Ezekiel 37:12

Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

Therefore prophesy {H5012} and say {H559} unto them, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Behold, O my people {H5971}, I will open {H6605} your graves {H6913}, and cause you to come up {H5927} out of your graves {H6913}, and bring {H935} you into the land {H127} of Israel {H3478}.

Therefore prophesy; say to them that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'My people! I will open your graves and make you get up out of your graves, and I will bring you into the land of Isra'el.

Therefore prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O My people, I will open your graves and bring you up from them, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

Therefore prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.

Commentary

Ezekiel 37:12 (KJV) is a powerful declaration of God's promise to restore the nation of Israel, following the vivid vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. This verse encapsulates the Lord's unwavering commitment to His people, promising to bring them out of their seemingly hopeless state of exile and back to their own land.

Context

This verse comes immediately after the dramatic vision in Ezekiel 37:1-11, where the prophet Ezekiel is shown a valley full of dry bones, representing the "whole house of Israel" (Ezekiel 37:11) in their desolate state of despair and spiritual death during the Babylonian exile. They felt cut off from God and their land, like bones scattered and dead. Verse 12 transitions from the symbolic vision to a direct prophetic word, explaining the meaning and the Lord's intended action: to "open your graves" and "bring you into the land of Israel."

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Power: God's ability to bring life out of death and hope out of despair is vividly portrayed. Just as He can cause dry bones to live, He can restore a nation that seems utterly lost. This highlights God's omnipotent power over circumstances.
  • National Restoration of Israel: The primary message is the physical and spiritual re-gathering of the Jewish people from their dispersion and their return to the promised land. This promise of restoration for Israel is a recurring theme in prophetic literature.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: Despite Israel's disobedience, God remains faithful to His covenant promises made to Abraham regarding the land (Genesis 12:7) and His people. His actions are rooted in His character, not solely in their merit.
  • Hope Beyond Despair: For a people in exile, feeling like they were in "graves," this prophecy offered immense hope. It affirmed that their situation was not irreversible and that God had a plan for their future, promising life and return.

Linguistic Insights

The term "graves" (Hebrew: q'varim) here is a powerful metaphor. It doesn't primarily refer to literal burial sites, but rather to the deep despair, hopelessness, and spiritual death that the exiled Israelites felt. They considered themselves as good as dead, cut off from their national identity and their God-given heritage. God's promise to "open your graves" signifies His act of liberating them from this state of national desolation and bringing them back to life as a nation.

The phrase "O my people" (Hebrew: ammi) underscores God's continued intimate relationship with Israel, despite their suffering and their past failures. It emphasizes that they are still His cherished possession, and His redemptive plan for them is active.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 37:12 offers profound encouragement for believers today:

  1. Hope in Despair: When facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, personal or collective, this verse reminds us that God has the power to bring life out of death. No situation is too "dead" for His intervention.
  2. God's Faithfulness: It reinforces the truth that God is faithful to His promises, even when circumstances seem to contradict them or when our own faith falters. His plans for redemption and restoration will prevail.
  3. Spiritual Resurrection: While the primary context is national, the imagery also speaks to individual spiritual revival. God can bring us out of spiritual "graves" of sin, apathy, or hopelessness, leading us into new life in Him (Ephesians 2:5).
  4. Divine Purpose: Just as God had a purpose for Israel's return to their land, He has a purpose for every individual life He restores. We are brought forth not just to exist, but to live in the "land" of His will and purpose for us.
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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

  • Isaiah 26:19 (9 votes)

    Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

  • Hosea 13:14 (8 votes)

    I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (6 votes)

    For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

  • Isaiah 66:14 (5 votes)

    And when ye see [this], your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and [his] indignation toward his enemies.

  • Amos 9:14 (5 votes)

    And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

  • Amos 9:15 (5 votes)

    And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

  • Ezekiel 36:24 (4 votes)

    For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.