New Living Translation
Ezekiel 37:16
16“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 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 put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’” 15Again a message came to me from the Lord: “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.’ 17Now hold them together in your hand as if they were one piece of wood. 18When your people ask you what your actions 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“Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel’s ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader’s name on his staff.
- 2 Chronicles 10:17But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.
- 2 Chronicles 11:11Rehoboam strengthened their defenses and stationed commanders in them, and he stored supplies of food, olive oil, and wine.
- 2 Chronicles 15:9Then Asa called together all the people of Judah and Benjamin, along with the people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them. For many from Israel had moved to Judah during Asa’s reign when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.
- 2 Chronicles 30:11However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
- 1 Kings 12:16When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So the people of Israel returned home.
- 2 Chronicles 10:19And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David.
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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