Ezekiel 37

“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD , and set me down in the midst of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, bones, carried. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were…” The line’s distinctive content terms include caused, open, round. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD , thou knowest.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD .” Naming Again and Prophesy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beheld, breath, covered. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD …” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried…” Naming Israel and Our keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.