37:1 The hand of Yahweh was upon me See note on 1:3; compare 8:1.

the Spirit of Yahweh See 11:5 and note. Ezekiel’s experience of the Spirit of Yahweh indicates the onset of a visionary trance.

the valley The Hebrew word indicates a broad, smooth valley. See note on 3:22.

full of bones Ezekiel does not see corpses of people who died recently (those from the siege of Jerusalem, for example; see 33:21–22). Instead, he sees a wide plain filled with dry bones—apparently randomly strewn human bones, not skeletons.

37:3 these bones live Yahweh is not asking Ezekiel for his opinion on whether people can be brought back to life. The prophet would have been familiar with that possibility based on the experiences of the prophets Elijah (1 Kgs 17:17–24) and Elisha (2 Kgs 4:32–37), and perhaps Isa 53:10–11. Ezekiel’s response indicates his understanding that the possibility depended entirely on Yahweh’s actions.

37:4 Prophesy to these bones Yahweh answers by commanding Ezekiel to prophesy, thereby demonstrating the faith implicit in his response in Ezek 37:3. His command to prophesy to dry bones would seem a pointless effort. But Ezekiel has prophesied over inanimate objects before, most recently in his oracle of restoration for the mountains of Israel (see 36:1).

37:5 I am bringing into you breath The Hebrew word used here, ruach, means “wind,” “spirit,” or “breath,” depending on the context. It is used to refer to the “breath of life” in Gen 6:17 and often carries the sense of a living being’s animating force (as in Eccl 3:21).

37:6 I will lay on you sinews Not only will the bones be reanimated, they will be completely restored with tendons, muscles, and skin.

37:7 And I prophesied just as I had been commanded Ezekiel acts directly as Yahweh’s agent of renewal. Yahweh did not need Ezekiel’s participation to achieve the outcome He desired, but He involved Ezekiel anyway, testing his faith and obedience and using him to accomplish His will.

37:8 but breath was not in them See Ezek 37:5 and note. The bones are brought back together and the bodies are restored, but the essence of life is still absent.

37:9 Prophesy to the breath The second command emphasizes that life had not yet been restored. The earlier prophecy promised “breath” before the sinews, flesh, and skin. The two levels of prophecy and fulfillment in vv. 1–10 provide an element of dramatic suspense and highlight the importance of the “breath” (compare Gen 2:7).

the four winds The word is the same for “wind” and “breath.” See note on Ezek 37:5.

37:10 and the breath came into them On breath, see note on v. 5. The essence of life enters after the body is created, just as when God created Adam in Gen 2:7. This vision of resurrection likely influenced the Apostle John (see Rev 11:11 and note).

37:11 these bones are all of the house of Israel The dry bones represent the nation of Israel collectively and throughout history—not just the recent victims of invasion and exile. Even the northern tribes, exiled much earlier by the Assyrians in 722 bc, are included, as explained by the following oracle in Ezek 37:15–28.

; look! they are saying The people’s statement reflects the exiles’ general attitude. Ezekiel frequently quotes statements related to attitudes or beliefs he disputes (i.e., 12:22; 18:2).

37:12 Look! I am opening your graves Resurrection of the dead metaphorically illustrates Israel’s restoration as a nation. The concept of bodily resurrection was not well developed during Ezekiel’s day (see note on v. 3).

Symbolic Actions of the Prophets Table

37:16 a piece of wood The same phrase is used in vv. 17, 19, 20. Perhaps Ezekiel was using wooden writing tablets. Wooden boards covered in wax were used for temporary writing purposes.

For Judah The first piece of wood symbolizes Judah, the southern kingdom.

For Joseph, the piece of wood of Ephraim The second piece of wood symbolizes the northern kingdom of Israel. Ephraim was Joseph’s son, and the tribe named after him became the most powerful in the northern kingdom. Due to the tribe’s dominance, biblical writers commonly use the name Ephraim to refer to the northern kingdom as a whole.

37:17 they may become one Ezekiel’s sign-act predicts a future restoration of Israel and Judah into a unified kingdom. From the perspective of Ezekiel and the community of exiles in Babylon, it would have been nearly 150 years since the northern tribes were deported by the Assyrians (722 bc). The metaphor of the dry bones in v. 11 may serve to reflect that span of time. Perhaps the exiles’ pessimism extended to a concern that they would essentially disappear and be forgotten, as the northern tribes had. With this prophecy, Yahweh promises that neither is true.

37:23 vile idols The Hebrew word here refers to abhorrent, offensive, or vile religious practices. See note on Ezek 5:11.

they will be for me as a people Reactivates the covenant promise of Lev 26:12.

37:24 David will be king over them An allusion to the Messiah. Compare Jer 23:5.

one shepherd will be for all of them Compare Ezek 34:23.

37:26 a covenant of peace See 34:25.

an everlasting covenant See 16:60. The everlasting covenant is the culmination of Yahweh’s plan for salvation.

37:27 my tabernacle will be with them The divine presence returns to His people. Ezekiel described Yahweh’s departure from His dwelling in 10:18.