Ezekiel 37 2

Ezekiel 37:2 kjv

And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.

Ezekiel 37:2 nkjv

Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.

Ezekiel 37:2 niv

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.

Ezekiel 37:2 esv

And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.

Ezekiel 37:2 nlt

He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out.

Ezekiel 37 verses

Ezekiel 37 2 Meaning

The hand of the LORD came upon Ezekiel, and the Spirit of the LORD brought him out and set him down in the middle of a valley. This signifies a divine, powerful intervention that transports the prophet to a specific location for a revelation. It emphasizes God's direct agency and control in revealing His will.

Ezekiel 37 2 Context

This verse is found in the prophecy of Ezekiel, a priest and prophet who ministered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Chapter 37 begins a powerful vision concerning the restoration of Israel. The prophet is in the land of exile, a place associated with spiritual barrenness and national despair, akin to a dry, lifeless valley. The context is one of profound national death and disunity for the people of Israel, facing captivity and seeming hopelessness.

Ezekiel 37 2 Word analysis

• And (Hebrew: וְ - ve): A common conjunctive particle, linking this action to the previous or subsequent events, showing progression.
• the (Hebrew: הַ - ha): The definite article.
• hand (Hebrew: יָד - yad): Literally "hand," but often used metonymically to signify power, action, authority, or presence. Here, it emphasizes divine enablement and active involvement.
• of: Indicates possession or source.
• the (Hebrew: יְהוָה - Yahweh): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel.
• came (Hebrew: הָיָה - hayah): "To be," "to happen," used here for God's active arrival or movement.
• upon (Hebrew: עַל - al): Denotes location, contact, or influence.
• Ezekiel (Hebrew: יְחֶזְקֵאל - Yəḥezqe'ēl): The prophet's name, meaning "God strengthens."
• and (Hebrew: וְ - ve).
• the (Hebrew: רוּחַ - ruach): Often translated as "spirit," "wind," or "breath." Here, it refers to the Spirit of God, the active agent of divine power.
• Spirit (Hebrew: רוּחַ - ruach).
• of: Indicates source or belonging.
• the (Hebrew: יְהוָה - Yahweh).
• lifted (Hebrew: נָשָׂא - nasa'): To lift up, carry, bear, take up. Implies a supernatural elevation and transport.
• me: The prophet himself.
• out (Hebrew: הַחוּצָה - hachutsah): Indicates egress from a previous state or location.
• and (Hebrew: וְ - ve).
• set (Hebrew: הֵקִים - heqim): To cause to stand, to establish, to set up. Implies placing the prophet in a definite position.
• me (Hebrew: אֹתִי - othi): The prophet as the direct object.
• down (Hebrew: בְּתוֹךְ - betokh): "In the midst of" or "within."
• in (Hebrew: בְּתוֹךְ - betokh).
• the (Hebrew: בִּקְעָה - biq'ah): A valley, plain, or division. Often represents a place of desolation or a site of divine action.
• middle (Hebrew: בִּקְעָה - biq'ah).
• of: Possessive.
• the (Hebrew: עֲמָק - 'amaq): Deep, valley. Emphasizes the profound nature of the valley.
• valley (Hebrew: עֲמָק - 'amaq).

Word group analysis:

• The hand of the LORD: This phrase signifies divine power, control, and active presence. It's God Himself initiating and executing the action.
• The Spirit of the LORD: Here, the Spirit is presented as a distinct agent of God's power, actively engaging the prophet and moving him. This is a strong theological statement about the Spirit's personhood and agency.
• Lifted me out and set me down: This depicts a supernatural, instantaneous transport and placement. The prophet is passively moved and actively positioned by divine power.
• In the middle of the valley: The specific location chosen for the vision, the "deep valley," becomes the stage for a revelation of God's power over death and desolation.

Ezekiel 37 2 Bonus section

The concept of being "taken" or "carried" by the Spirit (Hebrew: נָשָׂא - nasa') echoes experiences of other prophets like Elijah (1 Kings 18:12) and Elisha. It suggests a passive, divinely induced state of transport for divine purposes. The valley (Hebrew: עֲמָק - 'amaq) is a significant setting in scripture, often associated with trials or divine judgment, but here it becomes the site of ultimate resurrection and hope, illustrating God's ability to bring life out of utter desolation, turning places of death into valleys of decision and new beginning. This initial action primes the prophet for a vision that will profoundly communicate God's redemptive power to a people in deep spiritual and national despair.

Ezekiel 37 2 Commentary

This verse establishes the divine impetus behind Ezekiel's prophetic ministry and the visions he receives. It's not Ezekiel's will or power that drives these experiences, but the direct, forceful intervention of God. The phrase "hand of the LORD" is a powerful anthropomorphism indicating God's active, sovereign engagement with His prophet, much like how God guided and strengthened figures like Elijah or empowered prophets with His word and presence.

The subsequent action of the Spirit of the LORD, lifting and setting down Ezekiel in a valley, highlights the Spirit's role as the administrator of God's power and will. This "valley" is presented as a place of profound lifelessness, symbolizing Israel's spiritual and national state of death. God is not limited by physical location or by the seemingly insurmountable circumstances of His people. He places Ezekiel directly into the midst of this desolation to show that His power to restore life can penetrate the deepest state of decay and hopelessness. This is a preview of the core message of restoration that will unfold in the chapter – God's ability to breathe life into what is dead.