*Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ezekiel receives a vision of a valley filled with dry bones that are miraculously brought back to life, symbolizing the future restoration of Israel.
- The Valley of Dry Bones:
- The passage begins with the prophet Ezekiel finding himself in the midst of a valley filled with dry bones, scattered across the ground.
- The Lord asks Ezekiel if these bones can live, to which Ezekiel responds, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
- Prophetic Command:
- The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, declaring that He will make breath enter them so they may come to life.
- Ezekiel obeys the Lord’s command and prophesies to the bones, proclaiming the word of the Lord over them.
- Transformation:
- As Ezekiel prophesies, there is a rattling noise, and the bones come together, bone to bone, forming complete skeletons.
- Muscles and flesh cover the bones, but they are still lifeless, lacking breath.
- The Breath of Life:
- The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, saying, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.”
- Ezekiel prophesies as commanded, and breath enters the bodies, bringing them to life, standing on their feet as a vast army.
- Interpretation:
- The Lord explains to Ezekiel that the bones represent the people of Israel, who say, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.”
- The Lord promises to open their graves and bring them up from them, restoring them to the land of Israel.
- Promise of Restoration:
- The Lord declares that He will put His Spirit in them, and they will live, settling in their own land, knowing that He has spoken and will act.
- The people will no longer defile themselves with idols and detestable practices but will be cleansed, and God will be their God, and they will be His people.
37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 37:2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
37:8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
37:9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
37:10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
37:11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.