Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 37

Introduction

Overview

Ezekiel 37:1, By the resurrection of dry bones, Ezekiel 37:11. the dead hope of Israel is revived; Ezekiel 37:15, By the uniting of two sticks, Ezekiel 37:18. is shewn the incorporation of Israel into Judah; Ezekiel 37:21, The promises of Christ’s kingdom.

Verse 1

hand: In this vision, the dry bones aptly represent the ruined and desperate state of both Israel and Judah; and the revivification of these bones signifies their restoration to their own land after their captivity, and also their recovery from their present long dispersion. Although this is the primary and genuine scope of the vision, yet the doctrine of a general resurrection of the dead may justly be inferred from it; for "a simile of the resurrection," says Jerome, after Tertullian and others, "would never have been used to signify the restoration of the people of Israel, unless such a future resurrection had been believed and known; because no one attempts to confirm uncertain things by things which have no existence." Ezekiel 1:3, Ezekiel 3:14, Ezekiel 3:22, Ezekiel 33:22, Ezekiel 40:1, Revelation 1:10

carried: Ezekiel 8:3, Ezekiel 11:24, 1 Kings 18:12, 2 Kings 2:16, Luke 4:1, Acts 8:39

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 13:21 - touched Job 14:14 - shall he live Psalms 53:5 - scattered Psalms 88:10 - shall Isaiah 11:11 - set his hand Isaiah 26:19 - dead men Isaiah 66:14 - your bones Jeremiah 8:1 - General Ezekiel 8:1 - that the Ezekiel 11:1 - the spirit Ezekiel 37:11 - Our bones Ezekiel 43:5 - the spirit Daniel 12:2 - many Mark 12:24 - because John 5:28 - for John 11:24 - I know Romans 11:15 - but 2 Corinthians 1:9 - in God Colossians 2:13 - dead Hebrews 6:2 - resurrection

Verse 2

valley: or, champaign, Deuteronomy 11:30

they were: Ezekiel 37:11, Psalms 141:7

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 31:40 - the whole Revelation 20:5 - This

Verse 3

can: John 6:5, John 6:6

O Lord God: Deuteronomy 32:29, 1 Samuel 2:6, John 5:21, John 11:25, John 11:26, Acts 26:8, Romans 4:17, 2 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:10, Hebrews 11:19

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 4:2 - revive Isaiah 49:24 - Shall Ezekiel 2:1 - Son Luke 7:14 - Young John 11:44 - he that 1 Corinthians 15:35 - How

Verse 4

Prophesy: Ezekiel 37:11, Ezekiel 37:15, Ezekiel 37:16, Numbers 20:8, 1 Kings 13:2, Matthew 21:21, John 2:5

O ye: Ezekiel 36:1, Isaiah 26:19, Isaiah 42:18, Jeremiah 22:29, Micah 6:2, John 5:25, John 5:28, John 5:29

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 7:1 - Elisha said Job 10:11 - fenced Micah 6:1 - let Luke 5:5 - nevertheless Ephesians 5:14 - arise

Verse 5

I will: Ezekiel 37:9, Ezekiel 37:10, Ezekiel 37:14, Genesis 2:7, Psalms 104:29, Psalms 104:30, John 20:22, Romans 8:2, Ephesians 2:5

Reciprocal: Revelation 11:11 - the Spirit

Verse 6

I will: Ezekiel 37:8-10

ye shall: Ezekiel 37:14, Ezekiel 6:7, Ezekiel 6:13, Ezekiel 7:4, Ezekiel 7:9, Ezekiel 11:10, Ezekiel 11:12, Ezekiel 20:38, Ezekiel 28:22-26, Ezekiel 32:15, Ezekiel 34:27, Ezekiel 35:9, Ezekiel 35:12, Ezekiel 35:15, Ezekiel 38:23, Ezekiel 39:6, Ezekiel 39:22, Ezekiel 39:28, Deuteronomy 29:6, 1 Kings 20:28, Isaiah 49:23, Joel 2:27, Joel 3:17

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 36:11 - and ye Ezekiel 37:13 - General

Verse 7

I prophesied as: Jeremiah 13:5-7, Jeremiah 26:8, Acts 4:19, Acts 5:20-29

there: 1 Kings 19:11-13, Acts 2:2, Acts 2:37, Acts 16:26-29

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 11:13 - when Ezekiel 12:7 - I did so

