Ezekiel 37:11 - 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.’

Generated Verse: Ezekiel 37:11

What does "Ezekiel 37:11" mean?


Ezekiel 37:11 is a powerful and poignant verse within the larger context of the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. It reveals the interpretation of the vision:

"Then he said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.'" This is the key to understanding the vision. The dry, scattered bones don't represent literal dead people in the past. They are a metaphor for the entire nation of Israel in its current state of despair and spiritual death. They are symbolic of Israel's spiritual and national condition at the time.

"Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost.'" This is the voice of Israel itself. It expresses their feelings of utter hopelessness.
"Our bones are dried up": This speaks of extreme weakness, decay, and a loss of vitality. Bones provide structure and strength to the body. Dried-up bones indicate that Israel's national structure, its social fabric, and its faith have withered. They have been in exile for so long that they feel like they are decaying and losing any strength or vitality.
"Our hope is lost": This is the core of their despair. They believe that all possibility of restoration, revival, or a future is gone. They've lost faith in God's promises and in their ability to rebuild their nation. The exile and hardship had crushed their spirits.
"We are completely cut off.'" This feeling of isolation and abandonment is profound. They feel separated from God, from their land, and from any meaningful connection to their heritage. They feel like they are discarded.

In summary, Ezekiel 37:11 reveals that the vision of the dry bones is a powerful metaphor for the spiritual and national state of Israel during their exile. They feel hopeless, weak, and completely disconnected from their past and their God. This verse sets the stage for the promise of restoration that follows in the rest of the chapter, demonstrating God's power to bring life even in the face of utter hopelessness.

The verse highlights the depth of Israel's despair so that the subsequent promise of resurrection and restoration will have even greater impact. It underscores that the hope of revival is not dependent on Israel's own strength or merit, but solely on God's power and faithfulness.