Ezekiel 37:4

4 He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones: 'Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!'"

Ezekiel 37:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 37:4

Again he said unto me, prophesy upon these bones
Or, "over these bones" F20; or, "concerning these bones" F21; foretell that they shall live; tell others of it, and them also: and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord;
the word of prophecy concerning you, as the Jews did in Babylon: so unconverted sinners may be preached unto, and their lost and miserable estate in which they are, like dry bones, may be set before them: they may be called upon to attend the external ministry of the word; and they are capable of hearing it with their bodily ears; though it is not profitable to them, for want of faith, yet faith comes hereby; and therefore it is right to attend upon the means, and hear the word.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (hlah twmueh le) "super ossa haec", Starckius.
F21 "De ossibus istis", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus, Piscator.

Ezekiel 37:4 In-Context

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.
6 I'll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You'll come alive and you'll realize that I am God!"
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.