Ezekiel 37:17 kjv
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
Ezekiel 37:17 nkjv
Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.
Ezekiel 37:17 niv
Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.
Ezekiel 37:17 esv
And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.
Ezekiel 37:17 nlt
Now hold them together in your hand as if they were one piece of wood.
Ezekiel 37 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 37:17 | "Join them one to another into one stick, | Fulfillment of prophecy concerning national restoration. |
| Jeremiah 30:3 | "For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, | Messianic prophecy of the return and restoration of Israel. |
| Jeremiah 32:39 | "Give them one heart and one way, | Prayer for unified hearts and devotion to God. |
| Isaiah 11:13 | "The envy of Ephraim shall depart, | Prophecy of the united northern and southern kingdoms. |
| Isaiah 5:7 | "For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts | The house of Israel and the house of Judah are God's precious vineyard. |
| Jeremiah 23:3 | "I will gather the remnant of my sheep | God's promise to gather His scattered sheep. |
| John 10:16 | "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; | Jesus speaks of a future unified flock under one Shepherd. |
| Ephesians 2:14 | "For he himself is our peace, who has made | Jesus Christ is the unifier and peacemaker between divided peoples. |
| Hebrews 13:20 | "Now may the God of peace, who brought again | Benediction referencing God as the God of peace who raised Jesus from the dead. |
| Revelation 7:9 | "After this I looked, and behold, a great | Vision of the redeemed from every nation, tribe, people, and language. |
| Amos 9:11 | "In that day I will raise up the booth of David | Prophecy of the restoration of David's fallen tent, signifying renewed kingdom. |
| Acts 15:16 | "'After this I will return, and I will build | Peter quotes Amos 9:11-12 in the context of Gentile inclusion. |
| John 17:20-23 | "I do not ask for these only, but also for those | Jesus' prayer for the unity of believers in Him. |
| Psalm 23:1 | "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | David's declaration of God as his shepherd and provider. |
| Genesis 49:24 | "but his bow remained fully in vigor, | A Messianic prophecy of strength and flourishing associated with Joseph's line. |
| Jeremiah 3:14 | "Return, O faithless Israel, declares the LORD; | God's plea for the return and repentance of the scattered tribes. |
| Hosea 1:11 | "And the people of Judah and the people of | Prophecy of the reunification of Judah and Israel. |
| Ezekiel 34:12 | "As a shepherd seeks out his sheep on the day | God's promise to actively seek and care for His scattered sheep. |
| Matthew 18:12 | "What do you think? If a man has a hundred | Jesus' parable of the lost sheep, highlighting His care for individuals. |
| 1 Corinthians 12:12 | "For just as the body is one and has many parts, | The analogy of the church as one body with many members. |
Ezekiel 37 verses
Ezekiel 37 17 Meaning
This verse describes a profound act of divine reunification, where God personally joins severed pieces of wood, representing reunited Israel and Judah. It signifies a singular, unified nation, a single shepherd leading them, and a covenant of peace established forever.
Ezekiel 37 17 Context
Ezekiel 37 depicts a powerful vision of dry bones coming to life, symbolizing the restoration of the deadened hope of Israel. Following the Babylonian exile, the nation was scattered and fragmented. Chapter 37's initial vision shows the bones reassembling and receiving breath, signifying spiritual and national revival. Verse 17 follows this resurrection, detailing the divine rejoining of the divided kingdoms of Israel (ten northern tribes) and Judah (two southern tribes), which had been politically and often religiously separated for centuries. This vision speaks directly to the exilic audience, offering a concrete image of God's promise to make them one nation again, united under a single leader and in an everlasting covenant of peace.
Ezekiel 37 17 Word Analysis
וְקָרַבְתָּ (vek-RAV-ta): From the root "qarab" (קרב), meaning "to draw near," "to come close."
- Significance: Emphasizes God's active and personal involvement in bringing the separated pieces together. It's not a passive or natural occurring event, but a deliberate act of God's approach.
אֹתָם (ot-am): "Them," referring to the two sticks.
- Significance: Direct reference to the divided entities—the stick representing Judah and the stick representing Ephraim/Israel.
אִישׁ (ish): "Man," "one."
- Significance: Denotes a single, unified entity, making them singular rather than two separate things.
אֶל־ (el): "To," "unto."
- Significance: Indicates directionality, the movement and convergence towards a single point or state.
אָחִיו (ach-iv): "His brother."
- Significance: Highlights the inherent familial relationship that was broken but is now being restored. They are intrinsically kin, though estranged.
וְהָיוּ (veh-hay-oo): "And they shall be."
- Significance: Introduces the resultant state or condition after the action of joining.
לְעֵצָה (leh-ETZ): "One stick." The root "etz" (עץ) means "tree" or "wood."
- Significance: This is the core symbol of unity. From two distinct entities, they become a single, undivided object representing a unified people.
אֶחָֽד (ech-ad): "One," "a single."
- Significance: Reinforces the concept of singularity and indivisibility of the reunited entity.
Group of words analysis:
- "Join them one to another into one stick" (וְקָרַבְתָּ אֹתָם אִישׁ אֶל־ אָחִיו וְהָיוּ לְעֵצָה אֶחָד): This phrase captures the essence of divine intervention in mending national divisions. The intimacy of "each to his brother" (אִישׁ אֶל־ אָחִיו) emphasizes reconciliation and the restoration of family bonds, culminating in absolute unity symbolized by "one stick" (עֵצָה אֶחָד).
Ezekiel 37 17 Bonus Section
The imagery of two sticks becoming one is a vivid visual metaphor. The historical division between the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah had deep roots in political, social, and religious differences, exacerbated by ongoing conflict. God’s direct intervention, "hand to hand," underscores that this reunion would not be a mere human political settlement but a divine act of reconciliation and covenant renewal. This act prefigures the greater unity brought by Jesus Christ, who breaks down the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14) and unites believers from all nations into one spiritual body, with Himself as the cornerstone and singular shepherd (John 10:16, 1 Corinthians 12:12).
Ezekiel 37 17 Commentary
Ezekiel 37:17 prophesies the miraculous re-unification of Israel and Judah into a single, indivisible nation. This supernatural act by God symbolizes the deep reconciliation and lasting peace that will characterize the restored people of God. It's a powerful testament to God's faithfulness in overcoming historical divisions and His desire for His people to live as one, united under His leadership and His everlasting covenant. This unification serves as a tangible promise of future blessings and restoration, pointing towards the Messianic age and the ultimate unity of God's redeemed community.