Ezekiel 37 11

Ezekiel 37:11 kjv

Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

Ezekiel 37:11 nkjv

Then He said to me, "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 niv

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.'

Ezekiel 37:11 esv

Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.'

Ezekiel 37:11 nlt

Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, 'We have become old, dry bones ? all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.'

Ezekiel 37 verses

Ezekiel 37 11 Meaning

The bones are dried up. This imagery signifies that Israel, as a nation, has become spiritually lifeless and without hope. God, through the prophet, assures them that He will bring them back to life and give them His Spirit. This points to a future restoration of the people of Israel, both physically and spiritually.

Ezekiel 37 11 Context

Chapter 37 of Ezekiel presents a powerful vision of hope and restoration for the exilic Israelites. Following the judgment declared upon Judah for its sin, this chapter shifts to God's promise of future redemption. The vision of the valley of dry bones vividly illustrates the complete devastation and apparent hopelessness of Israel. They are scattered, broken, and spiritually dead in their exile. This vision addresses their despondency and assures them that God is not finished with them. The prophecy speaks to a literal restoration of the nation of Israel, bringing them back from exile and reuniting them, but it also points to a profound spiritual re-animation through the presence of God's Spirit. The "bones" represent the entire house of Israel, emphasizing their collective state of desolation and the need for divine intervention.

Ezekiel 37 11 Word Analysis

• "Thus says the Lord GOD": A prophetic formula emphasizing the divine origin and authority of the message. It immediately establishes that what follows is not Ezekiel's opinion but God's own declaration.
• "The house of Israel": Refers to the entire nation of Israel, including both the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah), who had been scattered and largely assimilated.
• "These bones are dry":
  • "These": Refers directly to the bones seen in the vision.
  • "bones": Represents the scattered remnants of Israel, stripped of flesh and life. In ancient Near Eastern thought, bones were often seen as the seat of vitality or identity, and their dryness signifies utter lifelessness and decay.
  • "are": A simple verb indicating state of being.
  • "dry": (Hebrew: yabbeshot - יְבֵשׁוֹת, yavesh meaning dry, withered, parched). This adjective starkly contrasts with the vitality that God intends to bring. It conveys a complete lack of moisture, essential for life, thus highlighting their desolate and lifeless condition. It emphasizes their long period of ruin and hopelessness.

Ezekiel 37 11 Bonus Section

The imagery of dry bones is echoed in various forms throughout Scripture. The concept of the breath or spirit of God as the source of life is foundational, dating back to creation (Genesis 2:7). This verse, along with the subsequent verses of the chapter, speaks to both a national and a spiritual resurrection. It finds a partial fulfillment in the return from Babylonian exile, but its ultimate and fullest meaning is understood by Christians to be fulfilled in the spiritual life God gives through the Holy Spirit to believers, and ultimately in the physical resurrection of all believers through Christ. The metaphor of dryness, contrasting with the life-giving "dew" in Isaiah 26:19, highlights God's revitalizing power.

Ezekiel 37 11 Commentary

This verse is a crucial part of the vision of the valley of dry bones, underscoring the utter devastation and hopelessness of Israel's condition during the Babylonian exile. The "dry bones" are a potent metaphor for a nation stripped of its life, its people scattered, its institutions in ruins, and its hope seemingly extinguished. The declaration that "these bones are dry" serves to acknowledge the stark reality of their despair before God begins to offer His solution. It confirms the depth of their spiritual and national death. However, this observation is not an end but a setup for God's powerful intervention, a prelude to the miraculous work of resurrection that He alone can perform. It demonstrates God’s ability to bring life from what appears to be completely dead and emphasizes that His power is not limited by the extent of ruin.