Category:Scepter

Scep"ter, scep"tre, n. Etym: [f. sceptre, l. sceptrum, from gr. Shaft. See shaft, and cf. Scape a stem, shaft.]

1. A staff or baton borne by a sovereign, as a ceremonial badge or Emblem of authority; a royal mace. And the king held out esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Esther v. 2.

2. Hence, royal or imperial power or authority; sovereignty; as, to Assume the scepter. The scepter shall not depart from judah, nor a lawgiver from between His feet, until shilon come. Gen. xlix. 10.

Scepter; sceptre Scep"ter, scep"tre, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sceptered or sceptred (p. pr. & vb. n. Sceptering or sceptring (.]

Defn: to endow with the scepter, or emblem of authority; to invest With royal authority. To britain's queen the sceptered suppliant bends. Tickell.

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---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Sceptre or Scepter - (Heb. shebet = Gr. skeptron ), properly a staff or rod. As a symbol of authority, the use of the sceptre originated in the idea that the ruler was as a shepherd of his people (Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:17; Psalms 45:6; Isaiah 14:5). There is no example on record of a sceptre having ever been actually handled by a Jewish king.