Ezekiel 37:18

And when the children of thy people shall speake vnto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew vs what thou meanest by these? Ezekiel 37:18 (KJV)

The book of Ezekiel is set during the Babylonian exile, when the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon. Ezekiel was a prophet called by God to deliver messages of judgment, restoration, and hope to the people of Israel.

In Ezekiel 37 the prophet receives a vision of a valley full of dry bones. God asks Ezekiel if the dry bones can live again, and Ezekiel replies, “O Lord God, thou knowest” (Ezekiel 37:3). God then commands him to prophesy to the bones, declaring that He will bring breath into them and make them live again.

The vision of the dry bones represents the spiritual condition of Israel during their exile. The bones are described as “very dry,” signifying hopelessness and despair. Their restoration symbolizes the spiritual revival and national restoration that God promises His people. The bones represent the whole house of Israel, who are spiritually dead, but God will bring them back to their land, restore them, and put His Spirit within them (Ezekiel 37:11‑14).

Verse 18 records the children of Israel asking Ezekiel to explain the meaning of the vision. Their question shows a genuine curiosity and desire for understanding of the prophetic sign.

In response, God instructs Ezekiel to take two sticks, write on one “Judah” and on the other “Joseph,” and bind them together, symbolizing the reunification of the divided kingdoms under God’s covenant (Ezekiel 37:15‑17). He promises that the house of Israel will be gathered again, restored to the land, and that His Spirit will dwell among them so they may live and know that He is the Lord (Ezekiel 37:12‑14).

Thus Ezekiel 37:18 highlights the people’s longing for clarification and underscores God’s power to restore what appears dead. The passage serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises of restoration for His people.