Ezekiel 37:10 - 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.
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What does "Ezekiel 37:10" mean?
Ezekiel 37:10, "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," is a pivotal verse in the broader vision of the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context.
Context: The Valley of Dry Bones
The chapter begins with Ezekiel being taken by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with dry bones. God asks him, "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel, showing humility, responds that only God knows. God then commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, telling them that God will bring breath into them and they will live. The bones come together, sinews, flesh, and skin appear, but there's no breath in them (verses 1-8). Then God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the wind (the breath, or ruach in Hebrew), to breathe upon them so that they might live. This verse, Ezekiel 37:10, describes the result of that second act of prophecy.
Meaning of Ezekiel 37:10
"So I prophesied as he commanded me...": Ezekiel obeys God's instructions without question. This emphasizes the importance of obedience and faith in God's word, even when it seems impossible. He trusted God's power to do the impossible.
"...and the breath came into them...": The "breath" (Hebrew: ruach) signifies life, spirit, and the power of God. This is the crucial element that transforms the lifeless bodies into living beings. This ruach is often associated with the Holy Spirit, God's life-giving presence. This emphasizes that life and restoration come only from God.
"...and they lived...": This is the central point. The bones, which were dead and dry, now have life. This is a clear demonstration of God's power to resurrect and restore what seems utterly lost.
"...and stood up on their feet...": This implies a resurrection not only to life but also to strength, purpose, and action. They are not just alive, they are able to stand and act.
"...an exceedingly great army.": This transformation wasn't just a resuscitation of a few individuals; it was the creation of a massive, powerful army. This signifies a complete and overwhelming restoration of strength and power.
Interpretation and Significance
The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones and Ezekiel 37:10, in particular, has several layers of interpretation:
1. National Restoration of Israel: The primary interpretation, within the context of Ezekiel, refers to the restoration of the nation of Israel after the Babylonian exile. The bones represent the people of Israel, scattered and seemingly without hope, their national identity crushed. God promises to gather them from the nations, bring them back to their land, and restore their national life. The "exceedingly great army" represents a restored and powerful nation of Israel.
2. Spiritual Resurrection: Beyond the historical context, the vision has often been interpreted as an allegory for spiritual resurrection and renewal.
The "dry bones" can represent spiritually dead individuals or communities, those who are separated from God and lack spiritual life.
The "breath" represents the Holy Spirit who gives new life and regenerates the soul.
The "standing up" represents spiritual awakening, a new commitment to God, and the ability to live a life of purpose and service.
3. Hope and Renewal: The vision offers a message of hope and renewal in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It illustrates that even in the most desolate circumstances, God has the power to bring life, restoration, and a future.
4. Power of God's Word: The verse highlights the power of God's word, spoken in faith, to bring about miraculous change. Ezekiel's prophecy was instrumental in bringing about the resurrection of the bones. This underscores the importance of listening to God's word and speaking it forth in faith.
In summary, Ezekiel 37:10 is a powerful verse that describes a miraculous event, the resurrection of dry bones into a mighty army. It signifies the restorative power of God, his ability to bring life from death, and to fulfill his promises to his people. It's a message of hope, renewal, and the transformative power of God's word and Spirit.
Ezekiel 37:10 - 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.
What does "Ezekiel 37:10" mean?
Ezekiel 37:10, "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," is a pivotal verse in the broader vision of the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context.
Context: The Valley of Dry Bones
The chapter begins with Ezekiel being taken by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with dry bones. God asks him, "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel, showing humility, responds that only God knows. God then commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, telling them that God will bring breath into them and they will live. The bones come together, sinews, flesh, and skin appear, but there's no breath in them (verses 1-8). Then God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the wind (the breath, or ruach in Hebrew), to breathe upon them so that they might live. This verse, Ezekiel 37:10, describes the result of that second act of prophecy.
Meaning of Ezekiel 37:10
"So I prophesied as he commanded me...": Ezekiel obeys God's instructions without question. This emphasizes the importance of obedience and faith in God's word, even when it seems impossible. He trusted God's power to do the impossible.
"...and the breath came into them...": The "breath" (Hebrew: ruach) signifies life, spirit, and the power of God. This is the crucial element that transforms the lifeless bodies into living beings. This ruach is often associated with the Holy Spirit, God's life-giving presence. This emphasizes that life and restoration come only from God.
"...and they lived...": This is the central point. The bones, which were dead and dry, now have life. This is a clear demonstration of God's power to resurrect and restore what seems utterly lost.
"...and stood up on their feet...": This implies a resurrection not only to life but also to strength, purpose, and action. They are not just alive, they are able to stand and act.
"...an exceedingly great army.": This transformation wasn't just a resuscitation of a few individuals; it was the creation of a massive, powerful army. This signifies a complete and overwhelming restoration of strength and power.
Interpretation and Significance
The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones and Ezekiel 37:10, in particular, has several layers of interpretation:
1. National Restoration of Israel: The primary interpretation, within the context of Ezekiel, refers to the restoration of the nation of Israel after the Babylonian exile. The bones represent the people of Israel, scattered and seemingly without hope, their national identity crushed. God promises to gather them from the nations, bring them back to their land, and restore their national life. The "exceedingly great army" represents a restored and powerful nation of Israel.
2. Spiritual Resurrection: Beyond the historical context, the vision has often been interpreted as an allegory for spiritual resurrection and renewal.
The "dry bones" can represent spiritually dead individuals or communities, those who are separated from God and lack spiritual life.
The "breath" represents the Holy Spirit who gives new life and regenerates the soul.
The "standing up" represents spiritual awakening, a new commitment to God, and the ability to live a life of purpose and service.
3. Hope and Renewal: The vision offers a message of hope and renewal in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It illustrates that even in the most desolate circumstances, God has the power to bring life, restoration, and a future.
4. Power of God's Word: The verse highlights the power of God's word, spoken in faith, to bring about miraculous change. Ezekiel's prophecy was instrumental in bringing about the resurrection of the bones. This underscores the importance of listening to God's word and speaking it forth in faith.
In summary, Ezekiel 37:10 is a powerful verse that describes a miraculous event, the resurrection of dry bones into a mighty army. It signifies the restorative power of God, his ability to bring life from death, and to fulfill his promises to his people. It's a message of hope, renewal, and the transformative power of God's word and Spirit.