Ezekiel 37:13

And 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,

Ezekiel 37:13 (KJV)

Context

Ezekiel 37 records the prophet’s vision of a valley filled with dry bones. The bones represent the whole house of Israel during their exile in Babylon. They were spiritually dead, without hope of restoration. In this vision, God asks Ezekiel whether the bones can live, and Ezekiel answers, “O Lord GOD, thou knowest” (Ezekiel 37:3). God then commands Ezekiel to prophesy, and the bones come together, receive sinews, flesh, and skin, and finally receive breath and live. Verse 13 is the climax of this vision, declaring the purpose of the miracle: that the people will know the Lord when He opens their graves and brings them up.

Meaning

In verse 13, God speaks directly to His people: “And 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.” The opening of graves is an act that only the omnipotent God can perform. It signifies God’s power to bring life to that which was dead and buried. The immediate context of verse 12 clarifies that this bringing up from the graves is connected to God bringing His people back into the land of Israel. The following verse (14) connects this restoration to the giving of God’s Spirit, which will cause them to live and be settled in their own land, further confirming that the Lord has spoken and done it. Through this miraculous act of resurrection, God’s authority, power, and faithfulness are clearly evident. The people, seeing His hand, power, grace, and mercy in this deliverance, will know, own, and acknowledge Him as the Lord.

Application

Ezekiel 37:13 encourages us to trust in God’s power to bring life to our seemingly dead and hopeless circumstances. It reminds us to seek His restoration and recognize His faithfulness in our lives. We can also be instruments of God’s restoration by sharing the message of hope and new life found in Jesus Christ with others who are spiritually dead and in need of revival.

Reflection

God’s promise to open graves and bring His people up is a demonstration of His sovereignty over death and despair, and His covenant faithfulness to His people. When we face situations that seem lifeless, we can remember that the same God who opened the graves of Israel can bring new life to our spiritually dead and hopeless situations. He is able to revive our faith, restore our brokenness, and bring us out of the graves of sin, despair, and hopelessness.