Ezekiel 37

The Valley of Dry Bones

Dry Bones Come to Life

1 The hand of the LORD was on me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley. It was full of bones.

2 He led me all around them, and I saw a whole lot of bones on the valley floor, dry, very dry.

3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live,” I answered, “Lord GOD, You know.”

4 Then He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

5 This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I am about to put breath into you, and you will live.

6 I will put tendons on you, bring flesh on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you so you come alive. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

7 So I prophesied just like I was told. As I was speaking, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.

8 I looked, and tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them, but there was still no breath in them.

9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath. Son of man, prophesy and say to the breath: This is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe into these slain so they may live.”

10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them. They came to life and stood on their feet, a massive army.

11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, we are cut off.’

12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, My people, and bring you into the land of Israel.

13 Then you will know that I am the LORD when I open your graves and bring you up from them, My people.

14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and I have done it,” declares the LORD.

One Nation Under One King

The Two Sticks Become One

15 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

16 “Son of man, take one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and the sons of Israel associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel associated with him.’

17 Bring them together into one stick so they become one in your hand.

18 When your people ask you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by this?’

19 say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am taking the stick of Joseph, which is in Ephraim’s hand, and the tribes of Israel associated with it, and I will join it with the stick of Judah. I will make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.

20 The sticks you write on will be in your hand right in front of them.

21 Say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am taking the people of Israel from the nations they went to. I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land.

22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule over all of them. They will no longer be two nations and will never again be divided into two kingdoms.

23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, disgusting things, or any of their rebellion. I will save them from all the places where they sinned, and I will cleanse them. They will be My people, and I will be their God.

The Everlasting Covenant of Peace

24 My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will walk in My ordinances, keep My statutes, and obey them.

25 They will live in the land I gave to My servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David My servant will be their prince forever.

26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It will be an everlasting covenant. I will set them in place, multiply them, and put My sanctuary among them forever.

27 My dwelling place will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be My people.

28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sets Israel apart, when My sanctuary is among them forever.”