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Ezekiel 37:10

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

Ezekiel 37:10 · King James Version

Meaning

This verse comes from the book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament. In this passage, the prophet Ezekiel is given a vision by God in which he sees a valley full of dry bones. God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and as he does, the bones come together, are covered with sinews, flesh, and skin, but they are lifeless. Then God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, and as he does, breath enters the bodies, and they come to life, standing up as a vast army. This vision of the dry bones being brought back to life symbolizes the restoration of the nation of Israel. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to bring life and hope to the hopeless and to bring power and strength to those who feel weak and defeated. This passage is a testament to the life-giving power of God and His ability to bring about new life and transformation even in the midst of death and despair.

Theological Overview

One theological interpretation of this verse from Ezekiel 37:10 focuses on the power of God to bring life to even the most hopeless situations. The prophet Ezekiel's obedience to God's command to prophesy over the dry bones symbolizes the importance of aligning oneself with God's will in order to witness His miraculous works. The imagery of the breath entering the lifeless bodies, bringing them back to life, emphasizes the life-giving power of God's spirit. This passage can serve as a reminder to believers that no situation is beyond God's ability to restore and revive. The transformation of the lifeless bones into an "exceeding great army" also speaks to God's ability to turn weakness into strength, and to use the most unlikely of sources to accomplish His purposes.

Ezekiel 37:10 in other translations

American Standard Version

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

World English Bible

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.

Douay-Rheims

And I prophesied as he had commanded me: and the spirit came into them, and they lived: and they stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

Geneva Bible (1599)

So I prophecied as hee had commanded me: and the breath came into them, and they liued, and stood vp vpon their feete, an exceeding great armie.