Aaron's rod

Meaning

Noun

• Any of various plants with a tall flowering stem, especially:
• A rod-shaped molding decorated with an entwined snake, and sometimes leaves, vines, and/or scrolls.
• A rod with one serpent twined around it, as used by Aaron (differing from the caduceus of Mercury, which has two serpents).

Origin

• A reference to Numbers 17:8, the Authorized / KJV translation of which is "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." (spelling modernized).