Read & explore together
One Nation with One King
Ezekiel 37:15–28 uses two sticks as a sign to explain Yahweh’s promise. The passage speaks about divided Israel becoming one people again, under one king, with cleansing, peace and Yahweh’s presence among them.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this prophecy, Yahweh tells Ezekiel to perform a visible sign with two labelled sticks and then explain it. The meaning is given in the passage itself: Yahweh will gather the children of Israel, unite them as one nation, give them one king, cleanse them, and set his sanctuary among them forever.
Ezekiel 37:15–28Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh promises to unite his people, rule them under one king, cleanse them, and dwell with them in lasting peace.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Two sticks become one signYahweh tells Ezekiel to take two sticks and label them, one for Judah and one for Joseph or Ephraim with the house of Israel.
Explanation
Yahweh tells Ezekiel to take two sticks and label them, one for Judah and one for Joseph or Ephraim with the house of Israel. Ezekiel must join them into one stick in his hand. This acted sign is meant to be seen and to raise a question about its meaning.
02Yahweh explains the unionThe joined sticks stand for Yahweh’s action. He says he will take the stick of Joseph and put it together with the stick of Judah, making them one in his hand.
Explanation
The joined sticks stand for Yahweh’s action. He says he will take the stick of Joseph and put it together with the stick of Judah, making them one in his hand. The sign points beyond Ezekiel’s action to Yahweh’s own power to reunite what was divided.
03One nation with one kingYahweh says he will gather the children of Israel from among the nations and bring them into their own land.
Explanation
Yahweh says he will gather the children of Israel from among the nations and bring them into their own land. There they will be one nation, no longer two kingdoms. The passage repeats this unity by saying one king will be king over them all.
04Cleansed people under one shepherdThe promise is not only about land and national unity. Yahweh says they will no longer defile themselves with idols and transgressions.
Explanation
The promise is not only about land and national unity. Yahweh says they will no longer defile themselves with idols and transgressions. He will save and cleanse them. Then comes the covenant relationship: they will be his people and he will be their God. His servant David is named as king, shepherd and prince.
05Peace, sanctuary and witness to the nationsYahweh promises a covenant of peace that is everlasting. He will place and multiply them, and set his sanctuary and tent among them forever.
Explanation
Yahweh promises a covenant of peace that is everlasting. He will place and multiply them, and set his sanctuary and tent among them forever. His presence with his people is central. The result reaches beyond Israel, because the nations will know that Yahweh sanctifies Israel.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What do the two sticks represent before they are joined together?
Look at the names written on each stick and notice how Judah is named on one and Joseph or Ephraim with the house of Israel on the other.
02Which repeated words show that Yahweh’s promise is about unity?
Notice how often the passage says one nation, one king, one shepherd, and no longer two nations or two kingdoms.
03Besides unity, what other gifts does Yahweh promise his people?
List the promises in order: gathering, cleansing, peace, covenant, sanctuary, and God’s own presence with them.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 37:15–28
15Yahweh’s word came again to me, saying,
16“You, son of man, take one stick 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.’
17Then join them for yourself to one another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.
18“When the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Won’t you show us what you mean by these?’
19tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in my hand.
20The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.” ’
21Say to them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land.
22I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. One king will be king to them all. They will no longer be two nations. They won’t be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.
23They won’t defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. So they will be my people, and I will be their God.
24“ ‘ “My servant David will be king over them. They all will have one shepherd. They will also walk in my ordinances and observe my statutes, and do them.
25They will dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your fathers lived. They will dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, forever. David my servant will be their prince forever.
26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them. It will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will place them, multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forever more.
27My tent also will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
28The nations will know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is among them forever more.” ’ ”