מַקֵּל (maq.qel)
maq.qel
rod
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun maqqel refers to a rod or staff, typically made of wood. In the biblical text, it is not merely a tool but a symbol of authority and protection. It appears in contexts ranging from the shepherd’s staff that guides sheep to the scepter representing royal power. The word conveys a sense of firmness and control, serving as an extension of the hand that holds it.
Its usage often highlights the relationship between the holder and those under their care or rule. For instance, in Genesis 49:10, the "scepter" (maqqel) signifies enduring leadership within Judah’s lineage. Similarly, in Jeremiah 1:11-12, God uses a rod to illustrate His watchful eye over the earth. The term bridges the physical act of striking or guiding with the abstract concept of governance.
Translators usually render maqqel as "rod," "staff," or "scepter" depending on the context. This distinction helps readers grasp whether the focus is on pastoral care, judicial correction, or political sovereignty. The consistency of its meaning across diverse books underscores its importance in depicting divine and human authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word maqqel describes a simple wooden rod or staff, yet it carries profound weight in Scripture. It is not merely a tool for walking but an extension of authority and care. When David held his shepherd’s staff, it represented the protection he had learned to trust in while watching over sheep. This same imagery reminds us that God’s guidance is often practical and close at hand, ready to support us in daily life.
In other passages, the rod shifts from a shepherd’s aid to a symbol of royal power or divine judgment. Whether it signifies the enduring leadership promised to Judah or the watchful eye of God over nations, the object remains consistent: it is something held firmly by one who has responsibility for others. This duality helps us understand that authority in the Bible is never distant; it is personal and engaged.
For your faith, this word invites you to consider who holds the rod in your life. It encourages a view of leadership that combines firmness with protection. Whether you are navigating a season of guidance or one of correction, the imagery suggests that those in authority are called to watch over their flock with the same intent as a shepherd watching his sheep.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ branches4×
- staff/ my2×
- with the/ stick1×
- with <the>/ sticks1×
- stick/ his1×
- staffs1×
- branch[es] of1×
- at the/ branches1×
- and/ stick/ his1×
- and/ staff/ your1×
- a staff of1×
- a branch of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַקַּ֥ל1×
- מַקֵּ֥ל1×
- מַקֵּ֖ל1×
- מַקְלִ֣/י1×
- מַקְלִ/י֙1×
- מַקְל֜/וֹ1×
- מַקְל֗וֹת1×
- וּ/מַקֶּלְ/כֶ֖ם1×
- וּ/מַקְל֖/וֹ1×
- הַ/מַּקְלוֹת֙1×
- הַ/מַּקְלֽוֹת\׃1×
- הַ/מַּקְל֛וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 17:40
He took his staff in his hand, and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag which he had. His sling was in his hand; and he came near to the Philistine.
David’s staff serves as a practical tool of his identity as a shepherd, grounding his confidence in God before facing Goliath.
-
Genesis 30:37
Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, and plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
Jacob uses peeled rods to influence the breeding of flocks, illustrating how physical objects were seen as instruments in divine providence.
-
Zechariah 11:7
So I fed the flock to be slaughtered, especially the oppressed of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The one I called “Favor” and the other I called “Union”, and I fed the flock.
The prophet takes two staffs named Favor and Union to symbolize his role as a shepherd over the oppressed flock of Israel.
-
Jeremiah 48:17
All you who are around him, bemoan him; and all you who know his name, say, ‘How the strong staff is broken, the beautiful rod!’
The breaking of the 'beautiful rod' metaphorically describes the collapse of Moab’s strength and stability under judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does maqqel mean in the Bible?
How is maqqel different from other words for staff?
Why does David use a staff in 1 Samuel 17?
What does the broken rod in Jeremiah 48:17 signify?
Every Occurrence (14 verses across 7 books)
Genesis 4 verses
Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, and plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white…
Genesis 30:38He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. They…
Genesis 30:39The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks produced streaked, speckled, and spotted.
Genesis 30:41Whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, Jacob laid the rods in front of the eyes of the flock in the watering…