one in hand

The Hebrew that is translated as “one in (your/my) hand” in English is translated in the Protestant Mandarin Chinese Union Version with an established Chinese idiom: hé ér wéi yī (合而為一 / 合而为一) or “united as one.” (Source: Toshikazu S. Foley in Hong Kong Journal of Catholic Studies, 2011, p. 45ff.)

See also one.

complete verse (Ezekiel 37:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 37:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “Join both of those pieces of wood to become one in your hand.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Join these two sticks so-that it will-become as one only in your hand.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then join them together to become as though they were one piece of wood in your hand.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 37:17

And join them together into one stick, that they may become one in your hand: This verse does not mean that Ezekiel was to glue or nail the two sticks together, but rather that he was to “hold the two sticks end to end” (Good News Translation) in the palm of his hand, so that when he closed his fist around the joint, they would “look like one stick” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). For Ezekiel to be able to do that, the sticks must have been fairly small, or he would not have been able to hide the joint in his hand.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .