Numbers

Numbers 17:2–9

²“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff, ³and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe. ⁴Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony,^a where I meet with you. ⁵The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”

⁶So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff — one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them. ⁷Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

⁸The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds. ⁹Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.

Footnotes

a 17:4 The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments; also in verse 10.

Read all of Numbers 17

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Numbers 17:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Speak	דַּבֵּ֣ר׀	dab·bêr	Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular	H1696 speak
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the Israelites	בְּנֵ֣י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
and take	וְקַ֣ח	wə·qaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H3947 take
from them	מֵֽאִתָּ֡ם	mê·’it·tām	Preposition-m; Direct object marker; third person masculine plural	H854 with
twelve	שְׁנֵ֥ים	šə·nêm	Number - md	H8147 two
staffs	מַטּ֑וֹת	maṭ·ṭō·wṯ	Noun - masculine plural	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
from the leader	נְשִֽׂיאֵהֶם֙	nə·śî·’ê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H5387 one lifted up
of each	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
tribe	אֲבֹתָ֔ם	’ă·ḇō·ṯām	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H1 father
Write	תִּכְתֹּ֖ב	tiḵ·tōḇ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H3789 write
each	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
man’s name	שְׁמ֔וֹ	šə·mōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H8034 name
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
his staff	מַטֵּֽהוּ׃	maṭ·ṭê·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4294 staff, rod, shaft

Numbers 17:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and	וְאֵת֙	wə·’êṯ	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
write	תִּכְתֹּ֖ב	tiḵ·tōḇ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H3789 write
Aaron’s	אַהֲרֹ֔ן	’a·hă·rōn	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H175 Aaron
name	שֵׁ֣ם	šêm	Noun - masculine singular construct	H8034 name
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the staff	מַטֵּ֣ה	maṭ·ṭêh	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
of Levi	לֵוִ֑י	lê·wî	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3878 Levi
because	כִּ֚י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
there must be one	אֶחָ֔ד	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
staff	מַטֶּ֣ה	maṭ·ṭeh	Noun - masculine singular	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
for the head	לְרֹ֖אשׁ	lə·rōš	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7218 head
of each tribe	אֲבוֹתָֽם׃	’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H1 father

Numbers 17:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Place	וְהִנַּחְתָּ֖ם	wə·hin·naḥ·tām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H5117 rest
in the Tent	בְּאֹ֣הֶל	bə·’ō·hel	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H168 tent
of Meeting	מוֹעֵ֑ד	mō·w·‘êḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H4150 appointed time, place, meeting
in front of	לִפְנֵי֙	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
the Testimony	הָֽעֵד֔וּת	hā·‘ê·ḏūṯ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5715 testimony
where	אֲשֶׁ֛ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I meet	אִוָּעֵ֥ד	’iw·wā·‘êḏ	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H3259 appoint
with you	לָכֶ֖ם	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural

Numbers 17:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The staff	מַטֵּ֣הוּ	maṭ·ṭê·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
belonging to the man	הָאִ֛ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
I choose	אֶבְחַר־	’eḇ·ḥar-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H977 choose
will sprout	יִפְרָ֑ח	yip̄·rāḥ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6524 bud, sprout, shoot
and I will rid	וַהֲשִׁכֹּתִ֣י	wa·hă·šik·kō·ṯî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H7918 weave
Myself	מֵֽעָלַ֗י	mê·‘ā·lay	Preposition-m; first person common singular	H5921 height
of the constant grumbling	תְּלֻנּוֹת֙	tə·lun·nō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H8519 murmuring
of the Israelites	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
against you	עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃	‘ă·lê·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural	H5921 height

Numbers 17:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Moses	מֹשֶׁ֜ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
spoke	וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר	way·ḏab·bêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1696 speak
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the Israelites	בְּנֵ֣י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
and each	כָּֽל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
of their leaders	נְשִֽׂיאֵיהֶ֡ם	nə·śî·’ê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H5387 one lifted up
gave him	וַיִּתְּנ֣וּ	way·yit·tə·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5414 give, put, set
a	אֶחָ֜ד	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
staff	מַטֶּה֩	maṭ·ṭeh	Noun - masculine singular	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
one	מַטֶּ֨ה	maṭ·ṭeh	Noun - masculine singular	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
for each	אֶחָד֙	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
of the leaders	לְנָשִׂ֤יא	lə·nā·śî	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H5387 one lifted up
of their tribes	אֲבֹתָ֔ם	’ă·ḇō·ṯām	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H1 father
twelve	שְׁנֵ֥ים	šə·nêm	Number - md	H8147 two
staffs in all	מַטּ֑וֹת	maṭ·ṭō·wṯ	Noun - masculine plural	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
And Aaron’s	אַהֲרֹ֖ן	’a·hă·rōn	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H175 Aaron
staff	וּמַטֵּ֥ה	ū·maṭ·ṭêh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
was among	בְּת֥וֹךְ	bə·ṯō·wḵ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8432 midst

Numbers 17:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then Moses	מֹשֶׁ֛ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
placed	וַיַּנַּ֥ח	way·yan·naḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5117 rest
the staffs	הַמַּטֹּ֖ת	ham·maṭ·ṭōṯ	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
before	לִפְנֵ֣י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
the LORD	יְהוָ֑ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
in the Tent	בְּאֹ֖הֶל	bə·’ō·hel	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H168 tent
of the Testimony	הָעֵדֻֽת׃	hā·‘ê·ḏuṯ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5715 testimony

Numbers 17:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The next day	מִֽמָּחֳרָ֗ת	mim·mā·ḥo·rāṯ	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular	H4283 the morrow
Moses	מֹשֶׁה֙	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
entered	וַיָּבֹ֤א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
the Tent	אֹ֣הֶל	’ō·hel	Noun - masculine singular construct	H168 tent
of the Testimony	הָעֵד֔וּת	hā·‘ê·ḏūṯ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5715 testimony
and saw	וְהִנֵּ֛ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
that Aaron’s	אַהֲרֹ֖ן	’a·hă·rōn	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H175 Aaron
staff	מַטֵּֽה־	maṭ·ṭêh-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
representing the house	לְבֵ֣ית	lə·ḇêṯ	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of Levi	לֵוִ֑י	lê·wî	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3878 Levi
had sprouted	פָּרַ֥ח	pā·raḥ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6524 bud, sprout, shoot
put forth	וַיֹּ֤צֵֽא	way·yō·ṣê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
buds	פֶ֙רַח֙	p̄e·raḥ	Noun - masculine singular	H6525 bud, sprout
blossomed	וַיָּ֣צֵֽץ	way·yā·ṣêṣ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6692 blossom
and produced	וַיִּגְמֹ֖ל	way·yiḡ·mōl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1580 deal fully or adequately with, deal out to
almonds	שְׁקֵדִֽים׃	šə·qê·ḏîm	Noun - masculine plural	H8247 almond(-tree)

Numbers 17:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then Moses	מֹשֶׁ֤ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
brought out	וַיֹּצֵ֨א	way·yō·ṣê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the staffs	הַמַּטֹּת֙	ham·maṭ·ṭōṯ	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
from the LORD’s	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
presence	מִלִּפְנֵ֣י	mil·lip̄·nê	Preposition-m, Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
to	אֶֽל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the Israelites	בְּנֵ֖י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
They saw them	וַיִּרְא֥וּ	way·yir·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7200 see
and each man	אִ֥ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
took	וַיִּקְח֖וּ	way·yiq·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3947 take
his own staff	מַטֵּֽהוּ׃ס	maṭ·ṭê·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4294 staff, rod, shaft