noun · feminine
rabdas
Greekῥάβδος (rabdos)
Strong’sG4464
a rod, staff
stem rabd-12 times in the New Testamentin 6 of 27 books4 of 10 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
ῥάβδος, -ου, ἡ
[in LXX chiefly for מַטֶּה (e.g. Ge 47:31, MT, מַטֶּה, bed), also for מַקֵּל, שֵׁבֶט, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4464 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidhrab'-dos
a stick or wand (as a cudgel, a cane or a baton of royalty)
Fromfrom the base of G4474;
King Jamesrod, sceptre, staff.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | rabdas3×ῥάβδος | rabdais |
| object accusative | rabdan3×ῥάβδον | rabdain |
| direct address vocative | rabdar | rabdair |
| of, belonging to genitive | rabdau1×ῥάβδου | rabdaiu |
| to, for dative | rabda5×ῥάβδῳ | rabdai |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
rabda is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
12 occurrences, every one of them listed
rabdas“scepter”subjectnominative singular3×
Hebrews 1:8“scepter”pros de ton huion; Tos thronos su tor theor eis ton aiōnon tou aiōnou, kai tas rabdas tau euthutau rabdas tau basileiau su.But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Hebrews 1:8“scepter”pros de ton huion; Tos thronos su tor theor eis ton aiōnon tou aiōnou, kai tas rabdas tau euthutau rabdas tau basileiau su.But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Hebrews 9:4“rod”chrusouem echarōtas thumiatēriem kai tan kibōtan tau diathēkau perikaluptirētan pantothen chrusie, en ha stamnas chrusouas echarōtas tem manna kai tas rabdas Aarōn tas blastanaratas kai tais plaxais tau diathēkau,containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
rabdan“staff”objectaccusative singular3×
Matthew 10:10“staff”mē pēran eis hodan mēde duo chitōnoin mēde hupodēmeim mēde rabdan; axios gar tos ergatos tau trofēau autou.Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.
Mark 6:8“staff”kai parangellata autoi hina mēdenem airaleiō eis hodan ei mē rabdan monem, mē arton, mē pēran, mē eis tan zōnan chalkon,He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey — no bread, no bag, no money in their belts —
Luke 9:3“staff”kai legata pros autoin; Mēdenem airavōr eis tan hodan, mēte rabdan mēte pēran mēte arton mēte arguriem, mēte ana duo chitōnoin echarō.“Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic.
rabdau“staff”of, belonging togenitive singular1×
Hebrews 11:21“staff”pistia Iakōb apothnēskarōtos hekaston toiu huioiu Iōsēf eulogata, kai proskunata epi tem akrem tau rabdau autou.By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
rabda“rod”to, fordative singular5×
1 Corinthians 4:21“rod”tinem thelavō? en rabda erchameia pros vin, ē en agapa pneume tē prautau?Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
Revelation 2:27“rod”kai poimainati autoin en rabda sidēroua hōs teim skeueim teim keramikeim suntribitō,He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery — just as I have received authority from My Father.
Revelation 11:1“staff”Kai dōita mi kalamos homoios rabda, legarōtos; Egeirasōr kai metrasar ton naon tou theou kai tem thusiastēriem kai toin proskunarōtoin en auto.Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there.
Revelation 12:5“rod”kai tiktata huion, arsēnem, hos mellatō poimainarō panteim teim ethneim en rabda sidēroua; kai harpazita tem teknem autau pros ton theon kai pros ton thronon autou.And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
Revelation 19:15“rod”kai ek teu stomeu autou ekporeuetō romfaias oxuas, hina en auta patassateia teim ethneim, kai autos poimainati autoin en rabda sidēroua; kai autos patatō tan lēnan tou oinou tou thumou tau orgau tou theou tou pantokratōrou.And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.