Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryEzekiel 37

The Vision of the Dry BonesThis section describes a powerful vision God gave to Ezekiel. The vision is meant to bring hope to the Israelites who were in captivity. It uses the image of dry bones coming back to life to show that God can restore people even when all seems lost. The vision teaches about God’s power to give life, not just physically, but spiritually too. It also points to future hope: both for Israel’s return from exile and for all who trust in God’s promises.v. 1: Ezekiel is carried by the Spirit of the Lord

v. 2: God has Ezekiel walk around and look closely at the bones. There are a huge number of them, and they have been dead a long time. The dryness shows how completely life has left them. The people of Israel feel just like these bones—scattered, lifeless, and without hope .

v. 3: God asks Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel answers, “Lord

v. 4: God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones and say, “O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord

v. 5-6: God promises the bones, “I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you, make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am the Lord

v. 7: Ezekiel obeys and prophesies as God commands. As he speaks, there is a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones come together, bone to bone. This is the beginning of God’s restoring work in his people .

v. 8: As Ezekiel watches, tendons and flesh appear on the bones, and skin covers them, but there is still no breath in them. They look like people, but they are not alive yet. This shows that even when things start to improve, true life only comes from God’s Spirit .

v. 9: God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath and say, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.” Ezekiel does as God says, showing the importance of both speaking God’s word and praying for his Spirit .

v. 10: When Ezekiel prophesies, breath enters the bodies, and they come to life and stand on their feet—a vast army. This shows the power of God’s Spirit to bring complete restoration and strength .

v. 11: God explains the vision: “These bones are the whole house of Israel.” The people say, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.” This shows how hopeless the Israelites feel in exile .

v. 12-13: God tells Ezekiel to prophesy again: “I will open your graves and bring you up from them, my people; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord

v. 14: God says, “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord

Cheering PromisesThis section contains wonderful promises from God about the future of Israel. God promises to bring the people back to their land and unite them as one nation. These promises also look forward to the time of the Messiah and the blessings of the gospel. God will heal old divisions, remove sin, and live among his people forever.v. 15-17: God tells Ezekiel to take two sticks. On one stick, he must write, “For Judah,” and on the other, “For Joseph.” These sticks represent the two kingdoms of Israel that had been divided for a long time. Ezekiel is to join the sticks together in his hand so they become one stick. This is a sign that God will unite the people again (Ezekiel 37:16-17 ).

v. 18-19: When the people see Ezekiel do this, they ask what it means. God tells Ezekiel to explain that he will take the tribes of Israel and make them one nation in his hand. God’s power will unite them, and they will not be divided anymore (Ezekiel 37:18-19 ).

v. 20-22: God says he will gather his people from all the nations where they have been scattered. He will bring them back to their own land and make them one nation. There will be no more jealousy or fighting between them. They will live together in peace and unity (Ezekiel 37:21-22 ).

v. 23: God promises that the people will no longer make themselves unclean with idols or other sins. He will save them from all the places where they sinned and will cleanse them. They will be his people, and he will be their God .

v. 24: God says, “My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd.” This points to Jesus Christ, the promised King and Shepherd. The people will follow God’s laws and obey his commands .

v. 25-26: God promises that his people will live in the land he gave to Jacob, their ancestor. They and their children will live there forever. God will make a covenant of peace with them, and he will bless and multiply them. This covenant will last forever (Ezekiel 37:25-26 ).

v. 27: God says, “My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.” God will live among his people and have a close relationship with them .

v. 28: When God’s sanctuary is among his people forever, the nations will know that the Lord