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# sceptre

noun (a sceptre, sceptres)

«sceptre» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A sceptre is a decorated rod or staff carried by a king or queen at ceremonies as a sign of their power. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/#m1)
2. The sceptre can also mean royal power itself. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/#m2)

### In the lessons

In history lessons and on visits to see crown jewels, pupils see sceptres with jewels and crosses on top. In stories and the Bible, a king holds out his sceptre; in the book of Esther, the king holds out his gold sceptre to Queen Esther to show she may approach. Phrases: "the royal sceptre", "orb and sceptre", "crown and sceptre".

### Examples

- The king held the sceptre in his right hand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/#x1)
- The crown, orb and sceptre were kept in the Tower of London. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/#x2)
- (Bible) The king held out his gold sceptre to Queen Esther. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/#x3)
- The queen in our play had a sceptre made of a painted stick. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/#x4)
- The sceptre had a huge diamond at the top. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/#x5)
- In the story, whoever held the magic sceptre ruled the land. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/#x6)
- In the one Omar had chosen lay a little gold crown and sceptre on a velvet cushion. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/#x7)

### Note

British spelling: sceptre; American spelling: scepter. Pronounced SEP-ter (the c is silent). Countable: a sceptre, sceptres. Do not confuse with "spectre" (a ghost).

## In Jewish tradition

In Jacob's blessing it is the sign that Judah will lead. In Esther the king holds out the golden sceptre to show favour, and Isaiah says God breaks the sceptre of wicked rulers.

**Interpretation.** The tradition reads Jacob's blessing as the promise of kingship for Judah, from whom King David came, and many see it as pointing to the Messiah. Esther touching the sceptre is read as the moment her courage was accepted.

### Examples

- The well, which the princes digged, which the nobles of the people delved, with the sceptre, and with their staves. (Torah NUM.21.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sceptre/#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://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sceptre/#x2)
- Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. (Writings EST.8.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sceptre/#x3)
- So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. (Writings EST.5.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sceptre/#x4)
- The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers, (Prophets ISA.14.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sceptre/#x5)

### Note

British spelling: sceptre; American spelling: scepter. Pronounced SEP-ter (the c is silent). Countable: a sceptre, sceptres. Do not confuse with "spectre" (a ghost).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sceptre» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sceptre/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sceptre» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sceptre.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «sceptre» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sceptre/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sceptre» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/sceptre.html) on Mova free.