Ezekiel 37
Ezekiel 37 describes the famous vision of the valley of dry bones, where Ezekiel is led by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley full of dry, scattered bones. God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones, causing them to come to life. This chapter symbolizes Israel's restoration and reunification after exile, with God promising to bring His people back to their land and renew them with His Spirit. The chapter emphasizes God’s power to restore life and His commitment to the covenant with Israel, foreshadowing a future unity and revival for the nation.
Ezekiel 37:1 (NKJV)
1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
Ezekiel is transported by the Spirit to a valley filled with dry bones, signifying a place of desolation and death. The bones represent Israel in its defeated, exiled state, spiritually dead and disconnected from God. This bleak setting prepares Ezekiel for a powerful display of God's redemptive power over Israel's hopelessness.
Ezekiel 37:2 (NKJV)
2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.
As Ezekiel surveys the valley, he notices the sheer number of bones and their dryness, symbolizing how long Israel has been in a state of spiritual lifelessness. The extensive scattering and dryness suggest the impossibility of revival from a human perspective, underscoring the need for divine intervention.
Ezekiel 37:3 (NKJV)
3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
God asks Ezekiel if the bones can live, prompting a humble response from Ezekiel that acknowledges God’s omnipotence. This question highlights the theme of resurrection and restoration, showing that only God holds the power to bring life where it seems impossible.
Ezekiel 37:4-6 (NKJV)
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”
God commands Ezekiel to prophesy life into the bones, promising to restore them with sinews, flesh, and breath. This act of prophecy symbolizes the power of God’s word to bring life and hope to Israel. The imagery of reconstructed bodies reveals the process of restoration, from physical formation to spiritual revival, showcasing God’s comprehensive plan to renew Israel.
Ezekiel 37:7-8 (NKJV)
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
As Ezekiel obeys, the bones come together, forming complete bodies with muscles and skin. However, the absence of breath indicates that, while physically restored, they still lack life. This stage reflects Israel's initial steps toward restoration, emphasizing that true life requires the Spirit of God, not just physical reconstitution.
Ezekiel 37:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Also 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 breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”
10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Ezekiel is instructed to call upon the "breath" (ruach, also meaning "spirit") to enter the bodies, symbolizing the Holy Spirit's life-giving power. As breath enters, the bodies come to life, forming a mighty army, representing Israel’s renewed strength and unity. This transformation highlights God's role in empowering His people and promises future spiritual vitality for Israel.
Ezekiel 37:11-14 (NKJV)
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”
God explains the vision’s meaning: the bones symbolize Israel’s despair and feeling of separation from God. He promises to “open their graves,” a metaphor for their return from exile and spiritual revival. This divine pledge of resurrection and renewal assures Israel of God’s faithfulness to restore them both physically and spiritually in their homeland, emphasizing the transformative power of His Spirit.
Ezekiel 37:15-17 (NKJV)
15 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
16 “As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.’
17 Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.
God instructs Ezekiel to take two sticks symbolizing Judah and Joseph (Ephraim), representing the divided kingdoms of Israel. By joining them into one stick, God promises to unify the nation once more. This act foreshadows the reconciliation and healing of the deep divisions within Israel, symbolizing a future of harmony and strength.
Ezekiel 37:18-23 (NKJV)
18 And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’—
19 say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’
20 And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.
21 Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.
23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
God elaborates on the symbolism of the joined sticks, promising to reunite Israel under one king. He envisions a unified nation, free from past sins and idol worship, restored in their relationship with Him. This vision points to a redeemed Israel, living in obedience and purity, under God’s care and guidance.
Ezekiel 37:24-25 (NKJV)
24 David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.
25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.
This passage clearly prophesies a future time when "David My servant" will be king over a unified Israel, directly pointing to Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. By using "David" rather than specifying “a descendant of David,” the prophecy emphasizes that Christ would embody the heart, faithfulness, and shepherding qualities of David, fulfilling the covenant promises of an eternal kingdom. Jesus, often called the “Son of David,” is the righteous ruler who perfectly restores God’s people to Himself, leading them in obedience and bringing about a lasting relationship with God. Under Christ’s reign, Israel—symbolic of God’s people—would dwell securely in the promised land forever, fulfilling God’s covenant with David. This prophecy assures that Jesus, as the ultimate shepherd-king, brings unity, righteousness, and eternal peace, surpassing the legacy of David and establishing God’s unbreakable kingdom.
Ezekiel 37:26-27 (NKJV)
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
God speaks of an everlasting "covenant of peace," promising a new, unbreakable relationship with Israel. This covenant includes His enduring presence, symbolized by His sanctuary or tabernacle among them. This vision of divine closeness reflects a future in which God dwells directly with His people, restoring their communion and assuring them of His constant guidance and blessing.
Ezekiel 37:28 (NKJV)
28 The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.’”
God concludes with a declaration that His presence in Israel will be a testimony to all nations, revealing His sanctifying power over His people. The restored, unified, and holy Israel will stand as a witness to God’s power and faithfulness. This final verse emphasizes the global impact of Israel’s renewal, with God’s presence among them serving as a sign to the world of His sovereignty and grace.