The vision of dry bones in the Bible is a powerful image of hope and restoration. Today, we’ll uncover what this story teaches about God’s power to bring life to hopeless situations.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Unhappy Marriage
What Does The Bible Say About Dry Bones
Ezekiel 37:1-3
“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.’”
This passage describes the vision of Ezekiel, where God leads him to a valley filled with dry bones. The dryness of the bones represents hopelessness and the absence of life. When God asks Ezekiel if the bones can live, he acknowledges that only God has the power to bring life to what seems dead and impossible.
This verse teaches us that no matter how dry our situations may seem, God has the ability to breathe life into them. It reminds us to trust in God’s power and sovereignty, even when our circumstances appear hopeless, knowing that He can bring about restoration and renewal.
Ezekiel 37:4-5
“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.'”
In this verse, God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, speaking the word of the Lord to them. This emphasizes the power of God’s spoken word, which has the ability to bring life and transformation to the dead and lifeless.
It serves as a reminder that as believers, our words carry power when aligned with God’s will. We have the authority to speak life into seemingly dead situations, trusting that God will bring restoration and resurrection through His word.
Ezekiel 37:6
“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.”‘
This verse reveals God’s promise to Ezekiel that He will not only restore the bones to life but will also clothe them with flesh, skin, and breath. It signifies the complete transformation that God is capable of bringing about, turning what was once dead and dry into a living, breathing, and fully restored entity.
God’s promise in this verse teaches us that He is not only concerned with breathing life into our dead situations but also with bringing complete restoration and renewal. It reminds us that God’s power goes beyond mere recovery but extends to complete transformation and flourishing.
Ezekiel 37:7-8
“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.”
Following God’s command, Ezekiel prophesied, and a miraculous event took place. The bones came together, forming complete bodies with flesh and skin. However, they remained lifeless, lacking the breath of God.
This verse highlights the importance of the breath of God, which represents the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes that life is not merely about physical restoration but is dependent on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Without the breath of God, there can be no true life or vitality.
Ezekiel 37:9
“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.'”‘
In this verse, God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy directly to the breath, calling it from the four winds. This signifies that the source of life is in the hands of God, and through His command, the breath can come and bring life to the lifeless.
This verse teaches us the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit, who brings life and vitality. It reminds us that it is only by the power of God’s Spirit that we can experience true life and be revived from our spiritually dead and dry state.
Ezekiel 37:10
“So, I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army.”
This verse depicts the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecies. As he obeyed God’s command and prophesied to the breath, life entered the lifeless bodies, and they were brought back to life. The dry bones became a formidable army, demonstrating God’s power to revive and bring about a mighty transformation.
This verse serves as a reminder that when we align ourselves with God’s will and speak His word, He has the power to bring about life and create a powerful force for His kingdom. It encourages us to trust in God’s ability to turn dryness into vitality and transform us into a mighty instrument in His hands.
Isaiah 44:3
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”
In this verse, God promises to pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground. This imagery symbolizes divine refreshment and rejuvenation in the midst of barrenness and lack. God further promises to pour out His Spirit on the future generations of His people, extending His blessings to their descendants.
This verse reminds us that in our spiritual dryness and desolation, God is the source of living water that can quench our thirst and revive our souls. It encourages us to seek His Spirit, knowing that through Him, we can receive the blessings and empower the next generation with His presence.
Psalms 107:35
“He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs.”
In this psalm, the psalmist praises God for His ability to transform deserts into pools of water and parched ground into flowing springs. This poetic imagery depicts God’s power to bring life, abundance, and restoration to the most barren and dry places.
This verse reminds us that God is not limited by our circumstances or the state of dryness in our lives. He is the ultimate source of life and can turn even the most hopeless situations into abundant blessings. It encourages us to trust in His transformative power and to have faith that He can bring about a lush oasis in the midst of our spiritual deserts.
John 7:38-39
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
In this passage, Jesus refers to Himself as the source of living water, promising that those who believe in Him will not only receive living water but become channels through which rivers of living water flow. He clarifies that the living water represents the Holy Spirit, who believers will receive after Jesus’ glorification.
This verse emphasizes that as followers of Jesus, we have the privilege of being vessels of the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Spirit within us brings life, refreshment, and nourishment to our souls, and through us, it can overflow to bless others. It encourages us to cultivate a deep relationship with Jesus and allow His Spirit to flow through us, bringing spiritual vitality wherever we go.
Isaiah 43:19
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
This verse expresses God’s promise to do a new thing and make a way in the wilderness, bringing streams in the wasteland. It demonstrates God’s ability to bring life, growth, and transformation even in the most desolate and unpromising circumstances.
This verse reminds us that God is not bound by our circumstances or limited by our dryness. He specializes in making a way where there seems to be no way and breathing life into what appears dead. It encourages us to trust in His power and to have faith that He can turn our spiritual wastelands into places of fruitfulness and abundance.
Isaiah 35:6
“Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”
In this verse, the prophet Isaiah envisions a future restoration where the lame will leap with joy, and the mute will shout with praise. Furthermore, he describes water gushing forth in the wilderness and streams flowing through the desert, symbolizing the abundant provision and life-giving power of God.
This verse illustrates the transformative work of God in every aspect of our lives. It speaks of physical healing and restoration, as well as the spiritual renewal that comes from God’s presence. It encourages us to believe in God’s ability to bring forth joy, healing, and life, even in the most desolate and seemingly impossible situations.
