Staff staf: Many Hebrew terms are represented by this word. The "staves" of the ark translate the word badh, literally, "a part," hence, branch, bar, etc. (Exodus 25:13, Exodus 25:14, Exodus 25:15, Exodus 25:27, Exodus 25:28, etc.). Other words, as matteh, maqqel, shebhet, used of the staff in the hand, the shepherd's staff, figuratively, "staff of bread" (matteh, Ezekiel 4:16, Ezekiel 5:16, Ezekiel 14:13), as indispensable for support of life, are dealt with under ROD (which see). The New Testament word is rhabdos (Matthew 10:10 parallel Luke 9:3, Hebrews 11:21).
See also SCEPTRE.