Ezekiel 37:5 (NKJV)

Bible Commentary

Ezekiel 37:5 is a Bible verse from the Old Testament where the Lord is instructing Ezekiel to prophesy over a valley of dry bones.

This is a fascinating story about new life by restoration of the old; how the Lord can take something that is dry, dead and worthless and revive it with a mere breath from His mouth.

Let’s look at the Hebrew meanings of the word “bones,” which are: a bone, body, life, strength.

“Bones” in Ezekiel 37:5 is representative of a human body—its strength and life.  The Spirit of the Lord had brought Ezekiel out and set him down in the midst of a valley that was full of bones.

Ezekiel observed that there were very many bones and they were indeed very dry. The Lord asked him if the bones could live, and Ezekiel answered, “O Lord God, You know.” (Ezekiel 37:1-3)

Unlocking the Truth – Revival

The Lord instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! He continues in Ezekiel 37:5,

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.”

When Ezekiel did as he was commanded, there was a noise and a sudden rattling. The bones came together, bone to bone and the sinews (tendon; muscular power or strength) and the flesh came upon them and the skin covered them over. But, there was no breath in them. (Ezekiel 37:7-8)

Then the Lord told him in Ezekiel 37:9-10,

“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.

The Lord explained to Ezekiel saying, “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!’ (Ezekiel 37:11)

The Lord then responds to His people saying, “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,” (Ezekiel 37:14)

The Lord caused…  click to continue