Ezekiel 37: The Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel says the hand of Yahweh was on him and the Spirit brought him out into a valley full of bones, very many and very dry. God asked him, Son of man, can these bones live? Ezekiel answered, Lord Yahweh, you know. God told him to prophesy to the bones. As Ezekiel spoke, there was a rattling sound, and the bones came together. Sinews and flesh came on them, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath. Breath came into them, they lived, and they stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army. God explained that the bones were the whole house of Israel, who said their hope was lost. God would bring them up from their graves, put his Spirit in them, and bring them home. Then God told Ezekiel to join two sticks, one for Judah and one for Joseph, into one stick in his hand. God would make his people one nation under one king, his servant David, and make an everlasting covenant of peace. His dwelling place would be with them.

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Read Ezekiel 37

World English Bible · 28 verses

¹ Yahweh’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in Yahweh’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² He caused me to pass by them all around; and behold, there were very many in the open valley, and behold, they were very dry.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord Yahweh, you know.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear Yahweh’s word.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ The Lord Yahweh says to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ You will know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Yahweh’s word came again to me, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ “You, son of man, take one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions.’ Then take another stick, and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Then join them for yourself to one another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ “When the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Won’t you show us what you mean by these?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in my hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.”’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ Say to them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. One king will be king to them all. They will no longer be two nations. They won’t be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ They won’t defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. So they will be my people, and I will be their God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ “‘“My servant David will be king over them. They all will have one shepherd. They will also walk in my ordinances and observe my statutes, and do them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ They will dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your fathers lived. They will dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, forever. David my servant will be their prince forever.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them. It will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will place them, multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forever more.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ My tent also will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ The nations will know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is among them forever more.”’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Ezekiel 37 · Preschool

Bones Come Alive!

Name Date

Color the people standing up. God gives life!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

The Lord Yahweh says to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live.

Ezekiel 37:5 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Ezekiel saw a vision of dry bones. God said He would give them breath, and they would live! And they did! God gives life and hope. Let's take a deep breath and thank God for life.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Ezekiel 37 · Grade 4

You Will Live

Name Date

Read and Think

Ezekiel says the hand of Yahweh was on him, and the Spirit set him down in a valley full of bones. They were very many and very dry. God asked, Son of man, can these bones live? Ezekiel answered that only the Lord knew.

God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. As he spoke, there was a rattling, and the bones came together. Sinews, flesh, and skin covered them, but there was no breath. Then God told him to prophesy to the breath. Breath entered them, and they lived and stood up, a great army.

God explained that the bones were the house of Israel. The people said their bones were dried up and their hope was lost. God would open their graves of exile, put his Spirit in them, and settle them in their land. Then he had Ezekiel join two sticks into one, showing that Judah and Israel would be one nation under one king forever.

Show What You Know

Where did the Spirit set Ezekiel down?
What happened after Ezekiel prophesied to the breath?
What did the people say about their hope?
What did the two sticks show?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Godboneslivepeoplebreath

Ezekiel says the hand of Yahweh was on him, and the Spirit set him down in a valley full of .
God asked, Son of man, can these bones ?
told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones.
Sinews, flesh, and skin covered them, but there was no .
The said their bones were dried up and their hope was lost.

Think About It

The people felt their hope was dried up. How can God bring hope when things seem impossible?
Ezekiel answered God's question by trusting God. How does saying Lord, you know show faith?

Memory Verse

I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh.’”

Ezekiel 37:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving new life. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does ruach mean?
When you feel hopeless, how can you remember God gives new life?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Ezekiel 37 · Grade 5

Breath, Life, and One Nation

Name Date

Read and Think

Ezekiel 37 is the most famous vision in the book. Ezekiel says the hand of Yahweh was on him, and he was set down in a valley full of bones, very many and very dry. They pictured an army long dead. God's question, Son of man, can these bones live? had no human answer. Ezekiel's reply, that only the Lord knew, expresses humble faith.

The bones came to life in two stages. First, at Ezekiel's word they rattled together and were covered with sinews, flesh, and skin, but there was no breath in them. Second, Ezekiel prophesied to the breath, and it entered them. The Hebrew word ruach means breath, wind, and Spirit, and the chapter plays on all three. Like Adam in Genesis 2, the bodies were formed first, then given the breath of life.

God interpreted the vision: the bones are the whole house of Israel. They said, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. God promised to bring them out of their graves of exile, put his Spirit in them, and bring them home. The sign of the two sticks promised that the divided kingdoms would become one under one shepherd, David. God's tent would be with them. In the New Testament, Romans 8:11 says that the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies.

Show What You Know

What does Ezekiel's answer Lord Yahweh, you know show?
What three meanings does the Hebrew word ruach carry?
What earlier Bible scene does the two-stage revival recall?
Which New Testament verse speaks of the Spirit giving life to mortal bodies?

Crossword

Across

But there was no ____ in them
I will take the ____ of Joseph
So they will be my ____

Down

The Lord Yahweh says to these ____
Can these bones ____

Think About It

The exiles said their hope was lost. When have you felt hopeless, and how does this vision speak to that feeling?
God's breath brought the bodies to life. What does it mean that God's Spirit gives spiritual life today?

Memory Verse

I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh.’”

Ezekiel 37:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving new life. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Where in your church or family could God bring people back together?
How does Romans 8:11 connect to Ezekiel 37?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Ezekiel 37: The Valley of Dry Bones

Read Ezekiel 37

Worksheets

Bones Come Alive!

Prayer

Take It Home

God Gives Breath

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Dry Bones Live

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

The Valley of Dry Bones

Prayer

Take It Home

Can These Bones Live?

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Breath Came Into Them

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

The Valley of Dry Bones

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

You Will Live

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Breath, Life, and One Nation

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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