The Valley Of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones, recorded in Ezekiel 37:1–14, follows God's command to prophesy the rebirth of Israel in Ezekiel 36. Through the prophet, God declared that Israel would be restored to her homeland under the rule of "David, My servant [who] will be king over them" (Ezekiel 37:24). This prophecy points to the future reign of Jesus Christ the Messiah, a descendant of David (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7; Luke 1:31–33), despite the seemingly impossible situation Israel faced while in Babylonian captivity. As a nation, Israel was "dead," stripped of her homeland, king, and temple of worship, divided and dispersed for so long that restoration appeared unattainable. To offer hope and encouragement, God gave Ezekiel the vision of the valley of dry bones.

In this vision, God transported Ezekiel-not necessarily in a physical sense, but through a powerful vision-to a valley filled with dry bones. God commanded Ezekiel to speak to these lifeless bones, prophesying that God would breathe life into them, reminiscent of how God breathed life into Adam during creation (Genesis 2:7). As Ezekiel obeyed, the bones began to assemble, bone to bone, flesh formed, and skin covered them. When Ezekiel prophesied for breath to enter these bodies, they came to life and stood as a vast army. This vision symbolized the entire nation of Israel, then in Babylonian captivity. The Israelites were like unburied skeletons, existing in a state of living death with no apparent end to their judgment. They felt hopeless and permanently cut off. The remnant believed their national hopes were extinguished and that their nation had perished in the devastation brought by Babylon, leaving no prospect for revival or renewal.