Ezekiel's Vision Of Resurrected Dry Bones
Ezekiel's Vision of Resurrected Dry Bones
Ezekiel 37:1-14 describes a vision in which the prophet Ezekiel is transported to a valley filled with dry bones, which are subsequently resurrected by the power of God [3]. The vision is a powerful symbol of the restoration of Israel from exile and captivity. In the vision, Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy to the dry bones, saying "O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord" [6]. As he prophesies, the bones come together, sinews and flesh are formed, and they are given life by the breath of God [2].
The vision is interpreted by God himself, who explains to Ezekiel that the bones represent the whole house of Israel, who are saying "our bones are dried, and our hope is gone" [5]. The vision is thus a message of hope and restoration to the Israelites, who are in exile and feel that they are as good as dead. According to Adam Clarke, the vision is "an emblem of the then wretched state of the Jews; secondly, of the general resurrection of the body" [10].
The early church fathers saw in this vision a prefiguration of the resurrection of the dead. Tertullian, for example, quotes Ezekiel 37 in his discussion of the resurrection of the flesh [7]. Similarly, John Gill interprets the vision as a representation of the restoration of Israel, but also sees it as having a deeper spiritual significance, representing the regeneration of God's people [8, 13].
The vision has been interpreted in various ways throughout history. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown see it as symbolizing Israel's death and resurrection, with the valley representing Mesopotamia, the scene of Israel's sojourn in her state of national deadness [9]. Matthew Henry views the vision as a glorious resurrection, and argues that it confirms the doctrine of the general resurrection of the dead [11].
The vision remains a powerful symbol of God's power to restore and revive his people, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As Tyndale House notes, the oracle that follows the vision explains that God will once again call his people "my people", and promises to open their graves of exile and bring them back to the land of Israel [12].
The historical context of Ezekiel's vision is significant. Ezekiel was a prophet who ministered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, and his vision was likely intended to comfort and encourage them in their time of distress [1, 4]. The vision thus serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to his people, even in the midst of judgment and exile.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ezekiel — (the strength of God), one of the four greater prophets, was the son of a priest named Buzi, and was taken captive in the captivity of Jehoiachin, eleven years before the destruction of Jerusalem. He was a member of a community of Jewish exiles who settled on the banks of the Chebar, a "river' or stream of Babylonia. He began prophesying B.C. 595, and continued until B.C. 573, a period of more than twenty-two years. We learn from an incidental allusion, (Ezekiel 24:18) that he was married, and had a house, (Ezekiel 8:1) in his place of exile, and lost his wi”
- Ezekiel “I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them. -- Ezekiel 37:8”
- Ezekiel “Ezekiel 37:2 (BSB) — He led me all around among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, and indeed, they were very dry.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ezekiel — God will strengthen. (1.) 1 Chr. 24:16, "Jehezekel." (2.) One of the great prophets, the son of Buzi the priest (Ezek. 1:3). He was one of the Jewish exiles who settled at Tel-Abib, on the banks of the Chebar, "in the land of the Chaldeans." He was probably carried away captive with Jehoiachin (1:2; 2 Kings 24:14-16) about B.C. 597. His prophetic call came to him "in the fifth year of Jehoiachin's captivity" (B.C. 594). He had a house in the place of his exile, where he lost his wife, in the ninth year of his exile, by some sudden and unforeseen stroke (Eze”
- Ezekiel “Ezekiel 37:11 (Geneva1599) — Then he sayd vnto me, Sonne of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is gone, and we are cleane cut off.”
- Ezekiel “Again he said to me, Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, you dry bones, hear Yahweh’s word. -- Ezekiel 37:4”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XXIX.--EZEKIEL'S VISION OF THE DRY (part 1): BONES QUOTED. Inasmuch, then, as even the figurative portions of Scripture, and the arguments of facts, and some plain statements of Holy Writ, throw light upon the resurrection of the flesh (although without specially naming the very substance), how much more effectual for de- 566 termining the question will not those passages be which indicate the actual substance of the body by expressly mentioning it! Take Ezekiel: "And the hand of the Lord," says he, "was upon me; and the Lord brought me forth in the Spirit, and se”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 37 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 37 This chapter contains a prophecy of the Jews' return from captivity to their own land; of the union of the each tribes with one another; and of the glorious kingdom of Christ among them. Their restoration is represented by a vision of dry bones made alive; the place in which they were; the condition they were in; and the manner in which they were made to live, are described, Eze 37:1, the explication and application of this vision to the Jews, Eze 37:11, their union is signified by a sign or emblem of two sticks, which became”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 37 (introduction): THE VISION OF DRY BONES REVIVIFIED, SYMBOLIZING ISRAEL'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION. (Eze. 37:1-28) carried . . . in the spirit--The matters transacted, therefore, were not literal, but in vision. the valley--probably that by the Chebar (Eze 3:22). The valley represents Mesopotamia, the scene of Israel's sojourn in her state of national deadness.”
- Ezekiel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 37:1: The hand of the Lord was upon me - The prophetic influence was communicated. And carried me out in the spirit - Or, And the Lord brought me out in the spirit; that is, a spiritual vision, in which all these things were doubtless transacted. The valley which was full of bones - This vision of the dry bones was designed, first, as an emblem of the then wretched state of the Jews; secondly, of the general resurrection of the body.”
- Ezekiel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 37:1: Here is, I. The vision of a resurrection from death to life, and it is a glorious resurrection. This is a thing so utterly unknown to nature, and so contrary to its principles (a privatione ad habitum non datur regressus - from privation to possession there is no return), that we could have no thought of it but by the word of the Lord; and that it is certain by that word that there shall be a general resurrection of the dead some have urged from this vision, "For" (say they) "otherwise it would not properly be made a sign for the confirming of their faith in the ”
- Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 37:11: 37:11-14 The oracle that follows explains this vision. The people in exile felt that they were as dead as old, dry bones. As a result, they felt that all hope was gone, but the Lord could and would restore them to life. God would once again call them my people, and he promised that he would open their graves of exile and bring them back to the land of Israel.”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 37:11: Then he said unto me, son of man,.... Here follow the explication and application of the above vision: these bones are the whole house of Israel; an emblem of them, of their state and condition in the Babylonish captivity, and of them in their present state; and of the whole Israel of God, while in a state of unregeneracy: this phrase takes in the ten tribes, as well as the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah, which returned from Babylon; and shows that respect is had to something more than that restoration barely: behold, they say, our bones are dried; the house o”