Scepter

SCEPTER (sĕp'têr, Heb. shēvet, Gr. rhabdos). A rod held in the hands of kings as a token of authority. The Hebrew shēvet is the word for “rod” or “club,” and is used of an ordinary rod (2Sam.7.14), a shepherd’s crook (Ps.23.4), or the staff of a commander (as niv translates Judg.5.14; kjv “writer”) who evidently mustered the troops, as well as of the symbol of authority.

---

The use of the scepter by an oriental monarch is illustrated by the account of King Xerxes (kjv Ahasuerus), who held his scepter out to Esther as a mark of favor. She touched the top of it, perhaps as an act of homage or possibly to indicate a desire to be heard (Esth.5.1-Esth.5.2). The scepter of Xerxes was of gold; Ezekiel refers to scepters made from vine branches (Ezek.19.11, Ezek.19.14). When Christ was mocked as a king, a reed or staff was placed in his hand for a scepter (Matt.27.29).——JBG

---

---

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

---

---