Ezekiel 37:16

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:

Moreover, thou son {H1121} of man {H120}, take {H3947} thee one {H259} stick {H6086}, and write {H3789} upon it, For Judah {H3063}, and for the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} his companions {H2270}: then take {H3947} another {H259} stick {H6086}, and write {H3789} upon it, For Joseph {H3130}, the stick {H6086} of Ephraim {H669}, and for all the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478} his companions {H2270}:

"You, human being, take one stick and write on it, 'For Y'hudah and those joined with him [among] the people of Isra'el.' Next, take another stick and write on it, 'For Yosef, the stick of Efrayim, and all the house of Isra'el who are joined with him.'

“And you, son of man, take a single stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and to all the house of Israel associated with him.’

And 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:

Commentary

Ezekiel 37:16 introduces a powerful symbolic act within the prophet Ezekiel's vision, immediately following the dramatic scene of the Valley of Dry Bones. This verse sets the stage for a profound prophecy concerning the future reunification of the long-divided kingdoms of Israel.

Context

During Ezekiel's ministry, the people of Judah were in exile in Babylon, a consequence of their disobedience. The Northern Kingdom of Israel, often referred to as Ephraim or Joseph, had already been scattered by the Assyrians over a century earlier. The division of these kingdoms, stemming from the time of King Rehoboam (see 1 Kings 12:16), had caused deep political and spiritual fracture within God's chosen people. This prophecy addresses that historical schism, providing a vision of hope and restoration for a unified Israel.

Key Themes

  • Reunification of Israel: The central message is God's sovereign plan to bring together the two distinct entities—Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and Joseph/Ephraim (representing the Northern Kingdom)—into one single, unified nation. The two sticks becoming one vividly symbolizes the end of their historical division.
  • Divine Restoration: This act underscores God's power not only to restore His people to their land but also to heal their internal divisions, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant promises despite their failures.
  • Promise of One King: While this verse speaks of the sticks, the subsequent verses in Ezekiel 37 (e.g., Ezekiel 37:24) clarify that this reunification would occur under one king, a descendant of David, often understood as a powerful messianic prophecy pointing to Jesus Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "stick" is ‘ēṣ (עֵץ), which can refer to a tree, wood, or a simple piece of wood or staff. Here, it signifies a tablet or scroll for writing. The phrase "For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim" is significant because Ephraim was the dominant tribe of the Northern Kingdom, and thus "Joseph" (Ephraim's father) became a common metonym for the entire Northern Kingdom, comprising the ten tribes. "Judah" represents the Southern Kingdom, including the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and many Levites.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 37:16 serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to unify what is divided and to restore what seems irrevocably broken. For believers today, it offers hope in situations of disunity, whether in families, churches, or nations. It points to God's ultimate plan for a unified people under the leadership of the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and encourages us to trust in His sovereign hand to bring about healing and reconciliation, much like the New Testament emphasizes the unity of believers in Christ (e.g., John 17:21).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 15:9

    And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God [was] with him.

  • 2 Chronicles 10:19

    And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

  • 2 Chronicles 10:17

    But [as for] the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

  • Numbers 17:2

    Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of [their] fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

  • Numbers 17:3

    And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod [shall be] for the head of the house of their fathers.

  • 1 Kings 12:16

    ¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither [have we] inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

  • 1 Kings 12:20

    And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
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