Ezekiel 37:10 kjv
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Ezekiel 37:10 nkjv
So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Ezekiel 37:10 niv
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet?a vast army.
Ezekiel 37:10 esv
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Ezekiel 37:10 nlt
So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet ? a great army.
Ezekiel 37 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 37:5 | "Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.’" | Ezekiel 37:5 (Direct Echo) |
| Ezekiel 37:6 | "I will put sinews on you, make flesh come upon you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you; and you shall live." | Ezekiel 37:6 (Detailed Process) |
| Ezekiel 37:9 | "Then He said to me, ‘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.’" | Ezekiel 37:9 (Command to Prophesy) |
| John 3:8 | "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." | John 3:8 (Wind as Spirit) |
| Romans 8:11 | "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." | Romans 8:11 (Spirit of Resurrection) |
| Acts 2:2-4 | "And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." | Acts 2:2-4 (Pentecost as fulfillment) |
| Isaiah 43:5 | "Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you." | Isaiah 43:5 (Gathering Theme) |
| Jeremiah 31:33 | "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people." | Jeremiah 31:33 (New Covenant) |
| Revelation 1:4 | "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne." | Revelation 1:4 (Seven Spirits) |
| 1 Corinthians 12:13 | "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." | 1 Corinthians 12:13 (Unity in Spirit) |
| Psalm 104:30 | "You send forth your Spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth." | Psalm 104:30 (Spirit as Creator) |
| Revelation 11:11 | "After the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and a great fear fell on those who saw them." | Revelation 11:11 (Similar Imagery) |
| Genesis 2:7 | "then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living creature." | Genesis 2:7 (First Breath of Life) |
| Ezekiel 18:23 | "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?" | Ezekiel 18:23 (God's Desire for Life) |
| 1 Corinthians 15:45 | "Thus it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit." | 1 Corinthians 15:45 (Christ as Life-Giver) |
| Zechariah 12:10 | "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn." | Zechariah 12:10 (Spirit of Mourning/Repentance) |
| Job 33:4 | "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." | Job 33:4 (Spirit of Life) |
| John 6:63 | "It is the Spirit who gives life. Flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." | John 6:63 (Spirit's Role in Life) |
Ezekiel 37 verses
Ezekiel 37 10 Meaning
The verse prophesies a future resurrection and re-establishment of Israel. God's breath, signifying life and His Spirit, will enter the dry bones, symbolizing a lifeless nation, causing them to revive and stand as a vast army. This signifies divine intervention and the restoration of God's people.
Ezekiel 37 10 Context
This chapter, Ezekiel 37, is situated within the Babylonian exile. The prophet Ezekiel is receiving visions of hope for a spiritually and nationally dead Israel. This specific vision of the valley of dry bones is a powerful metaphor for the despair the exiles felt, believing their nation was utterly destroyed and beyond recovery. The message is intended to convey God's sovereign power to restore what seems irrecoverably lost, assuring them of a future reunion and a renewed nation. The imagery contrasts starkly with the prevailing sense of hopelessness.
Ezekiel 37 10 Word analysis
and (וְ wə): A conjunction used extensively, linking clauses and ideas.
breath (רוּחַ rûaḥ): This Hebrew word is multifaceted. It can mean wind, breath, or spirit. In this context, it signifies both the literal breath needed for life and, more importantly, the divine Spirit of God, the very agent of life and renewal. The Septuagint often translates rûaḥ as pneuma (πνεύμα) in the New Testament, carrying similar connotations of spirit, breath, and wind.
come (בּוֹא bō): Means to enter, go in, come. Here it indicates the active influx of God's life-giving force.
from (מִן min): A preposition indicating origin.
the (אֶת־ ʾeṯ): Not a direct equivalent of the English "the" in every case, but marks the direct object. Here it is part of the idiomatic structure.
four (אַרְבַּע ʾarbaʿ): Represents completeness or totality, suggesting all directions from which life can come.
winds (רוּחַ rûaḥ): Same word as "breath" above. It emphasizes the powerful, pervasive nature of the divine influence. In Hebrew thought, winds often represented unseen, powerful forces, and here specifically God's active, animating power.
upon (עַל- ʿal): Indicates direction or location, being directed towards and resting on the slain.
these (אֵלֶּה ʾēlleh): Points to the specific, previously mentioned bones.
slain (חָלָל ḥālāl): Refers to those who are wounded, pierced, or slain. It emphasizes their dead and broken state.
upon these slain, that they may live: This phrase highlights the objective of the breath’s action – to impart life into what was utterly dead. It's a definitive statement of resurrection.
Ezekiel 37 10 Bonus section
The concept of "four winds" is common in prophetic literature and often symbolizes universal forces or complete directional coverage. In this context, it signifies that God's restoring power will reach into every aspect and every corner where His people are found in a state of death. The pluralization of "slain" reinforces the communal aspect of Israel's restoration, indicating that it will be a collective revival, not just an individual one. The vision directly counters any notion that God had abandoned Israel or that their covenant relationship was permanently broken, illustrating the unshakeable nature of God's promises to His people. This powerful metaphor serves as a bedrock of hope for all of God's people facing dire circumstances, pointing to the ultimate resurrection and spiritual life available through God's Spirit.
Ezekiel 37 10 Commentary
Ezekiel 37:10 depicts the culmination of the prophecy of the dry bones. The instruction to prophesy to the winds (breath) to come from the four directions and breathe upon the slain emphasizes that God's power is universal and capable of reviving the scattered and seemingly deceased nation of Israel. The reuse of the word rûaḥ (spirit/breath/wind) is critical. It first denotes the literal breath and then the divine Spirit. This dual meaning points to a spiritual reawakening alongside national restoration. The exiles, feeling spiritually dead, would find assurance that God's Spirit, the very essence of life, would reanimate them, fulfilling His promises of renewal and establishing them as a vibrant people once more. This act signifies a divine infusion of life, a testament to God's redemptive power over death and destruction. It's not merely a political restoration but a profound spiritual rebirth.