The Hebrew word thus rendered in its primary signification denotes a staff of wood (), about the height of a man, which the ancient kings and chiefs bore as an insignia of honor (;;; Wisdom of Solomon 10:14; comp.;; ). As such it appears to have originated in the shepherd's staff, since the first kings were mostly nomad princes (Strabo, xvi. 783; comp. Psalms 29).
A golden scepter, that is, one washed or plated with gold, is mentioned in . Inclining the scepter was a mark of kingly favor (), and the kissing it a token of submission (). Saul appears to have carried his javelin as a mark of superiority (; ).