Joel 2:25
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm —my great army that I sent among you.”
In this verse, God promises to restore and repay His people for the years of loss and devastation they have endured. He speaks of repaying the damage caused by locusts, symbolizing the various hardships, trials, and struggles they have faced.
This verse provides hope that no matter how long the season of dryness and loss has been, God is able and willing to bring restoration and redemption. It reminds us that God’s power transcends time and can reverse the effects of our past afflictions, replenishing what has been lost and renewing our lives.
Psalm 23:1-2
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.”
In this well-known psalm, the writer refers to the Lord as their shepherd, acknowledging that they lack nothing under His care. They express how the Lord provides lush green pastures for rest and leads them beside calm and peaceful waters.
This verse speaks of God’s provision and guidance in our lives, particularly in our periods of weariness and dryness. It assures us that God will lead us to places of refreshment and tranquility, where our weary souls can find rest and restoration.
Psalm 68:6
“God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”
In this verse, the psalmist acknowledges God’s ability to bring the lonely into a community, to set prisoners free with joyous songs. However, they also recognize that the rebellious choose to live in a sun-scorched land, a dry and barren place.
This verse illustrates the contrasting outcomes that result from our choices. When we surrender to God’s leading and follow His ways, He brings us into a place of life-giving community and freedom. However, when we rebel and go our own way, we find ourselves in spiritual desolation. It encourages us to seek God’s guidance and surrender to His leading, knowing that in His hands, we can find true life and connection.
Psalm 63:1
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”
In this psalm, the psalmist expresses their deep longing for God, comparing it to the thirst experienced in a dry and parched land where water is scarce. Their whole being yearns for God’s presence and fills with a desire to seek Him above all else.
This verse reflects the spiritual hunger and thirst that we should have for God. It reminds us that true satisfaction and fulfillment can only be found in Him, not in the fleeting things of this world. It encourages us to continually seek God’s presence, especially in seasons of dryness, finding our nourishment and sustenance in Him alone.
Isaiah 58:11
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
In this verse, God promises to guide His people continually, even in the midst of a sun-scorched land. He assures them that He will satisfy their needs and strengthen them, likening them to a well-watered garden and a never-failing spring.
This verse provides assurance that even in the most challenging and spiritually dry situations, God remains faithful. He will nourish and strengthen us, enabling us to thrive and be fruitful. It encourages us to trust in God’s provision and guidance, knowing that He can sustain us and make us sources of refreshment and blessing to others.
Psalm 107:35-38
“He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish.”
In this psalm, the poet celebrates God’s ability to transform desert places into oases of life and abundance. They describe how God provides for the hungry, leading them to establish prosperous settlements. The fertile land produces bountiful harvests and multiplies their livestock.
This verse illustrates God’s power to bring forth abundance and prosperity in the midst of dryness and lack. It highlights His faithfulness in providing for His people’s needs and ensuring their increase. It encourages us to trust in God’s provision and to believe that He can turn our desolate places into flourishing grounds of blessing.
Psalm 143:6
“I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.”
In this psalm, the psalmist expresses their longing for God, comparing it to a parched land thirsting for water. They reach out to God, spreading out their hands, yearning for His presence and refreshment.
This verse signifies the deep spiritual craving we should have for God. It reveals the recognition that without His presence, we are like dry and barren lands, lacking vitality and sustenance. It encourages us to approach God with open hands and hearts, eagerly seeking His presence, knowing that He alone can quench our spiritual thirst and satisfy our deepest longings.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
In this verse, Jeremiah describes the blessings of those who trust in the Lord and place their confidence in Him. He likens them to trees planted by water, whose roots reach down to the stream. These trees do not fear heat or worry in times of drought but remain evergreen and continually bear fruit.
This verse portrays the resilience and vitality that result from placing our trust in God. It assures us that when we draw from the water of His presence and rely on Him, we can withstand the trials and difficulties of life. We can experience spiritual growth, stability, and productivity, even in seasons of dryness and adversity.
Zechariah 10:1
“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.”
In this verse, Zechariah instructs the people to seek rain from the Lord during the springtime, recognizing that it is God who sends thunderstorms and provides showers of rain. He emphasizes that God’s provision extends not only to a select few but to all people, benefiting the growth of plants in the fields.
This verse highlights our dependence on God for provision and sustenance. It reminds us that just as rain is crucial for the flourishing of plants, we need the showers of God’s grace and presence to thrive in our lives. It encourages us to approach God with our needs, trusting that He will provide the refreshing and life-giving rain we require.
Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
In this beatitude, Jesus declares that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled. He acknowledges the spiritual hunger and thirst within us and assures us that God will satisfy our longing for righteousness.
This verse speaks of our deep desire for righteousness and justice, which can only be truly fulfilled in God. It reminds us that satisfaction and fulfillment come from seeking and pursuing righteousness, aligning ourselves with God’s will. It encourages us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, knowing that God will abundantly fill and satisfy our souls.
John 4:14
“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
This verse records Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. He offers her living water, which, once received, will quench her thirst forever and become a spring of water within her, flowing eternally.
This verse symbolizes the spiritual satisfaction and eternal life that Jesus offers us. It signifies His ability to satisfy our deepest longings and provide a never-ending source of life within us. It encourages us to seek Christ and receive the living water He freely gives, knowing that He alone can quench our spiritual thirst and sustain us for eternity.