Ezekiel 37:7-17

7 So I prophesied ¹as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

8 And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered * them; but there was no breath in them.

9 Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and ²breathe on these slain, that they ³come to life.""'

10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the ⁴breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an ⁵exceedingly great army.

The Vision Explained

11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the ⁶whole house of Israel; behold, they say, 'Our ⁷bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely ⁸cut off.'

12 "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will open your graves and ⁹cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.

13 "Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people.

14 "I will ¹⁰put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it," declares the LORD.' "

Reunion of Judah and Israel

15 The word of the LORD came again to me saying,

16 "And you, son of man, take for yourself ¹¹one stick and write on it, 'For ¹²Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions '; then take another stick and write on it, 'For ¹³Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.'

17 "Then ¹⁴join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.

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Ezekiel 37:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 37

This chapter contains a prophecy of the Jews' return from captivity to their own land; of the union of the each tribes with one another; and of the glorious kingdom of Christ among them. Their restoration is represented by a vision of dry bones made alive; the place in which they were; the condition they were in; and the manner in which they were made to live, are described, Eze 37:1-10, the explication and application of this vision to the Jews, Eze 37:11-14, their union is signified by a sign or emblem of two sticks, which became one in the hand of the prophet, Eze 37:15-17, the meaning of this is shown, Eze 37:18-20, then follow promises of their return to their own land, in express words; of their being one kingdom, under one King, Christ, the antitype of David, of their sanctification; of their covenant interest in God, made manifest to them; and of his presence, and dwelling among them, Eze 37:21-28.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 14

1. Jeremiah 13:5-7
2. Psalms 104:30
3. Hosea 13:14
4. Revelation 11:11
5. Jeremiah 30:19; Jeremiah 33:22
6. Jeremiah 33:24; Ezekiel 36:10; Ezekiel 39:25
7. Psalms 141:7
8. Psalms 88:5; Lamentations 3:54
9. Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Isaiah 26:19; Isaiah 66:14; Hosea 13:14
10. Isaiah 32:15; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:27; Ezekiel 37:6, 9; Ezekiel 39:29; Joel 2:28, 29; Zechariah 12:10
11. Numbers 17:2, 3
12. 2 Chronicles 10:17; 2 Chronicles 11:11-17; 2 Chronicles 15:9
13. 1 Kings 12:16-20; 2 Chronicles 10:19
14. Isaiah 11:13; Jeremiah 50:4; Ezekiel 37:22-24; Hosea 1:11; Zephaniah 3:9

Footnotes 3

[a]. Lit "voice;" or "thunder"
[b]. Lit "cut off to ourselves"
[c]. Or "breath"