Comfort
“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Ps 23:4 ISR)
Most of us
can recall seeing pictures of the ‘Jesus’ of the westernized church system,
carrying a staff with a ‘shepherd’s crook’ at the end of it, supposedly tending
his sheep – I always did have a problem with those pictures. And in all reality, those pictures have
nothing to do with this verse.
Many commentators and bible theologians believe that the rod and the staff is the same instrument. However, the Hebrew word that has been translated as ‘rod’ is the word shêbeṭ (Strong’s H7626), and means a rod, a staff, a club, a shaft, and scepter of authority. The Hebrew word mish‛ênâh (Strong’s H4938) is the word for ‘staff’, and literally means a walking stick, as a means of support, something that even modern day shepherds still use. These are two separate words that do not mean the same thing.
The word ‘comfort’ has been translated from nâcham (Strong’s H5162), and this is where I prefer Mr. Benner’s definition the best: “Consolation in time of trouble or worry; to give solace in time of difficulty or sorrow. The niphal (passive) form means repent.”[1] According to Ancient Jewish wisdom, the rod represents the correction of our Elohim (see also Pro 23:13-14), which is often painful, while the staff is indicative of the Torah, a source of comfort and support all of us should cling to. The idea is that both the rod and the staff should bring us comfort, because they are the evidence that our Creator has not abandoned us (see Deu 4:31).
“Adonai will fulfill His purpose for me. Your
lovingkindness, Adonai, endures forever. Do not abandon the work of Your hands.” (Ps
138:8 TLV)
“I am sure of this very thing—that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the Day of Messiah Yeshua.” (Phi 1:6 TLV)
©2022
[1] Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible; ©2006 Ancient Hebrew Research Center; ISBN: 1589397762 Author: Jeff Benner
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