Ezekiel 37:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Jerusalem was left in ruins, brought down to its foundations, with its very essence all but vanished. As our forebears returned from exile, they faced the despair of restoration, lamenting, ‘Our bones are dried up, we are dying, we are perishing, we are all perishing’ (cf. Num. 17:12). They lacked any hope of reviving it, not merely to restore it to its former state, but to transform it into something far superior, more beautiful, more glorious, greater, richer, and stronger. Yet, eventually, they did reclaim it—not as they had once known it, but vastly improved, adorned with splendor, grandeur, and fortified in its wealth and influence, flourishing in both structures and commerce. The prophet proclaimed, “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former” (Haggai 2:9).

The subsequent statement is perplexing: And He said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. This does not pertain to the general resurrection but rather addresses the resurrection of Israel, which expresses a sense of desolation, proclaiming, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off from our land, feeling utterly hopeless.

This, O Prophet, serves as a representation of Israel. Despite their current state of hopelessness, this image demonstrates that there remains the possibility of receiving divine favor.

Reflect on Ezekiel's vision of the valley filled with dry bones. Recall how, as he prophesied, the bones came together, they were clothed with tendons, flesh, and skin, yet the breath had not yet entered them. The Prophet was instructed to proclaim the breath, and as he did, life was infused into them. This valley of bones symbolizes humanity in its fallen state, estranged from God and devoid of life within themselves, lacking the Spirit, as stated by the Apostle.

This passage initiates the interpretation of the visionary symbolism presented earlier. The Lord articulates it in this manner: ‘These bones are the whole house of Israel,’ meaning that the dry bones observed symbolize the condition of the nation of Israel—the Jews along with the ten tribes dispersed by the Assyrians throughout various lands. The circumstances for both groups are profoundly tragic. The Israelites lament, "Our bones are dry," signifying their deprivation of political vitality and state autonomy; they have ceased to exist as a distinct and independent nation. "Our hope is gone," they declare, indicating that the prospect of restoring their national life is bleak; they feel destined to perpetual subjugation under foreign powers, be it Babylonian or Assyrian.