and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses.
- 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.
- 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.
- NASB and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi; for there is to be one staff for the head of each of their fathers’ households.
- NLT Inscribe Aaron’s name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Aaron's name was to be written on the rod of Levi, representing the priestly house among the tribes.
Overview
Aaron's rod stood for the tribe of Levi and specifically the priestly line. By including it among the twelve, God put Aaron's contested priesthood directly to the test. This singling out of Aaron prepares for the miracle that would vindicate the Aaronic priesthood, which itself foreshadows Christ's appointed priesthood.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Num 18:1So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood.
- Num 3:2–3These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- Num 18:7But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”
- Exod 6:16These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
- Exod 6:20And Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 17:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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