Numbers 17:3

Numbers 17:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
• New International Version (NIV)On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers' house.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father’s house.

Context of Numbers 17:3

1Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to the sons of Israel and get rods from them, a rod for each father’s household, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods. Write every man’s name on his rod, and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi [his ancestor]; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households. 4You shall then deposit them in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) in front of [the ark of] the Testimony, where I meet with you. 5It shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will bud, and I will no longer hear the constant grumblings of the Israelites, who are grumbling against you.”

Numbers 17:3 word by word

וְאֵת֙ שֵׁ֣ם אַהֲרֹ֔ן תִּכְתֹּ֖ב עַל־מַטֵּ֣ה לֵוִ֑י כִּ֚י מַטֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד לְרֹ֖אשׁ בֵּ֥ית אֲבוֹתָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And thou shalt writeכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• Aaron’sאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
• nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• upon the rodמַטֶּהmaţţeh maţţâh · tribe: rodH4294
• of Leviלֵוִיlêvîy · LeviH3878
• for oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• for the headרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218
• of the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of their fathersאָב'âb · fatherH1

Cross-references for Numbers 17:3

• Numbers 3:2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
• Numbers 18:1So the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household (family) with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary [that is, through your service as priests you will atone for the offenses which the people unknowingly commit when brought into contact with the manifestations of God’s presence]; and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood [that is, your own unintentional offenses].
• Exodus 6:16These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their births: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and Levi lived a hundred and thirty-seven years.

Commentaries on Numbers 17:3

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Thou shalt write Aaron‘s name upon the rod of Levi - The Levites had taken part in the late outbreak. It was therefore necessary to vindicate the supremacy of the house of Aaron over them; and accordingly his name was written on the rod of Levi, although being the son of Kohath, the second son of Levi (Exodus 6:16 ff), he would not be the natural head of the tribe.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-5The shepherd's staff was a common item (see Psalm 23:4). Like the scepter, it symbolized authority (see Jeremiah 48:17). This trial was fitting because the Hebrew words for "staffs" and "tribes" sound the same. The Lord's chosen staff would show his chosen tribe.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-132-5. Speak unto the children of Israel--The controversy with Moses and Aaron about the priesthood was of such a nature and magnitude as required a decisive and authoritative settlement. For the removal of all doubts and the silencing of all murmuring in the future regarding the holder of the office, a miracle was wrought of a remarkable character and permanent duration; and in the manner of performing it, all the people were made to have a direct and…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 17:3

• Levites
• Miracles

In the dictionaries

• Levi
• Levi, Levite
• Matthew, Levi
• Aaron
• Exodus
• Prince
• Rebel
• Aaron's Rod
• Abiram
• Agrapha

Commentaries on Numbers 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings