Ezekiel 37:17

And ioyne them one to another into one sticke, and they shall become one in thine hand. Ezekiel 37:17 (KJV)

Then join them one to another into one stick, and they shall become one in thine hand. The vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 is introduced when the prophet is led by the Spirit of God to a valley filled with dry bones, symbolizing the spiritual state of the people of Israel who were in captivity in Babylon. The Lord asks Ezekiel if the dry bones can live, and Ezekiel replies that only God knows. God then instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and as he does, the bones come together, receive flesh, and become a vast army, representing the restoration and revival of Israel.

In Ezekiel 37:17 God instructs Ezekiel to take two sticks, write on them the names of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel, and join them together. He also commands Ezekiel to write on the sticks the names of Judah and the children of Israel, and to join them together. This act represents the reunification of the divided kingdom of Israel after the reign of King Solomon, when the kingdom was split into the northern kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern kingdom of Judah (two tribes) because of the people’s disobedience to God’s commandments.

The joining of the two sticks symbolizes the reunification of the divided kingdom, bringing the people of Israel together as one nation again. The imagery serves as a powerful metaphor for God’s desire to restore His people and reunite them under His leadership, pointing to a future time when God will gather the scattered people of Israel and unite them as one.

Beyond its historical context, Ezekiel 37:17 carries spiritual significance. It speaks to God’s promise of restoring Israel as a unified nation, and many Christian interpreters view the verse as foreshadowing the coming of Jesus Christ, who fulfills the role of the Messiah and gathers people from all nations into His kingdom. Through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection believers understand that they are united into one body, the Church.

The verse encourages believers to recognize the importance of unity among God’s people. Just as the divided sticks were joined together, Christians are called to be united in their faith and purpose. The apostle Paul emphasizes this unity in Ephesians 4:4‑6, stating that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.

In conclusion, Ezekiel 37:17 signifies the reunification of the divided kingdom of Israel, representing both a physical restoration in ancient times and a spiritual restoration through Jesus Christ, while also highlighting the importance of unity among believers and the oneness of the body of Christ.