Verse 8

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 37:6 - I will

Verse 9

wind: or, breath

Come: Ezekiel 37:5, Ezekiel 37:14, Song of Solomon 4:16, John 3:8

Reciprocal: Psalms 104:30 - sendest John 20:22 - he breathed Acts 2:2 - as 2 Corinthians 5:15 - that they Revelation 7:1 - four angels

Verse 10

the breath: Psalms 104:30, Revelation 11:11, Revelation 20:4, Revelation 20:5

Reciprocal: Psalms 119:50 - for thy Ezekiel 3:24 - the spirit Ezekiel 12:7 - I did so Ezekiel 37:5 - I will Acts 2:2 - as

Verse 11

whole house: Ezekiel 37:16, Ezekiel 37:19, Ezekiel 36:10, Ezekiel 39:25, Jeremiah 31:1, Jeremiah 33:24-26, Hosea 1:11, Romans 11:26, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Ephesians 2:1

Our bones: Ezekiel 37:1-8, Numbers 17:12, Numbers 17:13, Psalms 77:7-9, Psalms 141:7, Isaiah 40:27, Isaiah 49:14, Jeremiah 2:25

Reciprocal: Ezra 9:8 - reviving Job 14:19 - destroyest Job 17:16 - rest Psalms 31:22 - I am Psalms 143:3 - made me Isaiah 49:24 - Shall Jeremiah 18:12 - There Jeremiah 30:12 - General Jeremiah 31:17 - General Jeremiah 32:43 - General Jeremiah 33:10 - which ye Lamentations 3:18 - General Lamentations 3:54 - I said Lamentations 5:22 - But thou hast utterly rejected us Ezekiel 18:2 - the land Ezekiel 33:10 - how Ezekiel 37:2 - they were Ezekiel 37:4 - Prophesy Hosea 2:14 - and speak Hosea 2:15 - for Hosea 6:2 - two Hosea 13:14 - ransom Jonah 2:4 - I said Habakkuk 1:12 - we Zechariah 1:6 - Like Zechariah 4:6 - Not Zechariah 8:13 - O house Zechariah 9:12 - even Luke 5:5 - we Luke 22:19 - is my Acts 27:20 - all Romans 4:18 - against 1 Corinthians 15:35 - How 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - which have Revelation 11:8 - their dead

Verse 12

Therefore: Job 35:14, Job 35:15

I will open: This is a pointed allusion to the resurrection; under which figure Isaiah - Isaiah 26:9 also describes the restoration of the house of Israel, when he says, "thy dead men shall live;" at which time their bones are said to flourish - Isaiah 66:14, or to be restored to their former strength and vigour; and, in like manner, St. Paul - Romans 11:15, expresses their conversion by "life from the dead." In the land of their captivity, they seemed as absolutely deprived of their country as persons committed to the grave are cut off from the land of the living; but when Cyrus issued his proclamation, Jehovah, as it were, opened their graves, and when he stirred up their spirits to embrace the proffered liberty, he put his Spirit within them, that they might live; and their re-establishment in their own land evinced the truth of God in the prediction, and his power in its accomplishment. Ezekiel 37:21, Isaiah 26:19, Isaiah 66:14, Hosea 6:2, Hosea 13:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Revelation 20:13

and bring: Ezekiel 37:25, Ezekiel 28:25, Ezekiel 36:24, Ezra 1:1 -Ezra 2:70, Amos 9:14, Amos 9:15

Reciprocal: Psalms 71:20 - shalt bring Daniel 12:2 - many Luke 5:5 - we

Verse 13

Ezekiel 37:6, Ezekiel 16:62, Psalms 126:2, Psalms 126:3

Reciprocal: Psalms 71:20 - shalt bring Isaiah 52:6 - my people Ezekiel 36:11 - and ye Ezekiel 36:35 - like the

Verse 14

shall put: Ezekiel 37:9, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:27, Ezekiel 39:29, Isaiah 32:15, Joel 2:28, Joel 2:29, Zechariah 12:10, Acts 2:16, Acts 2:17, Romans 8:2, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:45, Titus 3:5, Titus 3:6

I the Lord: Ezekiel 17:24, Ezekiel 22:14, Ezekiel 36:36

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 8:20 - hath performed Isaiah 27:3 - I the Isaiah 52:6 - my people Ezekiel 5:17 - I the Ezekiel 37:5 - I will Ezekiel 37:6 - ye shall 2 Corinthians 5:15 - that they

Verse 15

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 37:4 - Prophesy

Verse 16

take thee: Numbers 17:2, Numbers 17:3

For Judah: 2 Chronicles 10:17, 2 Chronicles 11:11-17, 2 Chronicles 15:9, 2 Chronicles 30:11-18

