Ezekiel 37:4

4 And he said to me, Prophesy thou of these bones (Prophesy thou over these bones/Prophesy thou to these bones); and thou shalt say to them, Ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Ezekiel 37:4 In-Context

2 and he led me about by them in compass. Forsooth those were full many on the face of the field, and dry greatly. (and he led me about all around them. And they were a great many on the face of the field, and they were all dried up.)

3 And he said to me, Guessest thou, son of man, whether these bones shall live? And I said, Lord God, thou knowest.

4 And he said to me, Prophesy thou of these bones (Prophesy thou over these bones/Prophesy thou to these bones); and thou shalt say to them, Ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

5 The Lord God saith these things to these bones, Lo! I shall send into you a spirit, and ye shall live. (The Lord God saith these things to these bones, Lo! I shall send breath into you, and ye shall live.)

6 And I shall give sinews on you, and I shall make fleshes to wax on you, and I shall stretch forth above skin in you, and I shall give a spirit to you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know, that I am the Lord. (And I shall make sinews upon you, and I shall make flesh to grow upon you, and I shall stretch forth skin over you, and I shall give breath to you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know, that I am the Lord.)