Ezekiel 37:1

¶ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which [was] full of bones,

The hand {H3027} of the LORD {H3068} was upon me, and carried me out {H3318} in the spirit {H7307} of the LORD {H3068}, and set me down {H5117} in the midst {H8432} of the valley {H1237} which was full {H4392} of bones {H6106},

With the hand of ADONAI upon me, ADONAI carried me out by his Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones.

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones.

The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of Jehovah, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.

Commentary

Context of Ezekiel 37:1

The prophet Ezekiel ministered during the tumultuous period of the Babylonian exile, when many Israelites felt that God had abandoned them and that their nation was irrevocably lost. This verse, Ezekiel 37:1, opens one of the most iconic and powerful visions in the Old Testament: the vision of the valley of dry bones. It serves as a dramatic introduction to God's message of hope and restoration for a people who had lost all hope, feeling like their national and spiritual life was utterly dead.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Initiative: The phrase "The hand of the LORD was upon me" signifies God's direct, powerful, and sovereign intervention in Ezekiel's life and ministry. It highlights that this vision was not a product of Ezekiel's imagination but a divine revelation, initiated entirely by God. This emphasizes God's active involvement even in times of national despair.
  • Supernatural Transportation: Ezekiel was "carried me out in the spirit of the LORD." This indicates a spiritual, not necessarily physical, transportation, where the prophet's spirit was moved by God's Spirit to perceive a divine reality. This method of prophetic revelation is seen elsewhere, demonstrating God's ability to reveal profound truths beyond ordinary human experience.
  • Profound Despair: The setting, "the midst of the valley which [was] full of bones," immediately establishes a scene of utter desolation and death. These bones symbolize the spiritual and national condition of Israel during the exile—lifeless, scattered, and without hope. This grim imagery sets the stage for the miraculous transformation that follows in the rest of the chapter.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "The hand of the LORD" (Hebrew: yad Yahweh) is a common biblical idiom signifying God's power, authority, and direct influence or action upon a person or situation. It suggests an irresistible divine force at work, often associated with prophetic inspiration or empowerment, as seen in Ezekiel 3:14. Similarly, "the spirit of the LORD" (Hebrew: ruach Yahweh) refers to God's Holy Spirit, the divine breath or wind, which empowers prophets and enables them to receive and deliver God's messages. This divine Spirit is the agent of Ezekiel's supernatural experience and the subsequent miracle.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 37:1 reminds us that even in our deepest valleys of despair, when situations seem utterly hopeless and lifeless, God's "hand" and "Spirit" are fully capable of intervening. This verse speaks to the power of God to initiate revival and restoration, not just for nations but also for individuals facing spiritual dryness, emotional desolation, or overwhelming circumstances. It encourages us to recognize that where human strength ends, divine power begins, and that God often begins His greatest works in the most desperate of places. The vision that unfolds from this verse offers a powerful message of resurrection and renewal.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 3:22

    ¶ And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

  • Ezekiel 33:22

    Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.

  • Acts 8:39

    And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

  • Ezekiel 1:3

    The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

  • Luke 4:1

    ¶ And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

  • Ezekiel 8:3

    And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

  • Jeremiah 7:32

    Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.