Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones
God shows Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones and commands him to prophesy. The bones come together, receive flesh, and live—a promise of Israel's restoration.
Ezekiel 37:1-14
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The Story
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?'
I said, 'Sovereign Lord, you alone know.'
Then he said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones and say to them, "Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord."'
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, 'Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live."'
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
Then he said to me: 'Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, "Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off." Therefore prophesy and say to them: "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 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 have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord."'
The Valley of Bones
Kids Version
Ezekiel was a prophet who lived far from home. God's people had been captured and taken to a foreign land. They were sad and hopeless.
One day, God's Spirit brought Ezekiel to a strange place—a valley filled with bones. Old, dry, dead bones. Everywhere he looked... bones, bones, bones.
God asked Ezekiel a surprising question: 'Son of man, can these bones live again?'
Ezekiel thought carefully. Those bones looked VERY dead. But he knew God could do anything!
'Lord, only YOU know,' Ezekiel answered.
God said, 'Speak to the bones! Tell them to hear My word!'
So Ezekiel spoke to the bones. He said, 'Dry bones, listen! God says He will put breath in you and make you LIVE!'
As Ezekiel spoke, something amazing happened.
RATTLE, RATTLE, RATTLE!
The bones started moving! They came together—leg bones connected to hip bones, arm bones connected to shoulder bones. Then muscles appeared on the bones. Then skin covered the muscles.
But the bodies weren't breathing yet.
God said, 'Now speak to the wind! Tell the breath to come!'
Ezekiel obeyed. And WHOOOOSH! Breath entered the bodies. They stood up—a huge army of living people!
God explained what this meant. 'My people Israel feel like dead bones. They say, "We have no hope." But tell them this: I will bring them back to life! I will put My Spirit in them! I will bring them home!'
This vision showed that God can bring life to ANYTHING—even dry, dead bones! No situation is too hopeless for God. He can bring life, hope, and new beginnings.
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Characters in This Story
Scripture — Ezekiel 37:1-14 (KJV)
1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. valley: or, champaign
3And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. wind: or, breath
10So 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.
11Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Memory Verse
“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,”
— Ezekiel 37:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones” in the Bible?
God shows Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones and commands him to prophesy. The bones come together, receive flesh, and live—a promise of Israel's restoration. This story is found in Ezekiel 37:1-14.
Where is “Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones” found in the Bible?
“Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones” is found in Ezekiel 37:1-14, in the book of Ezekiel.
What can children learn from “Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones”?
This story teaches children about Resurrection, Hope, God's power to restore, The Holy Spirit. God showed Ezekiel a valley full of dry, dead bones. 'Can these bones live?' God asked. Ezekiel said, 'Only You know!' Then God made the bones come back to life! It was a picture of how God can bring hope to hopeless situations.