31, MT, מַטֶּה, bed), also for מַקֵּל, שֵׁבֶט, etc. ;]

a staff, rod: Hebrews 9:4, Revelation 11:1; in particular,

(a) a staff, such as is used on a journey: Matthew 10:10, Mark 6:8, Luke 9:3, Hebrews 11:21" (LXX) ;

(b) a ruler's staff, a sceptre: Hebrews 1:8 (LXX) Revelation 2:27 12:5 19:15;

(with) a rod for chastisement (cf. ῥαβδίζω): ἐν ῥ. (see: ἐν): 1 Corinthians 4:21.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 9:3

Range of meaning

A stick or rod of wood, used as a traveller's walking staff, a shepherd's staff, a rod for striking, or a ruler's sceptre. The setting decides which. On a journey it means the walking stick that doubled as protection.

Against the English

"Staff" (BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB) is accurate. NLT's "walking stick" names the function well. The KJV's "staves" is simply an older plural, and it reflects a different Greek reading, not a different object.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament Jacob says he crossed the Jordan with only his staff (Genesis 32:10), a picture of someone owning next to nothing; Psalm 23:4 pairs the shepherd's rod and staff. Greek writers show Cynic philosophers carrying a staff and bag as their badge (Diogenes Laertius 6.22–23; Epictetus 3.22.10). Josephus says Essenes travelled carrying only arms against bandits (Jewish War 2.125).

From the study of Hebrews 9:4

Range of meaning

Rhabdos is a stick, staff or rod: a walking staff, a shepherd's rod, or a sceptre or tribal staff of office. Blastanō means to sprout or put out shoots.

Against the English

KJV 'rod that budded' and BSB 'staff that had budded' are both fine. 'Budded' undersells Numbers 17:8, where the staff sprouts, blossoms and bears ripe almonds.

Used elsewhere in the period

Numbers 17:1–11 (Greek 17:16–26) tells how twelve tribal staffs were laid before the testimony and only Aaron's sprouted. It was kept 'before the testimony as a sign for the rebels'.

From the study of Hebrews 1:8

Range of meaning

A rod or stick: a walking staff, a shepherd's staff, a rod for punishing, a ruler's scepter. Behind it is the Hebrew shebet, which means staff, scepter and also “tribe” (the staff being a tribe's emblem).

Against the English

English “scepter” suggests only a ceremonial ornament. The ancient word also carries shepherding and the power to discipline.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 49:10 (“the scepter shall not depart from Judah”) and Num 24:17 (“a scepter shall rise out of Israel”) were read as messianic in the Second Temple period. The Damascus Document (CD 7:19–20) and 4Q252 read the scepter as a coming royal figure. Ps 2:9 has the king ruling with an iron rod (ῥάβδος in the LXX), a verse Revelation applies to the Messiah (Rev 2:27; 19:15).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 10:10 ῥάβδον· a staff;

    Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

    Here: A walking stick, which also served as protection against dogs, wild animals and robbers. Almost every traveller carried one, so going without it meant going unprotected. Mark 6:8 allows it.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 6:8 ῥάβδον a staff

    He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 9:3 ῥάβδον staff

    “Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic.

    Here: A walking staff, the most basic thing a traveller had, useful for rough ground, animals and bandits. Luke opens the list with the item nearly everyone would have kept, which makes the ban striking; Mark 6:8 allows it.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:21 ῥάβδῳ a rod

    Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

    Here: The stick a father or a household tutor used to discipline a child. Paul has just called himself the Corinthians' father (4:14–15), so the rod stands for stern correction backed by authority. He is not threatening to hit anyone.

Hebrews · 4

  1. Hebrews 1:8 ῥάβδος ῥάβδος scepter

    But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

    Here: A ruler's staff, the scepter. Behind it is the Hebrew shebet, a staff used for guiding, striking and ruling, and the symbol of the power to judge.

  2. Hebrews 9:4 ῥάβδος staff

    containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

    Here: A tribal leader's staff, the staff of Aaron's tribe in Numbers 17. A staff was a sign of a tribe and its authority.

  3. Hebrews 11:21 ῥάβδου staff

    By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

Revelation · 4

  1. Revelation 2:27 ῥάβδῳ a rod

    He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.

    Here: The shepherd's staff or club, which was also the king's scepter. Paired with 'shepherd', the picture is a shepherd-king's rod, not a ceremonial wand.

  2. Revelation 11:1 ῥάβδῳ as a staff

    Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there.

    Here: A walking stick or staff. The comparison stresses that this cane is rigid and sturdy, not a flimsy marsh reed. Elsewhere in Revelation the same word is the 'rod of iron' of messianic rule (2:27; 12:5; 19:15), and some hear a faint note of authority in it here.

  3. Revelation 12:5 ῥάβδῳ a rod

    And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

    Here: The shepherd's club or staff, which was also a king's scepter. In Psalm 2:9 the Greek uses it for the Hebrew shevet: the rod that rules and strikes.

  4. Revelation 19:15 ῥάβδῳ a rod

    And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

    Here: Can mean a shepherd's staff or club, a walking stick, a rod for punishing, or a ruler's scepter. The shepherd verb makes the shepherd's club the main picture.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.