Ezekiel 37:3

3 He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "Master God, only you know that."

Ezekiel 37:3 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 37:3

And he said unto me, son of man, can these bones live?
&c.] Is there any probability of it? is there any reason to believe they shall live? can any ways and means be devised, or any methods taken, to cause them to live? and I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest;
the prophet does not pronounce at once that it was improbable and impossible; he knew indeed it was not probable, or possible, that these bones should revive of themselves; and he knew that neither he nor any creature could quicken them; but he wisely refers it to an omniscient and omnipotent God, who knew what he could and what he would do: the conversion of sinners is not of themselves, nor of ministers, but of God; it is wholly owing to his will and power, ( John 1:13 ) nothing else can make it probable, or possible.

Ezekiel 37:3 In-Context

1 God grabbed me. God's Spirit took me up and sat me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones.
2 He led me around and among them - a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain - dry bones, bleached by the sun.
3 He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "Master God, only you know that."
4 He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones: 'Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!'"
5 God, the Master, told the dry bones, "Watch this: I'm bringing the breath of life to you and you'll come to life.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.