CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 37:3 Then He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones come to life?" "O Lord GOD," I replied, "only You know."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/37-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/26_Ezk_37_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 37:3 - The Valley of Dry Bones" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then He asked me, Son of man, can these bones come to life? O Lord GOD, I replied, only You know." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ezekiel/37-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ezekiel/37-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ezekiel/">Ezekiel</a> > <a href="/ezekiel/37.htm">Chapter 37</a> > Verse 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ezekiel/37-2.htm" title="Ezekiel 37:2">◄</a> Ezekiel 37:3 <a href="/ezekiel/37-4.htm" title="Ezekiel 37:4">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/37.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ezekiel/37.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He asked me, &#8220Son of man, can these bones live?&#8221 I said, &#8220Sovereign LORD, you alone know.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/37.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign LORD,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/37.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/37.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/37.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/37.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/37.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “Lord GOD, You Yourself know.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/37.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He said to me, &#8220Son of man, can these bones live?&#8221 And I answered, &#8220O Lord GOD, You know.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/37.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, Thou knowest.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/37.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord Yahweh, You know.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/37.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/37.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live? ” I replied, “Lord GOD, only you know.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/37.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then He said to me, &#8220Son of man, can these bones live?&#8221 I replied, &#8220Lord GOD, only You know.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/37.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, thou knowest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/37.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />He said, "Ezekiel, son of man, can these bones come back to life?" I replied, "LORD God, only you can answer that." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/37.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/37.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then he asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I answered, "Only you know, Almighty LORD."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/37.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He said to me, "Mortal man, can these bones come back to life?" I replied, "Sovereign LORD, only you can answer that!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/37.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The LORD asked me, "Son of Man, will these bones ever live?" "Lord GOD," I replied, "you know the answer to that!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/37.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then He asked me, ?Son of man, can these bones come to life?? ?O Lord GOD,? I replied, ?only You know.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/37.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said to him, "Sovereign Lord, you know."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/37.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I answered, "Lord GOD, you know."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/37.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? and I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/37.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord Yahweh, you know.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/37.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And He says to me, “Son of man, do these bones live?” And I say, “O Lord YHWH, You have known.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/37.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And He saith unto me, 'Son of man, do these bones live?' And I say, 'O Lord Jehovah, Thou -- Thou hast known.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/37.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say to me, Son of man, shall these bones live? And saying, Thou Lord Jehovah knoweth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/37.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he said to me: Son of man, dost thou think these bones shall live? And I answered: O Lord God, thou knowest. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/37.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he said to me, “Son of man, do you think that these bones will live?” And I said, “O Lord God, you know.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/37.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He asked me: Son of man, can these bones come back to life? “Lord GOD,” I answered, “you alone know that.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/37.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/37.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O LORD God, thou knowest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/37.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he said to me: “Son of man, are these bones living?” And I said, “You know, LORD OF LORDS!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/37.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And He said unto me: 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered: 'O Lord GOD, Thou knowest.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/37.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he said to me, Son of man, will these bones live? and I said, O Lord God, thou knowest this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=10941" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/37.htm">The Valley of Dry Bones</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>He led me all around among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, and indeed, they were very dry. <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">Then He asked</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lay (Prep:: 1cs) -- To, into, towards. ">me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ben- (N-msc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">“Son</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: ’ā·ḏām (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">of man,</a> <a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: hā·’êl·leh (Art:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those.">can these</a> <a href="/hebrew/6106.htm" title="6106: hā·‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ (Art:: N-fp) -- Bone, substance, self. From atsam; a bone; by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. Selfsame.">bones</a> <a href="/hebrew/2421.htm" title="2421: hă·ṯiḥ·ye·nāh (V-Qal-Imperf-3fp) -- To live, to revive. A primitive root; to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive.">come to life?”