For Joseph: 1 Kings 12:16-20, 2 Chronicles 10:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:24 - And she 1 Kings 18:31 - twelve stones Isaiah 7:2 - is confederate with Isaiah 11:13 - the envy Jeremiah 3:18 - In Jeremiah 31:1 - of Jeremiah 50:4 - the children of Israel Ezekiel 37:4 - Prophesy Ezekiel 37:11 - whole house Ezekiel 37:19 - Behold Hosea 1:11 - the children of Judah Amos 3:1 - against Obadiah 1:18 - the house of Joseph Zechariah 8:13 - O house Zechariah 10:6 - I will strengthen Zechariah 11:7 - one Zechariah 11:14 - I cut John 17:21 - they all

Verse 17

Ezekiel 37:22-24, Isaiah 11:13, Jeremiah 50:4, Hosea 1:11, Zephaniah 3:9

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 37:19 - Behold Amos 3:1 - against

Verse 18

Wilt: Ezekiel 12:9, Ezekiel 17:12, Ezekiel 20:49, Ezekiel 24:19

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 16:2 - What meanest Ezekiel 3:11 - the children

Verse 19

Behold: Ezekiel 37:16, Ezekiel 37:17, 1 Chronicles 9:1-3, Zechariah 10:6, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:14, Colossians 3:11

Reciprocal: Psalms 68:27 - princes Isaiah 17:6 - General Ezekiel 18:2 - the land Ezekiel 37:11 - whole house Amos 5:6 - the house Obadiah 1:18 - the house of Joseph Zechariah 8:7 - I

Verse 20

in thine: Ezekiel 12:3, Numbers 17:6-9, Hosea 12:10

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 21:6 - before Ephesians 2:14 - both

Verse 21

Ezekiel 34:13, Ezekiel 36:24, Ezekiel 39:25, Deuteronomy 30:3, Deuteronomy 30:4, Isaiah 11:11-16, Isaiah 27:12, Isaiah 27:13, Isaiah 43:6, Isaiah 49:12, Jeremiah 16:15, Jeremiah 23:3, Jeremiah 23:8, Jeremiah 29:14, Jeremiah 30:3, Jeremiah 30:10, Jeremiah 30:18, Jeremiah 31:8-10, Jeremiah 32:37, Jeremiah 33:7, Jeremiah 33:11, Jeremiah 50:19, Amos 9:14, Amos 9:15, Obadiah 1:17-21, Micah 7:11, Micah 7:12

Reciprocal: Psalms 106:47 - gather Psalms 147:2 - he Isaiah 32:17 - quietness Isaiah 43:5 - I will Isaiah 65:9 - I will Jeremiah 12:14 - and pluck Jeremiah 46:27 - I will save Ezekiel 11:17 - General Ezekiel 20:42 - when I Ezekiel 28:25 - When Ezekiel 37:12 - I will open Ezekiel 37:25 - they shall dwell in Ezekiel 38:8 - into the land Daniel 12:1 - thy people Hosea 11:11 - and I Joel 3:1 - when Obadiah 1:19 - the fields of Ephraim Micah 2:12 - surely assemble Micah 4:6 - and I Zephaniah 3:20 - even John 1:49 - the King Acts 3:19 - when Romans 11:26 - all Ephesians 4:13 - we all

Verse 22

I will make: Isaiah 11:12, Isaiah 11:13, Jeremiah 3:18, Jeremiah 32:39, Jeremiah 50:4, Hosea 1:11, Ephesians 2:19-22

and one: It is evident that the grand union of Israel and Judah here predicted, and their government under one king, and that king to be David, must still be future; for, politically speaking, they never had a king from that day to this, far less a king or prince of that name. - See note on Ezekiel 34:23. Ezekiel 37:24, Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 34:24, Genesis 49:10, Psalms 2:6, Psalms 2:12, Psalms 72:1, Psalms 72:8, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 9:7, Jeremiah 23:5, Jeremiah 23:6, Jeremiah 33:14-17, Jeremiah 33:26, Hosea 3:4, Hosea 3:5, Luke 1:32, Luke 1:33, John 10:16, Revelation 11:15

Reciprocal: Isaiah 32:17 - quietness Jeremiah 16:15 - that brought Jeremiah 46:27 - I will save Jeremiah 50:19 - bring Ezekiel 6:2 - the mountains Ezekiel 20:40 - there shall Ezekiel 34:13 - I will bring Ezekiel 36:1 - the mountains Ezekiel 37:17 - General Ezekiel 39:25 - the whole Joel 3:1 - when Amos 3:9 - the mountains Micah 4:6 - and I Micah 5:2 - that is Mark 3:24 - General John 17:21 - they all Ephesians 4:13 - we all

