[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/staff.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/) / staff [← S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/S/) # staff «staff» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **all the people who work for a school, shop, hospital or…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech noun (staff — the people; a staff, staffs — a stick) ### meaning for a pupil 1) The staff are all the people who work for a school, shop, hospital or company. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#m1) 2) A staff is a long, strong stick used for walking or carried as a sign of power. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#m2) 3) In music, the staff (or stave) is the set of five lines that notes are written on. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#m3) ### sense in the lessons In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: It means a walking stick or rod carried by a shepherd or ruler, as a sign of power. "Staff of bread" means the supply of bread that supports life. The Prophets and Psalms use "staff" as a figure for power: God breaks the staff of the wicked, and Assyria is called the rod and staff of God's anger. "Breaking the staff of bread" is the figure for famine. Interpretation: Moses' staff was used for wonders in Egypt. A ruler's staff in Jacob's blessing of Judah is read by tradition as a sign of the kingship coming from Judah, and eventually the Messiah. Isaiah's words are read as teaching that even mighty empires are only tools in God's hand. In the primary lessons: In school life the staff are the teachers, assistants, office workers and caretakers; «staff room» is the room where teachers rest; «ask a member of staff» is the safe thing to do if you are lost or hurt in a shop or museum. In music lessons notes sit on the five lines of the staff. In fairy tales a wizard or shepherd carries a staff. ### examples - And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff. (Torah NUM.22.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x1) - The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, as long as men come to Shiloh; and unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be. (Torah GEN.49.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x2) - When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread again by weight; and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. (Torah LEV.26.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x3) - The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers, (Prophets ISA.14.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x4) - And He called a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. (Writings PSA.105.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x5) - O Asshur, the rod of Mine anger, in whose hand as a staff is Mine indignation! (Prophets ISA.10.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x6) - The school staff had a meeting after lessons. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x7) - Ask a member of staff if you need help. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x8) - The hospital staff were very kind to Grandma. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x9) - Teachers drink tea in the staff room. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x10) - The old shepherd leaned on his wooden staff. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x11) - The wizard raised his staff and the lights went out. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x12) - Draw a treble clef at the start of the staff. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x13) - The shop is short of staff today. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x14) - Suddenly the door opened, and an ancient dame leaning on a staff hobbled out. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/#x15) ### note As a group of workers, «staff» has no usual plural: «the staff are» (UK) or «the staff is» (US); one person is «a member of staff» or «a staff member». The stick plural is «staffs» or old-fashioned «staves». Staff is a group word, so «20 staff» means 20 people. ### In the corpora - [O Asshur, the rod of Mine anger, in whose hand as a staff is Mine indignation!](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ISA.218/) - [The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers,](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ISA.303/) - [Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Binders, that the brotherhood between Judah and Israel might be broken.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ZEC.169/) - [And He called a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PSA.1877/) - [Five lines give a good range of notes; for notes above or below the staff, short extra lines are added.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/arts/2-reading-music-notes-beats-and-rhythm/6/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «staff» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/staff/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.