</a> <a href="/hebrew/136.htm" title="136: ’ă·ḏō·nāy (N-proper-ms) -- Lord. Am emphatic form of 'adown; the Lord.">“O Lord</a> <a href="/hebrew/3069.htm" title="3069: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- YHWH. A variation of Yhovah.">GOD,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wā·’ō·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">I replied,</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tāh (Pro-2ms) -- You (masc. sing.). ">“only You</a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yā·ḏā·‘ə·tā (V-Qal-Perf-2ms) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">know.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/32-27.htm">Jeremiah 32:27</a></span><br />“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Genesis 18:14</a></span><br />Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-37.htm">Luke 1:37</a></span><br />For no word from God will ever fail.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-26.htm">Matthew 19:26</a></span><br />Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-17.htm">Romans 4:17</a></span><br />As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/26-19.htm">Isaiah 26:19</a></span><br />Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/11-25.htm">John 11:25-26</a></span><br />Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-35.htm">1 Corinthians 15:35-38</a></span><br />But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” / You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. / And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/20-12.htm">Revelation 20:12-13</a></span><br />And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/43-19.htm">Isaiah 43:19</a></span><br />Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/14-14.htm">Job 14:14</a></span><br />When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/12-2.htm">Daniel 12:2</a></span><br />And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/5-21.htm">John 5:21</a></span><br />For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/5-28.htm">John 5:28-29</a></span><br />Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice / and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/26-8.htm">Acts 26:8</a></span><br />Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, you know.</p><p class="hdg">can</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/6-5.htm">John 6:5,6</a></b></br> When Jesus then lifted up <i>his</i> eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? … </p><p class="hdg">O Lord God</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/32-29.htm">Deuteronomy 32:29</a></b></br> O that they were wise, <i>that</i> they understood this, <i>that</i> they would consider their latter end!</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/2-6.htm">1 Samuel 2:6</a></b></br> The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/5-21.htm">John 5:21</a></b></br> For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth <i>them</i>; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/14-18.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/ezekiel/37-2.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-28.htm">Live</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-12.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-37.htm">Sovereign</a> <a href="/ezekiel/33-9.htm">Thou</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/40-46.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/ezekiel/37-4.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/ezekiel/37-5.htm">Live</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-5.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/ezekiel/37-5.htm">Sovereign</a> <a href="/ezekiel/38-9.htm">Thou</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 37</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/37-1.htm">By the resurrection of dry bones</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/37-11.htm">the dead hope of Israel is revived</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/37-15.htm">By the uniting of two sticks</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/37-18.htm">is shown the incorporation of Israel into Judah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/37-21.htm">The promises of Christ's kingdom</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/37.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezekiel/37.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then He asked me,</b><br>This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to the prophet Ezekiel. In the context of <a href="/ezekiel/37.htm">Ezekiel 37</a>, God is speaking to Ezekiel in a vision. This vision is set in a valley full of dry bones, symbolizing the spiritual and national death of Israel. The direct address highlights the personal relationship between God and His prophets, a common theme throughout the Old Testament.<p><b>“Son of man,</b><br>The term "son of man" is used frequently in the book of Ezekiel, appearing over 90 times. It emphasizes Ezekiel's humanity and his role as a representative of the people. This title is also significant in the New Testament, where Jesus often refers to Himself as the "Son of Man," linking His mission to the prophetic traditions of the Old Testament.<p><b>can these bones come to life?”</b><br>This question challenges Ezekiel's faith and understanding of God's power. The bones represent the house of Israel, which was in exile and seemingly beyond hope. The question underscores the theme of resurrection and restoration, which is central to the chapter. It also foreshadows the New Testament teachings on resurrection and eternal life, as seen in passages like <a href="/john/11-25.htm">John 11:25-26</a>.<p><b>“O Lord GOD,” I replied,</b><br>Ezekiel's response begins with a recognition of God's sovereignty. The use of "Lord GOD" (Adonai Yahweh) reflects a deep reverence and acknowledgment of God's ultimate authority and power. This title is used throughout the Old Testament to denote God's covenant relationship with Israel and His supreme rule over all creation.<p><b>“only You know.”</b><br>Ezekiel's answer demonstrates humility and trust in God's wisdom and power. By acknowledging that only God knows the answer, Ezekiel expresses faith in God's ability to bring life from death. This mirrors other biblical instances where human understanding is limited, but God's knowledge and power are infinite, such as in <a href="/job/38.htm">Job 38-41</a>. It also points to the mystery of God's plans, which are often beyond human comprehension but are ultimately for the good of His people, as seen in <a href="/romans/8-28.htm">Romans 8:28</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a></b><br>A prophet of God, Ezekiel is the son of Buzi and a priest. He is called by God to prophesy to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_valley_of_dry_bones.htm">The Valley of Dry Bones</a></b><br>This is the setting of Ezekiel's vision, a symbolic representation of the spiritual and national state of Israel at the time—lifeless and in need of revival.