Sceptre
SCEPTRE
A “rod” or decorated staff, sometimes six feet long, borne by kings and magistrates as a symbol of authority, Gen 49:10 Num 24:17 Gen 4:11 5:2 Isa 14:5 Zec 10:11 . See ROD.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Sceptre
(Hebrews , she’bet), in its primary signification, like the equivalent (for the root of the Hebrew and Greek words seems identical; comp. also English shaft), denotes a staff of wood (Eze 19:11), about the height of a man, which the ancient kings and chiefs bore as insignia of honor (Homer, Iliad, 1, 234, 245; 2, 185 sq.; Amo 1:5; Zec 10:11; Wis 10:14; comp. Gen 49:10; Num 24:17; Isa 14:5; wand, Lev 27:32). As such it is thought by some to have originated in the shepherd’s staff, since the first kings were mostly nomad princes (Strabo, 16, 783; comp. Psalms 29). There were, however, some nations among whom the agricultural life must have been the earliest known; and we should not among them expect to find the shepherd’s staff advanced to symbolical honor. Accordingly, Diodorus Siculus (3, 3) informs us that the scepter of the Egyptian kings bore the shape of a plow. The symbols of dominion, as represented on the Egyptian monuments, are various. That of Osiris was a flail and crook (Wilkinson, Anc. Egypt, 1, 257); that of the queens, besides the crown (q.v.), was two loose feathers on their head (ibid. 1, 276). A carved ivory staff discovered at Nimrd is supposed to have been a scepter (Layard, Nin. and Bab. p. 195). A golden scepter that is, perhaps, one washed or plated with gold is mentioned in Eze 4:11 (comp. Xenophon, Cyrop. 8, 7, 13; Homer, Iliad, 1, 15; 2, 268; Odyss. 11, 91). Other decorations of Oriental scepters are noticed by Strabo (16, 746). Inclining the scepter was a mark of kingly favor (Est 4:11), and the kissing it a token of submission (5:2). Saul appears to have carried his javelin as a mark of superiority (2Sa 8:14; comp. 1Sa 15:10; 1Sa 22:6). The use of the staff as a symbol of authority was not confined to kings, it might be used by any leader, as instanced in Jdg 5:14, where for pen of the writer, as in the A.V., we should read scepter of the leader. Indeed, no instance of the scepter being actually handled by a Jewish king occurs in the Bible; the allusions to it are all of a metaphorical character, and describe it simply as one of the insignia of supreme power (Psa 45:6; Bar 6:14). The term shebet is rendered in the A.V. rod in two passages where scepter is substantially meant, viz. in Psa 2:9, where scepter of iron is an expression for strong authority, and in Psa 125:3; a use derived from the employment of the same word as an ordinary rod of correction (Exo 21:10, and often), and even for beating out grain (Isa 28:27). SEE ROD.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Sceptre
(Heb. shebet = Gr. skeptron), properly a staff or rod. As a symbol of authority, the use of the sceptre originated in the idea that the ruler was as a shepherd of his people (Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:17; Ps. 45:6; Isa. 14:5). There is no example on record of a sceptre having ever been actually handled by a Jewish king.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Sceptre
shebet. (“Rod or staff of a ruler”.) In Jdg 5:14 translated “out of Zebulun marchers with the staff of the writer” or numberer, who levied and mustered the troops, so a leader in general. 2Ki 25:19, “principal scribe of the host which mustered the people”; 2Ch 26:11; Psa 2:9, “thou shalt break them with a rod of iron.” Whoever will not obey Thy loving sceptre, as the Good Shepherd, shall be crushed with an iron sceptre (Mat 21:44; Dan 2:34-35; Dan 2:44). The iron kingdom Christ’s iron sceptre shall break as clay. Psa 125:3, “the sceptre of the wicked (world power; “Persia” at this time) shall not rest (permanently) upon the lot of the righteous,” namely, on the Holy Land: a psalm written after the return from Babylon. Contrast Christ’s “right sceptre” (Psa 45:6; Isa 11:3-4).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Sceptre
SCEPTRE, as tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of shbel, may stand either for a short ornamental sceptre such as appears in some representations of the Assyrian king, or for a long staff reaching to the ground, which characterizes some portrayals of the Persian monarchs. The long sceptre is simply an ornamented staff, the short one is a development of the Club or mace. On Gen 49:10 See Lawgiver and Shiloh. On the difficulty of approaching the presence of the Persian kings referred to in Est 4:11, cf. also Herod. iii. 118, 140.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Sceptre
This word in Scripture language seems to be intended for much more than is generally annexed to the term in ordinary speech. By sceptre we connect with the idea some insignia, or staff of office; but as the same word is used in Scripture in a very different sense as well, it certainly merits our attention, may not confine it to the one meaning take it in both. It is well known that the word Shebeth, which is translated sceptre in the memorable prophecy of the dying patriarch Jacob when declaring that “the sceptre should not depart, from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until the Shiloh should come,” (Gen 49:10) is also translated, Jdg 5:14, pen. The whole passage is. “Out of Zebulun they that handle the pen (Shebeth) of the writer.” So that the word, it should seem, is equally to be used for sceptre or pen.
