In a general sense, "rod" and "staff" both represent power -- in particular, the power of true ideas coming from the Lord. There are a number of reasons for this. For one thing, rods and staves were typically branches of trees, and trees represent thoughts and ideas coming from the Lord. For another, they are held in the hand, which also represents power. Finally, it's not hard to see how sticks gave people power in primitive times. To some extent "rod" and "staff" are interchangeable, but there are subtle differences in meaning; "staff" in the original language meant more of a stick to lean on, and "rod" meant more of a stick to hit things with. When they're used together, then, "rod" represents power from a higher level of truth and "staff" the power of a lower, more external truth.

In Exodus 4:2, this signifies the power of the Lord's Divine Human -- the hand, that power from His Divine Rational, and the rod, power from His Divine Natural. (Arcana Coelestia 6947, Apocalypse Explained 518[30]) In Ezekiel 29:6, a rod signifies a weakened form of this power. (Arcana Coelestia 1085[2])

In Hosea 4:12, a rod signifies the imaginary power of their own understanding. (Arcana Coelestia 2466[10])

In Isaiah 11:4, this signifies the divine truth from which judgment comes. (Arcana Coelestia 6119[2])