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The sovereign God who speaks to Ezekiel, asking him if the dry bones can live, highlighting God's omnipotence and sovereignty over life and death.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_omniscience.htm">God's Sovereignty and Omniscience</a></b><br>God alone knows the potential for life in what seems dead. Trust in His wisdom and timing, even when situations appear hopeless.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_power.htm">Faith in God's Power</a></b><br>Like Ezekiel, we must acknowledge that only God has the power to bring life and restoration. Our faith should rest in His ability to transform and renew.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_revival.htm">Spiritual Revival</a></b><br>The vision of the dry bones serves as a metaphor for spiritual revival. Seek God for personal and communal renewal, trusting that He can breathe new life into our spiritual dryness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_restoration.htm">Hope in Restoration</a></b><br>This passage offers hope for restoration, not just for Israel but for all believers. God can restore what is broken and bring life to what seems beyond repair.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_37.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 37</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_four_winds_in_the_bible.htm">What are the Four Winds in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_these_dry_bones_live_again.htm">Can these dry bones live again?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_being_spiritually_dead.htm">What defines being spiritually dead?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_science_view_ezekiel_37_1-10.htm">How can Ezekiel 37:1-10's description of literal bone reassembly and resurrection be reconciled with modern science, which sees no plausible way for decayed remains to be revived?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/37.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">Can these bones live?</span>--The question is put to the prophet in order to emphasise the human impossibility of that which is immediately brought about by the Divine omnipotence. (Comp. <a href="/context/matthew/9-5.htm" title="For whether is easier, to say, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and walk?">Matthew 9:5-6</a>.) It was precisely this teaching which the people needed. As they had formerly refused to believe his announcements of impending judgment, so now that this had come, they were utterly incredulous in regard to his declarations of future blessing. It seemed to them impossible, and what they needed to be taught was that "what is impossible with man is possible with God."<p><span class= "bld">Thou knowest.</span>--The prophet sees the natural impossibility, yet perceives that there must be some deeper reason for the question, and therefore replies in these words. It may be, too, that the question thus asked, before its object is suggested, connected itself in his mind with the thought of the literal resurrection of the dead and the difficulties it suggests.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/37.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Son of man, can these bones live?</span> Whether or not this question was directed, as Plumptre surmises, to meet despairing thoughts which had arisen in the prophet's own mind, it seems reasonable to hold, with Havernick, that the question was addressed to him as representing "ever against God the people, and certainly as to this point the natural and purely human consciousness of the same," to which Israel's restoration appeared as unlikely an occurrence as the reanimation of the withered bones that lay around. The extreme improbability, if not absolute impossibility, of the occurrence, at least to human reason and power, is perhaps pointed at in the designation "Son of man" here given to the prophet. The prophet's answer, <span class="cmt_word">O Lord God, thou knowest</span>, is not to be interpreted as proving that to the prophet hitherto the thought of a resurrection had been unfamiliar, if not completely absent, or as giving a direct reply either affirmative or negative to the question proposed to him, but merely as expressing the prophet's sense of the greatness of the wonder suggested to his mind, with perhaps a latent acknowledgment that God alone had the power by which such a wonder could, and therefore alone also the knowledge whether it would, be accomplished (comp. <a href="/revelation/7-14.htm">Revelation 7:14</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then He asked</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">me,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלַ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Son</span><br /><span class="heb">בֶּן־</span> <span class="translit">(ben-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of man,</span><br /><span class="heb">אָדָ֕ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">can these</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֵ֑לֶּה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’êl·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_428.htm">Strong's 428: </a> </span><span class="str2">These, those</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bones</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעֲצָמ֣וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6106.htm">Strong's 6106: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame</span><br /><br /><span class="word">live?”</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲתִחְיֶ֖ינָה</span> <span class="translit">(hă·ṯiḥ·ye·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2421.htm">Strong's 2421: </a> </span><span class="str2">To live, to revive</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“O Lord</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲדֹנָ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḏō·nāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_136.htm">Strong's 136: </a> </span><span class="str2">The Lord</span><br /><br /><span class="word">GOD,”</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוִ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3069.htm">Strong's 3069: </a> </span><span class="str2">YHWH</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I replied,</span><br /><span class="heb">וָאֹמַ֕ר</span> <span class="translit">(wā·’ō·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“only You</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתָּ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">know.”</span><br /><span class="heb">יָדָֽעְתָּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḏā·‘ə·tā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/37-3.htm">Ezekiel 37:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/37-3.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 37:3 He said to me Son of man (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/37-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 37:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 37:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/37-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 37:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 37:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>