The Meaning of Ezekiel 37:3 Explained

Ezekiel 37:3

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

YLT: And He saith unto me, 'Son of man, do these bones live?' And I say, 'O Lord Jehovah, Thou -- Thou hast known.'

Darby: And he said unto me, Son of man, Shall these bones live? And I said, Lord Jehovah, thou knowest.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Ezekiel 37:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezekiel 37:1-14 - The Resurrection Of A Dead Nation
A marvelous chapter-the vision is so graphic. Time does not rob it of its significance. Indeed every sign points to speedy fulfillment. The Jewish nation has long resembled those dry and bleaching bones; and the state of sinners generally may truly be described in the same terms. The condition of many souls and neighborhoods is comparable to the harrowing scenes of a recent battlefield. We may preach so as to effect an outward revolution, but there can be no life until the divine breath passes over them. We must preach the Word, instant in season and out; but we must also call on the Spirit of Life. Those that are in their graves must hear the voice of the Son of God. The promises of Ezekiel 37:13-14 await literal fulfillment in the case of the Jews, but let us plead that they may be also realized in our own congregations and neighborhoods. Revival will assuredly end in unity. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 37

1  By the resurrection of dry bones
11  the dead hope of Israel is revived
15  By the uniting of two sticks
18  is shown the incorporation of Israel into Judah
21  The promises of Christ's kingdom

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 37:3 mean?

And He said to me Son of man can live bones these so I answered Lord GOD You know
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־ אָדָ֕ם ؟ הֲתִחְיֶ֖ינָה הָעֲצָמ֣וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וָאֹמַ֕ר אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה אַתָּ֥ה יָדָֽעְתָּ

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  And  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלַ֔י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בֶּן־  Son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָדָ֕ם  of  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
؟ הֲתִחְיֶ֖ינָה  can  live 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
הָעֲצָמ֣וֹת  bones 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עֶצֶם 
Sense: bone, essence, substance.
הָאֵ֑לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
וָאֹמַ֕ר  so  I  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲדֹנָ֥י  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יְהוִ֖ה  GOD 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
יָדָֽעְתָּ  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.