New American Standard Bible 1995

Back to Reader

Ezekiel

Note Journal Prayer

37

:

16

“

"And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.'

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
"And you, son son Noun H1121 בֶן־ ven-
of man, man, mankind Noun H120 אָדָ֗ם a·dam
take to take Verb H3947 קַח־ kach-
for yourself one one Adjective H259 אֶחָ֔ד e·chad,
Analysis:

One: God

Refers to HaShem (God), Who is One. This number can also refer to unity. The first place the number "one" occurs is in Genesis 1:5. There one reads, "And there was an evening and there was a morning— one day". Later on in this same book of Genesis, it is stated concerning the man and his wife, "And they became one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). It is very significant that in both of these examples there was a multiplicity for the subject. In the first example, the evening and the morning became one day and in the second example, it was Adam and Eve who became one flesh.

One of the most famous passages in the Torah concerning HaShem is Deuteronomy 6:4 which states, "Hear O Israel the Lord your God the Lord is One." The question that a person must ask himself is what is the connection between the use of the Hebrew word אחד "one" which identifies a multiplicity being one and the fact that the Lord God of Israel is One? The answer is that the Hebrew word אחד can relate to the concept for one as in "unification". There is another Hebrew word that would have been possible to be used if the author wanted to refer to an absolute oneness or singleness. This is the Hebrew word יחיד. In fact, there is a well-known prayer in Judaism which states, "אחד ואין יחיד כיחודו". This phrase should be translated as, "(God is) One and there is no singularity as His singularity." The idea that is being expressed in this prayer is that the Lord God of Israel is One; but not an absolute One; rather there is a uniqueness and a complexity to His Oneness.

The number one is frequently employed to express in the Scriptures one object, such as one man or one tabernacle. This usage would be the simple or common purpose that the number one or for that matter any number, would appear in a Biblical text. Often the appearance of a number does not contain any of the significance that Hebrew numerology might offer. Therefore, the reader must always consider when coming across a verse which contains a number, that the number only expresses an amount and no additional significance. 

Because the number one is often associated with God, there is a unique phenomenon in the Scriptures concerning this number. Sometimes the number one is employed to express a unique relationship that the object has to HaShem. For example,

"And it will be one day, it will be known to HaShem..." Zechariah 14:7

In the text above, Zechariah could have stated simply, "And it will be a day…" The fact that the prophet said "one day" is to convey that this day is uniquely related to God. Similarly, it is stated by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 37, "one King", "one nation" and "one Shepherd" (see Ezekiel 37:22, 24). Each of these objects—King, nation and Shepherd—has a connection to HaShem. The King and Shepherd is Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God and the one nation is Israel, the people of God.

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016
stick tree, trees, wood Noun H6086 עֵ֣ץ etz
and write to write Verb H3789 וּכְתֹ֤ב u·che·tov
on it, 'For Judah probably "praised," a son of Jacob, also his desc., the S. kingdom, also four Isr. Noun H3063 לִֽיהוּדָ֔ה li·hu·dah,
Analysis:
Read more about: Judah
and for the sons son Noun H1121 וְלִבְנֵ֥י ve·liv·nei
of Israel, "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc. Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל yis·ra·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
his companions; united, associate, companion Adjective H2270 (חֲבֵרָ֑יו cha·ve·rav;
then take to take Verb H3947 וּלְקַח֙ u·le·kach
another one Adjective H259 אֶחָ֔ד e·chad,
stick tree, trees, wood Noun H6086 עֵ֣ץ etz
and write to write Verb H3789 וּכְתֹ֣וב u·che·to·vv
on it, 'For Joseph, "he increases," a son of Jacob, also the name of several Isr. Noun H3130 לְיֹוסֵף֙ le·yo·v·sef
Analysis:
Read more about: Joseph
the stick tree, trees, wood Noun H6086 עֵ֣ץ etz
of Ephraim a son of Joseph, also his desc. and their territory Noun H669 אֶפְרַ֔יִם ef·ra·yim,
Analysis:
Read more about: Ephraim
and all the whole, all Noun H3605 וְכָל־ ve·chol-
the house a house Noun H1004 בֵּ֥ית beit
of Israel, "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc. Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל yis·ra·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
his companions.' united, associate, companion Adjective H2270 (חֲבֵרָֽיו׃ cha·ve·rav.

Locations

Ephraim

EPHRAIM (2)(1) A position apparently of some importance, since the position of Baal-hazor (probably = Tell `Asur) where Abraham's sheep-farm was located, is determined by relation to it (2 Samuel 13:23). That it lay North of Jerusalem seems to be indicated in 2 Samuel 13:34. It may be identical with the Ephraim of Eusebius, Onomasticon, 20 Roman miles North... View Details

Israel

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF" I. THE FIRST PERIOD1. The Two Kingdoms2. The Ist Dynasty3. The IInd Dynasty4. Civil WarII. PERIOD OF THE SYRIAN WARS1. The IIIrd Dynasty2. World-Politics3. Battle of Karkar4. Loss of Territory5. Reform of Religion6. Revolution7. The IVth Dynasty8. Renewed Prosperity9. AnarchyIII. DECLINE AND FALL1. Loss of Independence2. Decline3. Extinct... View Details

Judah

JUDAH, TERRITORY OF(yehudhah):I. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA1. The Natural Boundaries2. The Natural Divisions of Judah(1) The Maritime Plain(2) The Shephelah(3) The Hill Country of JudahII. THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AND ITS TERRITORYIII. THE BOUNDARIES OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDAHLITERATUREI. Geographical Data.Although the physical conformation of Western Palestine divides this l... View Details

People

Joseph

  Joseph There are three famous people in the Bible named Joseph: All three of their profiles are shown below: Joseph, a son of Jacob/Israel Joseph was one of 12 sons of Jacob. He was the first born son of Rachel (Gen 30:22-24). He received preferential treatment which angered his ten older brothers. His brothers faked his death to their father Jacob, and sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelite traders who were on their way to Egypt. God ga... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 "And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.'
King James Bible "And you, Moreover, thou son of man, take for yourself thee one stick stick, and write on upon it, 'For Judah For Judah, and for the sons children of Israel, Israel his companions'; companions: then take another stick stick, and write on upon it, 'For For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, Israel his companions.'companions:
Hebrew Greek English "And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.'