Ezekiel 37:16 kjv
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Ezekiel 37:16 nkjv
"As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.'
Ezekiel 37:16 niv
"Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, 'Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, 'Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.'
Ezekiel 37:16 esv
"Son of man, take a stick and write on it, 'For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.'
Ezekiel 37:16 nlt
"Son of man, take a piece of wood and carve on it these words: 'This represents Judah and its allied tribes.' Then take another piece and carve these words on it: 'This represents Ephraim and the northern tribes of Israel.'
Ezekiel 37 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 37:22 | "I will make them one nation in the land" | Ezekiel 37:22 (Direct Fulfillment) |
| Jer 23:5 | "A righteous Branch to David" | Jeremiah 23:5 (Messianic Hope) |
| Jer 30:9 | "Serve the LORD their God and David their king" | Jeremiah 30:9 (Davidic King) |
| Isa 11:1 | "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse" | Isaiah 11:1 (Davidic Descendant) |
| Hos 1:11 | "They shall unite under one head" | Hosea 1:11 (Reunification Prophecy) |
| Zech 14:9 | "The LORD will be king over all the earth" | Zechariah 14:9 (Universal Kingdom) |
| Matt 1:1 | "The genealogy of Jesus Christ" | Matthew 1:1 (Davidic Genealogy) |
| Luke 1:32 | "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High" | Luke 1:32 (Messianic Title) |
| John 10:16 | "There will be one flock and one shepherd" | John 10:16 (Unity of Believers) |
| Acts 1:6 | "Is it at this time you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" | Acts 1:6 (Restoration Question) |
| Rom 11:26 | "And so all Israel will be saved" | Romans 11:26 (Future Salvation) |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is no Jew or Greek" | Galatians 3:28 (Spiritual Unity) |
| Eph 2:14 | "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one" | Ephesians 2:14 (Unity in Christ) |
| Rev 7:4 | "The tribes of Israel" | Revelation 7:4 (Tribal Listing) |
| Rev 21:3 | "God himself will be with them" | Revelation 21:3 (Divine Presence) |
| Ezek 11:19 | "I will give them one heart and put a new spirit in them" | Ezekiel 11:19 (Inner Transformation) |
| Jer 32:39 | "I will give them one heart and one way" | Jeremiah 32:39 (Unity of Purpose) |
| Zech 10:6 | "I will strengthen them in the LORD" | Zechariah 10:6 (Strengthening) |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world" | John 3:16 (Divine Love) |
| 1 Cor 12:13 | "Into one body we were all baptized" | 1 Corinthians 12:13 (Corporate Identity) |
Ezekiel 37 verses
Ezekiel 37 16 Meaning
This verse describes a symbolic action by Ezekiel, illustrating the future reunification of the divided Israelite kingdoms, Judah and Ephraim, into one unified nation under a single ruler. It signifies a restoration and renewed covenant relationship with God.
Ezekiel 37 16 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones in chapter 37. The vision begins with dry, scattered bones representing the exiled nation of Israel. God breathes life into them, signifying a national resurrection and restoration. The act of joining the two sticks, one for Judah and one for Joseph, symbolizes the reunification of the northern kingdom (Israel, often referred to as Joseph or Ephraim) and the southern kingdom (Judah) after their division. Historically, these kingdoms had been separated for centuries, with frequent animosity. The prophetic message speaks to the exiles in Babylon, offering a message of hope and a promise of future national unity and God's renewed presence with them.
Ezekiel 37 16 Word Analysis
וְעָשִׂיתִ֛ (we`asitî): "And you shall make" or "And you shall do." From the root
asah(עָשָׂה), meaning to make, do, accomplish. Implies an action of creation or bringing into being.אֹתָ֖ם (ōtām): "them." Refers to the two pieces of wood previously mentioned, symbolizing the two kingdoms.
לְיְחִידָ֖ה (leyiḥîdâ): "as one." From
yaḥîd(יָחִיד), meaning one, single, solitary. Emphasizes their complete unity and oneness.וְהָיוּ (wəhāyû): "and they shall be" or "and they became." Future tense, indicating a state of being.
לְעֵֽץ־אֶחָֽד־בְּיָֽדְךָ (lə`êṣ-’eḥâḏ-bəyāḏəḵâ): "as one stick in your hand."
Etz(עֵץ) means tree or wood.Eḥad(אֶחָד) signifies one, a unity.Bəyāḏəḵâ(בְּיָֽדְךָ) means "in your hand," indicating the active process of bringing them together under God's directed agency through Ezekiel.Group analysis of "two sticks": The initial representation of two separate pieces of wood is crucial. The splitting of Israel into two kingdoms (1 Kings 11-12) led to prolonged division and weakness.
Group analysis of "one stick": The joining signifies not just a political reunion, but a spiritual and national restoration, signifying a renewed covenant relationship where God acts as the sovereign power over a united people. The hand of Ezekiel signifies the divine means of this unification.
Ezekiel 37 16 Bonus Section
The symbolism of the sticks is potent. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, joining two pieces of wood often signified an agreement or treaty. The prophetic action highlights that this reunion would be a divine decree and accomplishment, not merely a human endeavor. The "one stick in your hand" emphasizes the direct control and authority God has over this process, ultimately culminating in a unified people with a single, divinely appointed ruler, pointing to the Messiah. This prophetic action also mirrors earlier divine interventions in Israel's history, reinforcing God's power to bring life from desolation.
Ezekiel 37 16 Commentary
This verse is a powerful prophecy of national restoration. It vividly illustrates the end of the schism between the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel. The unity portrayed is more than just political; it's a covenantal reunion under God's direct kingship, a theme that points forward to the ultimate unity found in Jesus Christ, who unites Jews and Gentiles into one body in Himself. The process signifies divine intervention bringing wholeness and renewed life to a fractured people. This fulfilled promise serves as a tangible representation of God’s faithfulness.