Ezekiel 37:1-14

A Valley of Dried Bones; A Renewed Nation of Israel

1 The hand of Yahweh was upon me, and he brought me by the Spirit of Yahweh, and he {let me rest} in the midst of the valley, and it [was] full of bones.

2 And he led me {all around} over them, and look, very many on the surface of the valley, and look, very dry.

3 And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I said, "Lord Yahweh, you know."

4 And he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and you must say to them, [to] the dry bones, 'Hear the word of Yahweh!

5 Thus says the Lord Yahweh to these bones: "Look! I [am] bringing into you breath, and you will live!

6 And I will lay on you sinews, and I will let flesh come upon you, and I will cover you over [with] skin, and I will put breath into you, and you will live, and you will know that I [am] Yahweh." '"

7 And I prophesied {just as} I had been commanded, and [there] was a sound at my prophesying, and look! A rattling, and they came together--[the] bones! Bone to its bone!

8 And I looked, and indeed, sinews [were] on them, and flesh went up, and skin covered over them {upward}, but breath [was] not in them.

9 And he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and you must say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh {from the four winds}, "Come, O spirit and breath, on these dead ones, so that they may live!" '"

10 And I prophesied {as} he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they became alive, and they stood on their feet, a very, very large group.

11 And he said to me, "Son of man, these bones [are] all of the house of Israel; look! [they are] saying, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is destroyed; {we are cut off as far as we are concerned}.'

12 Therefore prophesy, and you must say to them, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Look! I [am] opening your graves, and I will bring you up from your graves, my people, and I will bring you to the land of Israel!

13 And you will know that I [am] Yahweh when I open your graves when I bring you up from your graves, my people!

14 And I will put my breath into you so that you may live, and I will cause you to rest on your soil, and you will know that I, Yahweh, I have spoken, and I will act!" ' {declares} Yahweh."

Ezekiel 37:1-14 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Or "placed me"; literally "set me"
• [b] Literally "all around, all around"
• [c] Or "mortal," or "son of humankind"
• [d] Literally "as that"
• [e] Or "appeared"
• [f] Or "on"
• [g] Literally "from to above"
• [h] Or "mortal," or "son of humankind"
• [i] Literally "from four winds"
• [j] Literally "like what"
• [k] Or "mortal," or "son of humankind"
• [l] Literally "we are cut in two for us"
• [m] Literally "declaration of"