Ezekiel 37:1-14

The Valley of Dry Bones

1 The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.

2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.

3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath^[a] enter you, and you will come to life.

6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.

8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them 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 it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ”

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’

12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.

14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’ ”

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.

Cross References

• 1. S Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 8:3
• 2. S Ezekiel 11:24; Luke 4:1; Acts 8:39
• 3. Jeremiah 7:32
• 4. S Jeremiah 8:2; Ezekiel 40:1
• 5. Deuteronomy 32:39; S 1 Samuel 2:6; Isaiah 26:19; 1 Corinthians 15:35
• 6. Jeremiah 22:29
• 7. S Genesis 2:7; Psalms 104:29-30; Revelation 11:11
• 8. S Exodus 6:2; Ezekiel 38:23; Joel 2:27; Joel 3:17
• 9. ver 14; Psalms 104:30; Isaiah 32:15; Ezekiel 39:29; Zechariah 12:10
• 10. Jeremiah 49:36; Daniel 7:2; Daniel 8:8; Daniel 11:4; Zechariah 2:6; Zechariah 6:5; Revelation 7:1
• 11. S Ezekiel 12:7
• 12. Revelation 11:11
• 13. S Job 17:15; S Lamentations 3:54
• 14. ver 21; Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Isaiah 26:19; Jeremiah 29:14; Hosea 13:14; Amos 9:14-15; Zephaniah 3:20; Zechariah 8:8
• 15. S Exodus 6:2
• 16. S Ezekiel 17:24; Hosea 13:14
• 17. S ver 9; S Isaiah 11:2; Joel 2:28-29
• 18. S Jeremiah 43:2
• 19. Eze 36:27-28,36; Revelation 11:11

Footnotes

• [a] The Hebrew for this word can also mean "wind" or "spirit" (see verses 6-14).