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Numbers 17:5

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And it shall come to pass, [that] the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

And it shall come to pass, that the man's {H376} rod {H4294}, whom I shall choose {H977}, shall blossom {H6524}: and I will make to cease {H7918} from me the murmurings {H8519} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, whereby they murmur {H3885} against you.

The staff of the man I am going to choose will sprout buds - in this way I will put a stop to the complaints the people of Isra'el keep making against you."

The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”

And it shall come to pass, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.

Commentary

Context

Numbers 17:5 is central to God's definitive response to the persistent rebellion and discontent of the Israelites, particularly following the devastating judgment on Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16). Despite witnessing divine intervention, the people continued to blame Moses and Aaron for the deaths, leading to another plague. To settle the matter of who God had truly chosen for the priesthood, especially after the challenge to Aaron's authority, God commanded a unique test involving the rods (staffs) of the tribal leaders. This verse establishes the divine criterion for that test, promising a miraculous sign to confirm His chosen one.

Key Themes

Divine Confirmation of Leadership

This verse highlights God's absolute sovereignty in choosing His servants. The act of a dry, dead rod blossoming would unequivocally demonstrate divine approval, settling the question of who was legitimately called to the priesthood, specifically Aaron's lineage (as revealed in the verses that follow, Numbers 17:8). It was not by human appointment or popular vote, but by God's direct, unmistakable intervention.

Cessation of Murmuring

A primary purpose of this miraculous sign was to put an end to the "murmurings of the children of Israel." This chronic complaining, a recurring theme throughout their wilderness journey (e.g., Exodus 16:2, Numbers 14:27), was not merely against Moses and Aaron, but ultimately against God Himself. The sign was intended to silence their doubts and foster submission to divine authority and His chosen representatives.

Miraculous Sign

The blossoming of a dead rod is a profound natural impossibility, making it a clear and undeniable miracle. It symbolizes life from death and divine power to validate God's chosen one. This specific sign would be easily verifiable by all and served as a lasting testimony, later kept in the Ark of the Covenant (Hebrews 9:4).

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew word for "blossom" is parach, which means to break forth, sprout, or flourish. It conveys the idea of vibrant, unexpected life emerging from something inanimate, emphasizing the supernatural nature of God's validation. The "murmurings" comes from the Hebrew lun, describing a deep-seated grumbling or complaining, often rooted in rebellion and dissatisfaction with God's provision and leadership.

Practical Application

Numbers 17:5 reminds us that God's choices are sovereign and often confirmed by His unique signs. When we face questions of authority, experience discontent, or doubt God's plan, this passage encourages us to look to God's clear declarations and interventions. It teaches the importance of trusting God's appointed leaders and ceasing the destructive pattern of complaining, which ultimately demonstrates a lack of faith in God's wisdom and provision. Just as Aaron's rod was a visible sign, God often provides clarity and confirmation in our lives, calling us to a place of peace and trust rather than persistent doubt and unbelief.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 16:5 (6 votes)

    And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who [are] his, and [who is] holy; and will cause [him] to come near unto him: even [him] whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

  • Hosea 14:5 (3 votes)

    I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

  • Numbers 16:11 (3 votes)

    For which cause [both] thou and all thy company [are] gathered together against the LORD: and what [is] Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

  • Isaiah 35:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

  • Isaiah 35:2 (3 votes)

    It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, [and] the excellency of our God.

  • Numbers 17:8 (3 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

  • Ezekiel 16:41 (3 votes)

    And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.