ScriptureDepth

Ezekiel 37

Read Ezekiel 37 (WEB)+

1Yahweh’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in Yahweh’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2He caused me to pass by them all around: and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and behold, they were very dry. 3He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord Yahweh, you know.” 4Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear Yahweh’s word. 5Thus says the Lord Yahweh to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live. 6I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”’” 7So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them. 9Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’ 12Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13You will know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people. 14I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh.’” 15Yahweh’s word came again to me, saying, 16“You, son of man, take one stick, 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.’ 17Then join them for yourself to one another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 18“When the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Won’t you show us what you mean by these?’ 19tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in my hand. 20The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.”’ 21Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, where they have gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land. 22I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. One king will be king to them all. They will no longer be two nations. They won’t be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. 23They won’t defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. So they will be my people, and I will be their God. 24“‘“My servant David will be king over them. They all will have one shepherd. They will also walk in my ordinances, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25They will dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your fathers lived. They will dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, forever. David my servant will be their prince for ever. 26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them. It will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will place them, multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forever more. 27My tent also will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28The nations will know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is among them forever more.”’”

World English Bible (public domain)

"And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord."

Ezekiel 37:14

Summary

Ezekiel 37 is a prophetic vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, often known as the Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. In this vision, Ezekiel is taken by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley full of dry bones, which represent the people of Israel in their hopelessness and exile. God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and as he does, they come together, and flesh covers them, but there is no breath in them yet. God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, and when he does, the breath enters the bones and they come to life as a vast army. This vision signifies God’s promise to restore Israel and is a powerful metaphor for spiritual revival. The second part of the chapter depicts God’s promise to reunify and restore the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel, depicted through the symbolic act of joining two sticks into one in Ezekiel’s hand. This serves to reassure the Israelites of God’s abiding faithfulness and His plans to bring unity and restoration to His people.

Go deeper

Ask the AI about Ezekiel 37

Bring your question about the chapter, the key verse, or how this passage fits the rest of Scripture.

Ask the AI about Ezekiel 37

Daily Scripture study

Get a short devotional by email

One passage, one reflection, and one practical question for the day.

Subscribe free and instantly get “Depth Without Seminary” — our step-by-step study guide (PDF).

One short email each morning. Unsubscribe anytime.

Studying Ezekiel with a print Bible beside you? See our picks for the best study Bibles for women.

Chapter outline

How Ezekiel 37 unfolds

  1. Ezekiel 37:1–3 The Vision of Dry Bones

    Ezekiel is taken by the Spirit of Yahweh to a valley filled with many dry bones, symbolizing Israel's despair and hopelessness.

  2. Ezekiel 37:4–10 Prophesying to the Bones

    Yahweh commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, resulting in their resurrection as a vast army, representing Israel's future restoration.

  3. Ezekiel 37:11–14 Interpretation of the Vision

    Yahweh explains that the dry bones represent the whole house of Israel, promising to restore them and revive their hope.

  4. Ezekiel 37:15–20 Joining the Two Sticks

    Ezekiel is instructed to join two sticks, symbolizing the unification of the divided kingdoms of Israel, Judah and Ephraim.

  5. Ezekiel 37:21–23 The Gathering of Israel

    God promises to gather the Israelites from exile and restore them as a single nation, free from idolatry and sin.

  6. Ezekiel 37:24–27 David as King

    Yahweh declares that David will be their shepherd and king, emphasizing a renewed covenant and His everlasting presence among them.

  7. Ezekiel 37:28 God's Presence Among Israel

    The chapter closes with the assurance that the nations will recognize Yahweh's holiness through His sanctuary among Israel.

Key verses

  • Ezekiel 37:14Ezekiel 37:14 encapsulates the chapter's promise of spiritual renewal and restoration through God's indwelling Spirit.

Main themes in Ezekiel 37

Restoration

Restoration is a central theme in Ezekiel 37, particularly in verses 12-14 where God promises to bring Israel out of their graves. The chapter develops this theme by illustrating how God will revive His people and restore their identity and land. This restoration signifies a complete renewal and a return to covenant relationship with Yahweh.

Revival

Revival is vividly depicted in the vision of the dry bones coming to life in verses 5-10, symbolizing spiritual awakening. The chapter complicates this theme by showing that revival is not just individual but communal, impacting the entire house of Israel. It emphasizes that true revival involves God's Spirit, bringing life and unity to His people.

Hope

Hope permeates the chapter, especially in verses 11-14 where Yahweh reassures Israel that their hope is not lost despite their current state. The narrative develops this theme by showing a tangible promise of restoration and the revival of Israel’s fortunes. Ultimately, this hope is rooted in God's faithfulness and His commitment to His covenant.

Explore hope in the Bible →

Divine Power

Divine power is prominently manifested in Ezekiel 37, especially in the miraculous resurrection of the dry bones described in verses 7-10. This extraordinary event illustrates how God's command leads to transformation, showcasing His absolute sovereignty over both life and death. Throughout the chapter, this theme reassures Israel of God's unwavering ability to fulfill His promises, affirming that He can revive His people and restore them to their former glory.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Ezekiel 37

Study questions

Questions for studying Ezekiel 37

  1. What do the dry bones symbolize in this vision?
  2. How does the act of prophesying lead to life for the bones?
  3. What does God's promise of restoration imply for Israel's future?
  4. How do the two sticks represent the divided kingdoms of Israel?
  5. What role does David play in the future of Israel according to this chapter?
  6. How does this chapter connect Israel's physical and spiritual restoration?
  7. What does the presence of God's Spirit signify for the people of Israel?

Ezekiel 37: frequently asked questions

What is Ezekiel 37 about?+
Ezekiel 37 is a prophetic vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, often known as the Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. In this vision, Ezekiel is taken by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley full of dry bones, which represent the people of Israel in their hopelessness and exile. God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and as he does, they come together, and flesh covers them, but there is no breath in them yet. God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, and when he does, the breath enters the bones and they come to life as a vast army. This vision signifies God’s promise to restore Israel and is a powerful metaphor for spiritual revival. The second part of the chapter depicts God’s promise to reunify and restore the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel, depicted through the symbolic act of joining two sticks into one in Ezekiel’s hand. This serves to reassure the Israelites of God’s abiding faithfulness and His plans to bring unity and restoration to His people.
What is the key verse in Ezekiel 37?+
Ezekiel 37:14: "I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh.’”"
What are the main themes of Ezekiel 37?+
The main themes of Ezekiel 37 are Restoration, Revival, Hope, Divine Power.

Related chapters

Chapters that connect with Ezekiel 37

Study Notes