Verse 23

shall they defile: Ezekiel 20:43, Ezekiel 36:25, Ezekiel 36:29, Ezekiel 36:31, Ezekiel 43:7, Ezekiel 43:8, Isaiah 2:18, Hosea 14:8, Zechariah 13:1, Zechariah 13:2, Zechariah 14:21

but: Ezekiel 36:24, Ezekiel 36:29, Leviticus 20:7, Leviticus 20:8, Micah 7:14

will cleanse: Ephesians 5:26, Ephesians 5:27, Hebrews 9:13, Hebrews 9:14, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 1:9

they be: Ezekiel 37:27, Ezekiel 36:28, Ezekiel 39:22, Genesis 17:7, Genesis 17:8, Psalms 68:20, Psalms 68:35, Jeremiah 31:1, Jeremiah 31:33, Jeremiah 32:38, Jeremiah 32:39, Hosea 1:10, Zechariah 13:9, Revelation 21:3, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 21:7

Reciprocal: Isaiah 54:14 - righteousness Jeremiah 11:4 - ye be Jeremiah 24:7 - and they Jeremiah 30:9 - General Ezekiel 11:18 - General Ezekiel 14:11 - neither Ezekiel 16:41 - and I Ezekiel 34:24 - I the Lord will Ezekiel 43:9 - the carcases Hosea 14:3 - neither Micah 5:13 - graven John 3:10 - and knowest

Verse 24

David: Ezekiel 37:25, Isaiah 55:3, Isaiah 55:4, Jeremiah 23:5, Jeremiah 30:9, Hosea 3:5, Luke 1:32

one: Ezekiel 37:22, Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 34:24, Psalms 78:71, Psalms 78:72, Psalms 80:1, Ecclesiastes 12:11, Isaiah 40:11, Micah 5:2, Micah 5:4, Zechariah 13:7, John 10:11, John 10:14-16, Ephesians 4:4-6, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 5:4

they shall: Ezekiel 36:27, Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 31:33, Jeremiah 32:39, 1 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:12, Philippians 2:13, Titus 2:11-13, Titus 3:3-8, 1 John 2:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 28:13 - the land Leviticus 18:4 - General Numbers 27:16 - set a man Deuteronomy 4:1 - unto the statutes Deuteronomy 5:32 - observe Deuteronomy 6:1 - the commandments Deuteronomy 12:28 - General Deuteronomy 30:8 - General 2 Samuel 5:2 - feed 2 Chronicles 10:16 - David Psalms 89:29 - throne Isaiah 1:26 - And I will Isaiah 29:22 - Jacob shall Isaiah 37:35 - and for Jeremiah 3:15 - And I Jeremiah 23:6 - Judah Jeremiah 30:21 - governor Jeremiah 31:10 - and keep Jeremiah 33:22 - so Ezekiel 18:9 - walked Ezekiel 20:19 - walk Ezekiel 21:27 - until Ezekiel 45:7 - General Ezekiel 48:21 - the residue Daniel 12:1 - the great Amos 9:11 - raise Zephaniah 3:15 - the king Zechariah 1:16 - I am Zechariah 3:8 - my Zechariah 12:8 - the house Matthew 2:6 - rule Matthew 21:5 - thy King Matthew 25:34 - the King Mark 11:10 - the kingdom Luke 1:69 - in John 3:10 - and knowest John 12:34 - Christ Acts 1:6 - restore Acts 13:22 - he raised Acts 13:34 - the sure Acts 26:6 - the promise 1 Peter 2:25 - the Shepherd

Verse 25

they shall dwell in: Ezekiel 37:21, Ezekiel 28:25, Ezekiel 36:28, Ezekiel 37:26, Jeremiah 30:3, Jeremiah 31:24, Jeremiah 32:41

even they: Isaiah 60:21, Isaiah 66:22, Joel 3:20, Amos 9:15, Zephaniah 3:14, Zephaniah 3:15, Zechariah 14:11

