New English Translation
Ezekiel 37:16
16“As for you, son of man, take one branch, and write on it, ‘For Judah, and for the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another branch and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim and all the house of Israel associated with him.’
Ezekiel 37:16 in other versions
- King James Version (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:
- New International Version (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.’
- English Standard Version (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.'
- New King James Version (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.’
Context of Ezekiel 37:16
14I will place my breath in you and you will live; I will give you rest in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord – I have spoken and I will act, declares the Lord.’” 15The word of the Lord came to me: “As for you, son of man, take one branch, and write on it, ‘For Judah, and for the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another branch and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 17Join them as one stick; they will be as one in your hand. 18When your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what these things mean?’
Read all of Ezekiel 37Ezekiel 37:16 word by word
וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם קַח־לְךָ֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְתֹ֤ב עָלָיו֙ לִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְלִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָ֑יו וּלְקַח֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְת֣וֹב עָלָ֗יו לְיוֹסֵף֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְכָל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Moreover, thou sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- thee oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- stickעֵץ‛êts · tree: stickH6086
- and writeכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
- upon it, For Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
- and for the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- his companionsחָבֵרchâbêr · companionH2270
- upon it, For Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
- of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם'ephrayim · EphraimH669
- all the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
Cross-references for Ezekiel 37:16
- Numbers 17:2“Speak to the Israelites, and receive from them a staff from each tribe, one from every tribal leader, twelve staffs; you must write each man’s name on his staff.
- 2 Chronicles 10:17(Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.)
- 2 Chronicles 11:11He fortified these cities and placed officers in them, as well as storehouses of food, olive oil, and wine.
- 2 Chronicles 15:9He assembled all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the settlers from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had come to live with them. Many people from Israel had come there to live when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.
- 2 Chronicles 30:11But some men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
- 1 Kings 12:16When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, “We have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse! Return to your homes, O Israel! Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!” So Israel returned to their homes.
- 2 Chronicles 10:19So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 37:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Son of man, take thee one stick - The two sticks mentioned in this symbolical transaction represented, as the text declares the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, which were formed in the days of Rehoboam, and continued distinct till the time of the captivity. The kingdom of Judah was composed of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with the Levites; all the rest went off in the schism with Jeroboam, and formed the kingdom of Israel. Though some out of those…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-28Verses 16-28 A prophecy of the reunion of Israel and Judah, the incorporation of Israel under one Ruler, the kingdom of Messiah upon earth and in heaven. Ezekiel 37:16 One stick - So in the marginal reference the names of the tribes had been written on rods or sticks. For Judah - To the house of David had remained faithful, not only Judah, but also Benjamin, Levi, and part of Simeon, and individual members of various tribes 2 Chronicles 11:12-16…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-28Verses 15-28 This emblem was to show the people, that the Lord would unite Judah and Israel. Christ is the true David, Israel's King of old; and those whom he makes willing in the day of his power, he makes to walk in his judgments, and to keep his statutes. Events yet to come will further explain this prophecy. Nothing has more hindered the success of the gospel than divisions. Let us study to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; let us…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-28The prophet then performed a sign action (see “Prophetic Sign Acts” Theme Note) that showed the future reunification of God's people and the healing of the division between the northern and southern tribes (see 1 Kings 12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. stick--alluding to Nu 17:2, the tribal rod. The union of the two rods was a prophecy in action of the brotherly union which is to reunite the ten tribes and Judah. As their severance under Jeroboam was fraught with the greatest evil to the covenant-people, so the first result of both being joined by the spirit of life to God is that they become joined to one another under the one covenant King, Messiah-David. Judah, and ... children of Israel his…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 37:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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