Ezekiel 37:12
in Ezekiel 37Therefore prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O My people, I will open your graves and bring you up from them, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Therefore prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
KJV
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
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This verse in Ezekiel 37
Commentary
15 notes on this verseI will open your graves - Here is a pointed allusion to the general resurrection; a doctrine properly credited and understood by the Jews, and to which our Lord refers, Joh 5:25, Joh 5:28, Joh 5:29: “The hour is coming when they that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth.” And cause you to come up out of your graves - I am determined that ye shall be restored; so that were ye even in your graves, as mankind at the general resurrection, yet my all-powerful voice shall call you forth.
This site's exposition
these bones are the whole house of Israel
on Ezekiel 37:11-14
The vision interprets itself, “these bones are the whole house of Israel”. The promise answers with opened graves, a return to the land, and “I will put My Spirit in you”. The fathers and many since heard the general resurrection here, and Jerome records the passage read at funerals.
This site's exposition
I will open your graves
The picture shifts from a valley floor to graves. Adam Clarke hears an allusion to the general resurrection, citing John 5:28 to 29. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown rest the promise on God's claim in the words My people.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10:233 · Written before 253.
proposed
The mystery of the resurrection is great and difficult for many of us to understand. It is mentioned also in many other passages of the Scriptures and is proclaimed no less through these words in Ezekiel.
For instance, Ezekiel leaps in the spirit of prophecy over all the intervening time, with its vast duration; he stands, by his powers of foresight, in the actual moment of the Resurrection, and, as if he had really gazed on what is still to come, brings it in his description before our eyes. He saw a mighty plain, unfolded to an endless distance before him, and vast heaps of bones upon it flung at random, some this way, some that; and then under an impulse from God these bones began to move and group themselves with their fellows that they once owned, and adhere to the familiar sockets, and then clothe themselves with muscle, flesh, and skin (which was the process called "decorating" in the poetry of the Psalms); a Spirit in fact was giving life and movement to everything that lay there.
The hope of resurrection is the root of every kind of good work, for the expectation of reward braces the soul to productive toil. And whereas every worker is ready to sustain his toil if he can look forward to being repaid for his labors, where toil has no recompense the soul is soon discouraged and the body flags with it. A soldier who expects his share of the spoils is ready for war. But no one is prepared to die serving a king so undiscerning that he does not provide rewards for labors. In the same way, any soul that believes in resurrection takes care for itself, as is right, but any soul that disbelieves the resurrection abandons itself to destruction. A person who believes that the body survives to rise again is careful of this garment and does not soil it by fornicating. But a person who does not believe in the resurrection gives himself up to fornication, abusing his own body as if it were nothing to him. A mighty message and teaching of the holy Catholic church is belief about the resurrection of the dead; mighty and most indispensable. While many deny it, the truth claims credence for it. Greeks deny it, Samaritans disbelieve, while heretics tear away the half. Truth never appears but in one shape, while contradiction assumes a hundred.
(Chapter 37, verses 1 onwards) The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 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. And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord God, you know.'
The vision is a famous one and is celebrated by being read in all the churches of Christ.
7 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
If there is some excellent glory in the eye, it is particularly in this: that either it is the leader of the body or it is not abandoned by the functions of the other members. I think this is what is taught to us through that vision of the prophet Ezekiel.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
That they were so divided among themselves, too much of the old enmity between Judah and Ephraim remaining even in their captivity. But, as to this, by a sign of two sticks made one in the hand of the prophet is foreshown the happy coalition that should be, at their return, between the two nations of Israel and Judah,
Tell them," (1.) "That they shall be brought out of the land of their enemies, where they are as it were buried alive: I will open your graves. " Those shall be restored, not only whose bones are scattered at the grave's mouth ( Ps. cxli.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
Therefore prophesy, and say unto them,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The hope that is utterly gone, if looking at themselves, is sure for them in God, because He regards them as His people. Their covenant relation to God ensures His not letting death permanently reign over them. Christ makes the same principle the ground on which the literal resurrection rests.
I HAVE read to you the vision of the resurrection of the dry bones. Keep it in your minds, that you may understand the text. The figure is a very apt, instructive and impressive one. It is not, however, a mere figure—it is a parable based upon a remarkable representation of the resurrection of the dead.
I HAVE read to you the vision of the resurrection of the dry bones. Keep it in your minds, that you may understand the text. The figure is a very apt, instructive and impressive one. It is not, however, a mere figure—it is a parable based upon a remarkable representation of the resurrection of the dead. Although the children of Israel, at that time, knew little enough concerning the resurrection, yet the Lord, the Holy Spirit, knew all about it and He used it as a striking picture of the salvation of Israel from that national death which had come upon them. We may, with equal accuracy, see in it, a vivid representation of the work of Grace upon the hearts of all those who are quickened into spiritual life by the power of Divine Grace. Men, by nature, are dead in sin till they hear the voice of God and feel the quickening breath of the Spirit—and are made to live according to that Word of God—"He that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." Such a metaphor as this before us, drops with teaching as a honeycomb with honey, and it will be our own fault if we are not taught by it! The salvation of men by the Grace and power of God is as great a wonder as the general resurrection. The putting of spiritual life into a natural man is a marvel of marvels and should excite as much wonder as the raising of Lazarus, or of Jairus' daughter, or of the young man at the gates of Nain. Even the rising up of the dead at the last trumpet is not a greater prodigy than the bringing of dead hearts unto the life of God! I shall not, however, detain you by fuller observations upon spiritual resurrection, for I have work to do of another kind upon which we will spend the bulk of our time and the whole of our energies.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Therefore, prophesy that I am destined to resurrect you a second time.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
these bones are all the house of Israel They are an intimation and an example of the entire house of Israel in their exile, for they say, “Our bones have become dried up from the troubles; our hope is lost, and what further hope can we have for salvation?
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
22 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לָכֵן֩ | lakhen | <to> therefore | H3651 → | 771 times |
| הִנָּבֵ֨א | hinave' | prophesy | H5012 → | 115 times |
| וְאָמַרְתָּ֜ | veamarta | and you will say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם | ʾaleihem | to them | H413 → | 5510 times |
| כֹּֽה־ | koh- | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| אָמַר֮ | ʾamar | he says | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֲדֹנָ֣י | ʾadonai | [the] Lord | H136 → | 440 times |
| יְהוִה֒ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3069 → | 306 times |
| הִנֵּה֩ | hineh | here! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| אֲנִ֨י | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| פֹתֵ֜חַ | foteach | [am] about to open | H6605 → | 144 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| קִבְרֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם | kivroteikhem | graves your | H6913 → | 67 times |
| וְהַעֲלֵיתִ֥י | vehaaleiti | and I will bring up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| אֶתְכֶ֛ם | ʾetkhem | <obj.> you | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מִקִּבְרוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם | mikivroteikhem | from graves your | H6913 → | 67 times |
| עַמִּ֑י | ʾami | O people my | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י | veheveti | and I will bring | H935 → | 2568 times |
| אֶתְכֶ֖ם | ʾetkhem | <obj.> you | H853 → | 10935 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | into | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אַדְמַ֥ת | ʾadmat | [the] land of | H127 → | 225 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
לָכֵן֩<to> therefore
lakhenH3651 →771 times
הִנָּבֵ֨אprophesy
hinave'H5012 →115 times
וְאָמַרְתָּ֜and you will say
veamartaH559 →5305 times
אֲלֵיהֶ֗םto them
ʾaleihemH413 →5510 times
כֹּֽה־thus
koh-H3541 →577 times
אָמַר֮he says
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
אֲדֹנָ֣י[the] Lord
ʾadonaiH136 →440 times
יְהוִה֒Yahweh
yahwehH3069 →306 times
הִנֵּה֩here!
hinehH2009 →843 times
אֲנִ֨יI
ʾaniH589 →874 times
פֹתֵ֜חַ[am] about to open
foteachH6605 →144 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
קִבְרֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗םgraves your
kivroteikhemH6913 →67 times
וְהַעֲלֵיתִ֥יand I will bring up
vehaaleitiH5927 →890 times
אֶתְכֶ֛ם<obj.> you
ʾetkhemH853 →10935 times
מִקִּבְרוֹתֵיכֶ֖םfrom graves your
mikivroteikhemH6913 →67 times
עַמִּ֑יO people my
ʾamiH5971 →1873 times
וְהֵבֵאתִ֥יand I will bring
vehevetiH935 →2568 times
אֶתְכֶ֖ם<obj.> you
ʾetkhemH853 →10935 times
אֶל־into
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
אַדְמַ֥ת[the] land of
ʾadmatH127 →225 times
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 4:16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
- Revelation 1:7
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
- Matthew 24:30–31
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds…
- 1 Corinthians 15:23
But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.
- Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
- 1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Through
Isaiah 26:19Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her…
it leads to
- Daniel 12:2
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
- Hosea 13:14
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ezekiel 37:1–14
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones.
- Daniel 12:2
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Resurrection34 verses
On this page
About Ezekiel
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1676: “Despair Denounced and Grace Glorified” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 18:1; Gregory of Nyssa, ON THE SOUL AND THE RESURRECTION; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; Jerome, COMMENTARY ON EZEKIEL 11:37.1-14; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10:233; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 7:2.9 and Patrick Fairbairn, An Exposition of Ezekiel.