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Ezekiel 37:2

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 37:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
Ezekiel 37:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 37

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of Jehovah, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
2And he caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, thou knowest.
4Again he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah.
5Thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.
← Ezekiel 37:1Ezekiel 37:3 →
← Full Chapter 37 Ezekiel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And caused me to pass by them round about, &c.] Round, roundf614; several times round, that he might take exact notice of them, of their number, situation, and condition: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; as the Jews were in captivity; and as they will be when they shall be converted; and as the number of Christians will be in the spiritual reign of Christ; and as the dead will be at the time of their resurrection, both of the just and unjust: and, lo, they were very dry; through length of time they had lain there, exposed to wind and weather; the flesh being wholly consumed from off of them, and the marrow within quite dried up; so that there was no probability or hope,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“dry--bleached by long exposure to the atmosphere.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“37:2 This death scene seemed hopeless; these were not recently expired corpses but miscellaneous bones, scattered everywhere across the ground and . . . completely dried out. This scene symbolized the attitude of the people. Their hopes for themselves were not merely dead; they were dismembered and desiccated.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“valley: or, champaign, Deu 11:30 they were: Eze 37:11; Psa 141:7 Ezekiel 37:3”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 37 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification