King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 37:5 Mean?

Ezekiel 37:5 in the King James Version says “Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 37 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:”

Ezekiel 37:5 · KJV

Context

3

And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

4

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

5

Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

6

And 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.

7

So 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.

Read Ezekiel 37 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God's declaration 'I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live' reveals the source of resurrection life: divine initiative. The Hebrew ruach (breath/wind/spirit) appears 10 times in Ezekiel 37:1-14, creating a wordplay connecting physical breath, wind, and the Holy Spirit. This multivalent term echoes Genesis 2:7, where God breathed into Adam the breath of life, making him a living soul. The promise 'ye shall live' (chayitem) guarantees not merely resuscitation but full vitality and function. God speaks to the bones directly ('unto these bones'), demonstrating His sovereignty over death and His power to address hopeless situations. The phrase 'Thus saith the Lord GOD' (Adonai Yahweh) invokes the covenant name, emphasizing faithfulness to promises. This verse anticipates John 3:6-8 and Titus 3:5, where the Spirit regenerates spiritually dead sinners, imparting resurrection life through the new birth. Just as bones cannot self-animate, sinners cannot self-regenerate—life is God's gift through His Spirit.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy addressed the deepest fear of Ancient Near Eastern peoples: being unburied and scattered, thus denied proper afterlife. The valley of dry bones represented national annihilation—no descendants, no continuity, no hope. Yet God promised to reverse this ultimate curse. The prophecy has multiple layers: immediate return from Babylonian exile, future national restoration of Israel, and ultimately spiritual regeneration of God's people. Early Christian interpreters saw this as prefiguring resurrection of the dead at Christ's return (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The breath/Spirit gives life physically (Genesis 2:7), nationally (Ezekiel 37:14), and spiritually (John 3:5-8, Ephesians 2:1-5).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the connection between Genesis 2:7 and Ezekiel 37:5 reveal that the same God who creates life initially also recreates and restores life?
  2. In what ways does spiritual regeneration parallel the physical resurrection described here?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
כֹּ֤ה1 of 12
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַר֙2 of 12

“Thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י3 of 12

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִ֔ה4 of 12

“GOD”

H3069

god

לָעֲצָמ֖וֹת5 of 12

“unto these bones”

H6106

a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame

הָאֵ֑לֶּה6 of 12
H428

these or those

הִנֵּ֨ה7 of 12
H2009

lo!

אֲנִ֜י8 of 12
H589

i

מֵבִ֥יא9 of 12

“to enter”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בָכֶ֛ם10 of 12
H0
ר֖וּחַ11 of 12

“Behold I will cause breath”

H7307

wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the

וִחְיִיתֶֽם׃12 of 12

“into you and ye shall live”

H2421

to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 37:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 37:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 104:29-30Genesis 2:7Ezekiel 37:14Ezekiel 37:9-10John 20:22Ephesians 2:5

Test Your Knowledge

Ezekiel 37 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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