Event · Exile and Return
The valley of dry bones
The valley of dry bonesEzekiel 37:1–14During the exile
Ezekiel sees a valley of dry bones come to life, a picture of God bringing Israel back from exile.
- Main passage Ezekiel 37:1–14
- Related Ezekiel 36:24–28
People Ezekiel
- Place in the order
- Strongly supported relative order The order is well supported by the text, though not stated outright.
- Historical setting
- During the exile Approximate historical setting
Ezekiel 37 is not dated; it belongs to Ezekiel's messages after the fall (from Ezekiel 33:21).
Stories and studies Hope
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Ezekiel 37:1–14 WEB
1The LORD’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in the LORD’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 GOD, you know.” 4Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear the LORD’s word. 5The Lord GOD says 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 the LORD.”’” 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, ‘The Lord GOD says: “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, ‘The Lord GOD says: “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 the LORD, 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, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’”