Now if I mistake not (and if I do, may the Lord pardon the unintentional error), there is an uncommon beauty in the word, as used in both places, in reference to the Lord Jesus. Why may not both his regal office, and his prophetical office, be supposed as implied? The sceptre of Judah, and the pen of Zebulun, both might bear part in reference to Christ. The prophet Isaiah was commissioned to tell the church, “that the dimness should not be such as was in her vexation when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali.” But at the coming of him whom the prophet was about to speak of, “the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined.” (Isa 9:1, etc.) And whosoever compares what Isaiah hath said in this chapter with Mat 4:13-16, will I think conclude that the Shebeth of Judah, and the Shebeth of Zebulun, are only beautiful duplicates, under different views of office, both pointing to the Lord Jesus, and only applicable to him. I beg the reader to observe that I do not speak decidedly upon the subject-I only venture to offer what hath been said by way of conjecture. Of one thing I am very sure: the Old Testament well as the New, is full of Christ; and it is blessed to catch a glimpse of him in places where we least expected. See Shiloh
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Sceptre
One of the distinguishing insignia of royalty: a rod or staff of dignity. It was held out by the king to Esther. Est 4:11, etc. The prophecy that “the sceptre shall not depart from Judah . . . . until SHILOH come,” refers to Christ as ‘the Prince of Peace.’ Gen 49:10. The sceptre is not now wielded by Judah while the people are Lo-ammi, but their supremacy will be renewed when the purpose of God is fulfilled. Many passages speak of Christ sitting upon the throne of David, and reigning till His enemies are cast beneath His feet. A sceptre of righteousness will be the sceptre of His kingdom. Num 24:17; Psa 45:6; Isa 14:5; Eze 19:11; Eze 19:14; Amo 1:5; Amo 1:8; Zec 10:11; Heb 1:8.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Sceptre
Sceptre. This word originally meant a rod or staff. It was, thence, specifically applied to the shepherd’s crook, Lev 27:32; Mic 7:14, and to the wand or sceptre of a ruler. The allusions to it are all of a metaphorical character, and describe it simply as one of the insignia of supreme power. Gen 49:10. We are, consequently, unable to describe the article from any biblical notice; but we may infer that it was, probably, made of wood. The sceptre of the Persian monarch is described as “golden” that is, probably of massive gold. Est 4:11.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Sceptre
* For SCEPTRE see ROD
Fuente: Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words
Sceptre
a word derived from the Greek, properly signifies, a rod of command, a staff of authority, which is supposed to be in the hands of kings, governors of a province, or of the chief of a people, Gen 49:10; Num 24:17; Isa 14:5. The sceptre is put for the rod of correction, and for the sovereign authority that punishes and humbles, Psa 2:9; Pro 22:15. The term sceptre is frequently used for a tribe, probably because the prince of each tribe carried a sceptre, or a wand of command, to show his dignity.