The Meaning of Ezekiel 37:4 Explained

Ezekiel 37:4

KJV: Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

YLT: And He saith unto me, 'Prophesy concerning these bones, and thou hast said unto them: O dry bones, hear a word of Jehovah:

Darby: And he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, Ye dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah.

ASV: Again he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Again he said  unto me, Prophesy  upon these bones,  and say  unto them, O ye dry  bones,  hear  the word  of the LORD. 

What does Ezekiel 37:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezekiel 37:1-14 - The Resurrection Of A Dead Nation
A marvelous chapter-the vision is so graphic. Time does not rob it of its significance. Indeed every sign points to speedy fulfillment. The Jewish nation has long resembled those dry and bleaching bones; and the state of sinners generally may truly be described in the same terms. The condition of many souls and neighborhoods is comparable to the harrowing scenes of a recent battlefield. We may preach so as to effect an outward revolution, but there can be no life until the divine breath passes over them. We must preach the Word, instant in season and out; but we must also call on the Spirit of Life. Those that are in their graves must hear the voice of the Son of God. The promises of Ezekiel 37:13-14 await literal fulfillment in the case of the Jews, but let us plead that they may be also realized in our own congregations and neighborhoods. Revival will assuredly end in unity. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 37

1  By the resurrection of dry bones
11  the dead hope of Israel is revived
15  By the uniting of two sticks
18  is shown the incorporation of Israel into Judah
21  The promises of Christ's kingdom

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 37:4 mean?

And Again He said to me Prophesy to bones these and say to them bones dry hear the word of Yahweh
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י הִנָּבֵ֖א עַל־ הָעֲצָמ֣וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם הָעֲצָמוֹת֙ הַיְבֵשׁ֔וֹת שִׁמְע֖וּ דְּבַר־ יְהוָֽה

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  And  Again  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלַ֔י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הִנָּבֵ֖א  Prophesy 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: נָבָא  
Sense: to prophesy.
הָעֲצָמ֣וֹת  bones 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עֶצֶם 
Sense: bone, essence, substance.
הָאֵ֑לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣  and  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הָעֲצָמוֹת֙  bones 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עֶצֶם 
Sense: bone, essence, substance.
הַיְבֵשׁ֔וֹת  dry 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine plural
Root: יָבֵשׁ  
Sense: dry.
שִׁמְע֖וּ  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
דְּבַר־  the  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.