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Book of Ezekiel - Chapter 37 - Verse 4

37:4
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

Meaning

In Ezekiel 37:4, the prophet Ezekiel is instructed by the Lord to prophesy upon a valley filled with dry bones. The imagery of dry bones represents the hopeless situation of the Israelites who were in exile and feeling dead spiritually. By commanding Ezekiel to prophesy upon these bones, God is showing His power to bring life and restoration to a seemingly dead and hopeless situation. The act of prophesying symbolizes speaking words of faith and hope into a situation that seems beyond repair. Through this verse, the Lord reminds us that even in our most desolate and hopeless times, His word has the power to breathe life and transformation into any situation. By listening to the word of the Lord, even the driest and most lifeless circumstances can be revived and renewed.

Theological Overview

In this verse from the book of Ezekiel, the prophet is instructed by the Lord to prophesy upon a pile of dry bones. The image of dry bones symbolizes spiritual deadness and hopelessness. By commanding Ezekiel to prophesy upon them, God is demonstrating His power to bring life and transformation to what seems impossible and lifeless to the human eye. The act of prophesying represents the power of the spoken word in bringing about change and renewal. The phrase "hear the word of the LORD" emphasizes the importance of God's word in bringing about spiritual awakening and restoration. The imagery of dry bones being brought back to life serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to revive and renew even the most hopeless situations, showing that nothing is beyond His reach.

American Standard Version

Again he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah.
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