Ezekiel 37:1-14 and the valley of the dry bones is one of the most intriguing scriptures in the Bible. It is assumed that this refers to the nation of Israel being restored, but could other meanings be buried within the text?
The Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel 37:1-14 is about a vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, in which he was taken to a valley full of dry bones. The Lord asked him whether these bones could come to life, and Ezekiel responded that only the Lord knew. God then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and as he did, they began to come together and be covered with flesh. Finally, the Lord breathed life into them, and they stood up as a great army.
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
Ezekiel 37:1-4
The Literal Interpretation
This passage is often seen as a metaphor for the restoration of Israel as a nation after the Babylonian captivity. The bones represent the scattered and defeated Israelites, who would one day be restored and brought back to life as a nation. This interpretation is supported by the fact that in verse 11, the Lord explicitly says that the bones represent the whole house of Israel.
“Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’”
However, scripture often comes with literal and spiritual meanings. Consequently, there may be other things that can be drawn from this passage.
A Connection to Modern Struggles
One interpretation suggests that the valley of dry bones represents any hopeless and lifeless situation. It could be a personal struggle, a societal issue, or a spiritual crisis. In these situations, the Lord calls us to prophesy, to speak life and hope into the problem. Like Jesus during his temptations, we need to confront our struggles with the life giving word of God. This interpretation emphasizes the power of our words and the importance of faith and trust in the Lord.
The Breath And The Four Winds
In verse 9, the Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath and call the four winds to breathe life into the dead bones.
“Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’”
The breath and the four winds are often seen as representations of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God is often associated with breath and wind. A good example is Genesis 2:7. “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” In John 3:8, Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Spirit is like the wind, blowing wherever it pleases.
So, the breath and the four winds in Ezekiel 37:9 could symbolize the Holy Spirit, who brings life and renewal to our dead and dry bones. This interpretation emphasizes the importance of relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation and restoration.
Final Thoughts
Ezekiel 37:1-14 is a powerful and multi-layered scripture that speaks to us on many levels. While the passage does refer to the restoration of Israel as a nation after the Babylonian captivity. It also speaks to the power of our words, the importance of faith, trust in the Lord, and the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing about transformation and renewal.
As we face our own personal valleys of dry bones, we can take comfort in the knowledge that the Lord is with us, calling us to prophesy and trust in Him to bring about new life and hope.
Sources
- Originally posted on Intentional Faith edited by LFC
- Ezekiel 37:1-14
