The verse "He used to verify Ezekiel, who said, Shall these dry bones live?" from 4 Maccabees 18:17 is referring to a specific event in the Book of Ezekiel and drawing a parallel to the martyrdom of the Jewish figures described in 4 Maccabees. Let's break it down:
Ezekiel: This refers to the Prophet Ezekiel from the Hebrew Bible.
"Shall these dry bones live?" This alludes to the famous vision in Ezekiel 37:1-14, where Ezekiel sees a valley full of dry bones. God asks him if these bones can live. Ezekiel prophesies to the bones, and they come together, flesh grows on them, and they are filled with breath, becoming a great army. This vision is interpreted as a metaphor for the restoration of Israel after a period of exile and spiritual death.
"He used to verify Ezekiel": This is where the interpretation becomes more nuanced. In the context of 4 Maccabees, it suggests that the actions and beliefs of the Jewish martyrs serve to validate or confirm the truth of Ezekiel's prophecy.
Martyrdom and Resurrection: 4 Maccabees emphasizes the piety, courage, and ultimate reward of those who suffer and die for their faith. By enduring torture and death rather than renounce their beliefs, they demonstrate the power of faith and the promise of future resurrection or vindication.
Confirming Ezekiel's Vision: The martyrs' willingness to give their lives is seen as a powerful act of faith, mirroring the seemingly impossible revitalization of the dry bones in Ezekiel's vision. The author of 4 Maccabees is implying that just as God could bring life to dry bones, so too can He bring life or reward to those who die for Him. In a sense, their deaths are not the end, but a prelude to a future resurrection or reward.
In summary, the verse in 4 Maccabees connects the suffering and martyrdom of the Jewish figures with Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones. It implies that their deaths, though seemingly final, are a testament to their faith and a confirmation of the hope for future restoration and resurrection, just as God restored life to the dry bones in Ezekiel's prophecy.
The verse is essentially saying: "This person's actions (likely their martyrdom) proved that the idea expressed by Ezekiel - that even something seemingly dead and hopeless can be brought back to life - is true and possible."
The verse "He used to verify Ezekiel, who said, Shall these dry bones live?" from 4 Maccabees 18:17 is referring to a specific event in the Book of Ezekiel and drawing a parallel to the martyrdom of the Jewish figures described in 4 Maccabees. Let's break it down:
Ezekiel: This refers to the Prophet Ezekiel from the Hebrew Bible.
"Shall these dry bones live?" This alludes to the famous vision in Ezekiel 37:1-14, where Ezekiel sees a valley full of dry bones. God asks him if these bones can live. Ezekiel prophesies to the bones, and they come together, flesh grows on them, and they are filled with breath, becoming a great army. This vision is interpreted as a metaphor for the restoration of Israel after a period of exile and spiritual death.
"He used to verify Ezekiel": This is where the interpretation becomes more nuanced. In the context of 4 Maccabees, it suggests that the actions and beliefs of the Jewish martyrs serve to validate or confirm the truth of Ezekiel's prophecy.
Martyrdom and Resurrection: 4 Maccabees emphasizes the piety, courage, and ultimate reward of those who suffer and die for their faith. By enduring torture and death rather than renounce their beliefs, they demonstrate the power of faith and the promise of future resurrection or vindication.
Confirming Ezekiel's Vision: The martyrs' willingness to give their lives is seen as a powerful act of faith, mirroring the seemingly impossible revitalization of the dry bones in Ezekiel's vision. The author of 4 Maccabees is implying that just as God could bring life to dry bones, so too can He bring life or reward to those who die for Him. In a sense, their deaths are not the end, but a prelude to a future resurrection or reward.
In summary, the verse in 4 Maccabees connects the suffering and martyrdom of the Jewish figures with Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones. It implies that their deaths, though seemingly final, are a testament to their faith and a confirmation of the hope for future restoration and resurrection, just as God restored life to the dry bones in Ezekiel's prophecy.
The verse is essentially saying: "This person's actions (likely their martyrdom) proved that the idea expressed by Ezekiel - that even something seemingly dead and hopeless can be brought back to life - is true and possible."