and my: Ezekiel 37:24, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 2:44, Daniel 2:45, Zechariah 6:12, Zechariah 6:13, Luke 1:32, Luke 1:33, John 12:34, Hebrews 7:2, Hebrews 7:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 28:13 - the land Genesis 49:26 - everlasting hills 2 Samuel 5:2 - feed 2 Samuel 7:10 - plant them 1 Chronicles 17:9 - and shall be 2 Chronicles 10:16 - David Psalms 89:29 - throne Isaiah 1:26 - And I will Isaiah 30:19 - dwell Isaiah 32:17 - quietness Isaiah 37:35 - and for Isaiah 53:10 - he shall prolong Isaiah 55:3 - the sure Isaiah 59:21 - this Jeremiah 23:8 - General Jeremiah 31:17 - General Jeremiah 31:40 - it shall Jeremiah 32:39 - for the Ezekiel 18:2 - the land Ezekiel 20:41 - I bring Ezekiel 20:42 - when I Ezekiel 21:27 - until Ezekiel 34:23 - my servant Ezekiel 36:14 - no more Ezekiel 36:24 - General Ezekiel 37:12 - and bring Ezekiel 44:3 - the prince Hosea 2:19 - for Hosea 11:11 - and I Amos 9:11 - raise Amos 9:14 - build Zechariah 8:8 - and they shall dwell Matthew 25:34 - the King Mark 11:10 - the kingdom Luke 1:69 - in Luke 24:27 - and all Acts 2:39 - the promise Acts 5:31 - a Prince Acts 13:22 - he raised Acts 13:34 - the sure Revelation 11:15 - and he

Verse 26

I will make: Ezekiel 34:25, Genesis 17:7, 2 Samuel 23:5, Psalms 89:3, Psalms 89:4, Isaiah 55:3, Isaiah 59:20, Isaiah 59:21, Jeremiah 32:40, Hosea 2:18-23, John 14:27, Hebrews 13:20, Hebrews 13:21

multiply: Ezekiel 36:10, Ezekiel 36:37, Isaiah 27:6, Isaiah 49:21, Jeremiah 30:19, Jeremiah 31:27, Zechariah 8:4, Zechariah 8:5, Hebrews 6:14

set: Ezekiel 11:16, Ezekiel 43:7, Ezekiel 45:1-6, Leviticus 26:11, Leviticus 26:12, 1 Kings 8:20, 1 Kings 8:21, Psalms 68:18, Zechariah 2:5, 2 Corinthians 6:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:26 - everlasting hills Deuteronomy 13:17 - and multiply 1 Kings 6:13 - I will dwell Psalms 107:38 - He blesseth Psalms 114:2 - General Psalms 125:5 - peace Isaiah 24:5 - broken Isaiah 54:13 - great Jeremiah 3:16 - when Jeremiah 31:31 - I Ezekiel 16:60 - I will establish Ezekiel 37:25 - they shall dwell in Ezekiel 39:29 - hide Ezekiel 43:9 - and I Joel 2:27 - I am Zephaniah 3:15 - is in Zechariah 14:11 - there Malachi 2:5 - covenant Ephesians 2:12 - the covenants Hebrews 8:8 - covenant

Verse 27

tabernacle: John 1:14, Colossians 2:9, Colossians 2:10, Revelation 21:3, Revelation 21:22

I will: Ezekiel 37:23, Ezekiel 11:20, Ezekiel 14:11, Ezekiel 36:28, Leviticus 26:12, Hosea 2:23

Reciprocal: Exodus 40:18 - reared Psalms 87:3 - Glorious Jeremiah 11:4 - ye be Jeremiah 24:7 - and they Jeremiah 30:22 - General Jeremiah 31:33 - and will Jeremiah 32:38 - General Ezekiel 16:60 - I will establish Ezekiel 34:24 - I the Lord will Ezekiel 34:30 - General Ezekiel 39:29 - hide Hosea 2:1 - Ammi Hosea 11:9 - the Holy One Zechariah 2:10 - and I Zechariah 8:8 - they shall be my Zechariah 13:9 - It is my people John 20:17 - your God 2 Corinthians 6:16 - I will be Hebrews 8:10 - I will be

Verse 28

the heathen: Ezekiel 36:23, Ezekiel 36:36, Ezekiel 38:23, Ezekiel 39:7, Ezekiel 39:23, Psalms 79:10, Psalms 102:15, Psalms 126:2, Romans 11:15

sanctify: Ezekiel 20:12, Exodus 31:13, Leviticus 20:8, Leviticus 21:8, John 17:17-19, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 5:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Reciprocal: Exodus 40:18 - reared Psalms 87:3 - Glorious Isaiah 27:3 - I the Isaiah 29:22 - Jacob shall Jeremiah 29:11 - thoughts Lamentations 4:22 - he will no Ezekiel 38:14 - shalt Hosea 11:9 - the Holy One