What's the difference between a rod and a staff?

[immoderate]

And how do you comfort someone with either? Ooh, I just thought of a way...:blush:

--IMM

[Chipper Chat]

1. Mary Carey might be able to tell you.

Or Mae West if she were still alive.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Example: Monica had a rod, the president has a staff

[TerdlowSmedley]

3. Beat me, Daddy, eight to the bar.

[seriousstan]

5. Bounce me baby with a solid four

the boogy woogy was never like this
we got a new beat that no one can miss
if boogy woogy sent you like I think it did
go to the bar, we'll flip your lid.

[struggle4progress]

4. They are pastoral tools, one for herding sheep, the other for driving away predators

http://www.old-picture.com.nyud.net:8090/middle-east/thumbnails/Shepherd-Staff-Rod-th.jpg

Metaphorical use of herding implements like this is very ancient

http://www.houseofegypt.com.nyud.net:8090/lifesize/graphics/ls003_b.jpg

[immoderate]

13. Thanks. That ties it up neatly.

I knew someone here would bring it home.

--IMM

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. Thank you

and of course the metaphor is that the protection of the sheep gives them comfort, because they know they will be safe.

[TexasProgresive]

6. I doubt you want a real answer but here goes

Best guess is that the rod and the staff are one and the same - a shepherd's crook. The straight length of the staff is used to strike at predators attacking the sheep and the crook is used to guide the errant back to the flock. No shepherd would ever beat his sheep.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[immoderate]

12. Knowledge is power.

It is a real question. However, nothing is above humor.

Thanks for the answer. It's something I think about when I hear the 23rd. It's a poem with both beauty and horror. I always have the reaction, "Hey, I'm not a sheep!" But the clear meaning of some of the terms eluded this city boy.

So, yeah, I did expect to get a real answer. And thanks again.

--IMM

[TexasProgresive]

16. Sorry for the prejudgement-

From the answers you had received before I posted I wronging assumed that you were not serious. My sincere apologies, IMM.
It is hard to get the pastorial metaphores of the Bible without having lived them. And with modern agriculture most farmers and ranchers have lost the images as well.

The abiding image I have of the 23rd Psalm is that we will walk through the valley of death. This is the hope that is rooted in faith of the love that God has for us - no matter how unworthy we are.

[immoderate]

17. I knew that being snarky might put some people off -- just couldn't resist!

So no fault for you. Nevertheless, you gave me a good answer. Credit to you all around.

There is no more rhythmic phrase than "the valley of the shadow of death." I learned the 23rd (and a few others) in elementary school before Madelyn O'Hair broke that party up. Indeed, though I've always been an atheist, I enjoyed leading the prayer in school. I guess it's the performer in me. I sat in the seat of the scornful. :) I even gave some sermons in youth services. Though I was subtly subversive.

--IMM

[struggle4progress]

18. I think we all have the insulted reaction "Hey! I'm not a sheep!"

But many of us really are sheep much of the time

[immoderate]

21. I can't disagree with that.

In a perfect world, we could all afford to be sheep all of the time, and it's OK to indulge. What's important is that people break out of it at least occasionally.

--IMM

[toddaa]

7. About 8 inches

ba dum, shhhhh!!!!

[Evoman]

8. Staffs can be imbued with magic...

so you can have a staff that gives you +1 to damage and thaco. You can fight with them, but they usually don't cast spells. A rod usually has powerful magics...it may be able to shoot five magic missles, for example...or perhaps a spell of horrid wilting. A wand is usually somewhere between the rod and staff.

[Random_Australian]

19. Missles? Missles? What next, Misnc is a name of a beserker?

*looks at something* What's that! It's like nothing I've ever seen! Oh, it's the real world.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Struggle4progress gave you the real answer, which you're ignoring

:shrug:

[immoderate]

14. Nah, I was away from the computer.

:hi:

--IMM

[charlie]

10. Send up the Zeb Signal

He once mentioned he's a goatherd, so he probably has professional knowledge, not just stuff pulled up from a web search.

[sakabatou]

20. I think that the rod

was used mainly for non-combat purposes, whil the staff could be used for either.