Bible Encyclopedias
Staff

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

staf : Many Hebrew terms are represented by this word. The "staves" of the ark translate the word בּד , badh , literally, "a part," hence, branch, bar, etc. ( Exodus 25:13 , Exodus 25:14 , Exodus 25:15 , Exodus 25:27 , Exodus 25:28 , etc.). Other words, as maṭṭeh , maḳḳēl , shēbhet , used of the staff in the hand, the shepherd's staff, figuratively , "staff of bread" (maṭṭeh , Ezekiel 4:16; Ezekiel 5:16; Ezekiel 14:13 ), as indispensable for support of life, are dealt with under ROD (which see). The New Testament word is ῥάβδος , rhábdos (Matthew 10:10 parallel Luke 9:3; Hebrews 11:21 ). See also SCEPTRE .