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Ezekiel 37 The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones

1 The Valley of Dry Bones
The hand of the Lord was upon 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, “O 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 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 from the four winds, O breath, 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 whole house 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: O 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.’”

15 One Nation Under One King
The word of the Lord came to me:

16 “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Ephraim’s stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.’

17 Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.

18 “When your countrymen ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’

19 say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’

20 Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on

21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.

22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.

23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

24 “‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.

25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever.

26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever.

27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.

28 Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’”

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Analysis of Ezekiel Chapter 37

Ezekiel 37 is a profound and visionary chapter in the Book of Ezekiel, offering poignant insights into God’s restoration of Israel. The vision of the dry bones brought to life serves as a powerful metaphor for the resurrection and rejuvenation of the nation of Israel. This chapter can be divided into two distinct sections: the vision of the dry bones (verses 1-14) and the prophecy of the two sticks (verses 15-28). Each section conveys themes of resurrection, unification, and divine promise. Below is a detailed analysis of these themes and their symbolism.

The Vision of the Dry Bones (Verses 1-14)

The first 14 verses of this chapter provide a vivid, graphic vision given to the prophet Ezekiel. Here, we see a valley filled with dry bones, which God brings back to life through His breath. Let’s delve deeper into these verses:

  • Verse 1: “The hand of the LORD was upon 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.”

Here, Ezekiel opens by establishing the divine nature of his vision. The “hand of the LORD” implies God’s power and guidance. The valley filled with bones suggests a battlefield where numerous lives have been lost, symbolizing the despair and hopelessness of the Israelite nation in exile.

  • Verses 2-3: “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. He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘Sovereign LORD, you alone know.’

The dry bones represent the house of Israel, emphasizing their seemingly irreversible state of death and exile. God’s question to Ezekiel isn’t just rhetorical; it challenges the prophet (and the readers) to ponder faith and the power of divine intervention. Ezekiel’s response reflects humility and trust in God’s omniscience and omnipotence.

  • Verses 4-6: “Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 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.””

Here, the command for the bones to “hear the word of the LORD” underscores the idea that life and transformation come through God’s word. The sequence of events—breath, tendons, flesh, and skin—symbolizes the holistic restoration process, starting with the spirit (breath), structure (tendons), sustenance (flesh), and culmination in wholeness (skin).

  • Verses 7-8: “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. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.”

The dramatic imagery of bones reassembling highlights the miraculous nature of God’s power. The physical reformation of the bones into bodies without breath signifies that even though structural restoration may occur, true life is imparted only by God’s breath—His Spirit.

  • Verses 9-10: “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.’ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.”

This section is crucial as it emphasizes the necessity of divine breath (Spirit) for true life. The imagery of breath from the “four winds” suggests the universality and completeness of God’s Spirit. The resulting “vast army” signifies the revival and empowerment of the nation of Israel, ready for divine service.

  • Verses 11-14: “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.’ 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. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 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.””

These verses offer a direct interpretation of the vision: the bones represent the despondent and exiled Israelites. God’s promise to “open your graves and bring you up from them” symbolizes resurrection, both physically and spiritually. It emphasizes God’s commitment to restoring Israel by His Spirit and bringing them back to their homeland, reinforcing His sovereignty and faithfulness.

The Prophecy of the Two Sticks (Verses 15-28)

The second part of Ezekiel 37 presents a vision symbolizing the reunification of Israel and Judah, further elaborating on the themes of restoration and divine covenant. Let’s explore these verses:

  • Verses 15-17: “The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.”

Here, the two sticks represent the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel, personified by Judah and Joseph (Ephraim). The act of joining these sticks into one symbolizes the reunification and reconciliation of the divided people of God into a single, united nation.

  • Verses 18-20: “When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’ say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick. I will make them into a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’ Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.”

God’s message clarifies the symbolic act and underscores His commitment to national unity. The promise to gather the Israelites “from all around” underlines the theme of restoration from exile. The prophecy also introduces the idea of sovereignty, with a single king (interpreted by many as the Messiah) ruling over the united nation, ensuring its unity and peace.

  • Verses 21-23: “I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.”

The reference to “my servant David” harkens back to the Davidic covenant, which promises a ruler from David’s line. While David himself is long gone, this is often interpreted messianically, pointing to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The notion of a single shepherd underscores unity, guidance, and care under divine leadership.

  • Verses 24-25: “They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever.”

This emphasizes the eternal nature of God’s promise. The land promised to Jacob (Israel) is not only a physical location but also a symbol of divine fulfillment and inheritance. The promise spans generations, suggesting enduring stability and prosperity under divine governance.

  • Verses 26-28: “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.”

The concluding verses of this chapter speak of a “covenant of peace” as everlasting. This not only suggests political and social tranquility but also spiritual restoration and communion with God. The promise of God’s sanctuary among them implies His perpetual presence. The chapter closes with a universal declaration: God’s work in Israel will be a testimony to the world of His holiness and faithfulness.

Concluding Reflections

Ezekiel 37 is a chapter rich with imagery and profound themes. From the vision of the dry bones to the prophecy of the two sticks, the chapter underscores God’s power to revive, restore, and unite His people. The dry bones transform into a living army through God’s breath, symbolizing spiritual revival and national restoration. The unification of the sticks signifies the healing of past divisions and the advent of a unified, divinely governed future.

The themes in this chapter resonate deeply with Christian eschatology, where the restoration of Israel prefigures the ultimate redemption of humanity through Christ. The prophecy of one shepherd and the everlasting covenant mirrors the New Testament fulfillment in Jesus, who is seen as the Good Shepherd and the eternal King.

Ultimately, Ezekiel 37 reassures believers of God’s unwavering commitment to His promises. It invites reflection on the power of divine intervention, the possibility of renewal, and the importance of faith in God’s omnipotent plan. Through its vivid visions and prophetic declarations, it offers hope and inspires trust in God’s ability to bring life even to the driest bones and unity to the most divided hearts.