King James Version

Numbers 17:3

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.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Numbers 17:18.

וְאֵת֙veetand object markerאֵתconjunction, particle, direct object marker — “and object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).שֵׁ֣םshemfameשֵׁםnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “fame”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8034an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character[phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.אַהֲרֹ֔ןaharonAaronאַהֲרוֹןnoun, proper name — “Aaron”H175Aharon, the brother of MosesAaron.תִּכְתֹּ֖בtikhtovdescribeכָּתַבverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “describe”, an unfinished actionH3789to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…מַטֵּ֣הmatehrodמַטֶּהnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “rod”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4294a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread)rod, staff, tribe.לֵוִ֑יleviLevi. See also Hלֵוִיnoun, proper name — “Levi. See also H”H3878Levi, a son of JacobLevi. See also H3879 (לֵוִי), H3881 (לֵוִיִּי).כִּ֚יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…מַטֶּ֣הmatehrodמַטֶּהnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “rod”, the ordinary formH4294a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread)rod, staff, tribe.אֶחָ֔דechadfirstאֶחָדadjective, cardinal, masculine, singular, absolute — “first”, the ordinary formH259properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) firsta, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,לְרֹ֖אשׁleroshto headרֹאשׁpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “to head”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7218the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.בֵּ֥יתbeytfamilyבַּיִתnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “family”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web,…אֲבוֹתָֽםavotamfatherאָבnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “father”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote applicationchief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(17-18) And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi, for there shall be one rod for the head of their fathers' houses.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses.

Young’s Literal Translation

and Aaron's name thou dost write on the tribe of Levi; for one rod [is] for the head of their fathers' house:

World English Bible

You shall write Aaron’s name on Levi’s rod. There shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses.

Darby Translation

And Aaron's name shalt thou write upon the staff of Levi; for one staff shall be for [each] head of their fathers' houses.

Douay-Rheims

And the name of Aaron shall be for the tribe of Levi, and one rod shall contain all their families:

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(17-18) And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi, for there shall be one rod for the head of their fathers' houses.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And write the name of Aaron on the rod of Levi; for it is one rod for each : they shall give them according to the tribe of the house of their families.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ τὸ ὄνομα Ἀαρὼν ἐπίγραψον ἐπὶ τῆς ῥάβδου Λευί· ἔστι γὰρ ῥάβδος μία· κατὰ φυλὴν οἴκου πατριῶν αὐτῶν δώσουσι.