Come Alive Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Hillsong Worship's song "Come Alive," released in its live version on April 23, 2020, is a powerful anthem rooted deeply in biblical imagery and themes of spiritual resurrection and renewal. The central metaphor employed throughout the song is that of "dry bones," directly referencing the vision found in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, specifically chapter 37. In this vision, the prophet Ezekiel is shown a valley filled with dry bones, symbolizing the seemingly dead hope and spiritual state of Israel. God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, promising to bring them back to life, putting breath, flesh, and sinew upon them, and making them stand as a vast army.
The song "Come Alive" draws this profound imagery into the contemporary context of individual and corporate spiritual life. The repeated call to "Come alive dry bones" is a direct command for spiritual awakening. It is an invocation for life to be breathed into areas that feel dead, lifeless, or without hope. The lyrics describe a defiant act of faith – singing or prophesying to the dry bones – demonstrating belief in the power of the divine to transform barrenness into flourishing life, envisioned as a valley blooming like a rosebud. This underscores the active role of faith and proclamation in the process of spiritual resurrection.
Further exploring the theme of divine intervention, the song shifts from the state of the dry bones to the potential for change. It poses the question, "Are you waiting on Heaven / Or is it waiting on you," immediately answering that the presence of the Holy Spirit is already available ("already in the room"). This highlights the Christian belief in the immanence and readiness of God's power to act. The mention of the "four winds blow" and a "breakthrough breaking through" reinforces the idea of the Spirit's dynamic, life-giving force being unleashed, echoing Ezekiel's vision where the wind (ruach, meaning spirit or breath) is commanded to breathe life into the bones.
As the song progresses, it moves beyond merely coming alive to the implications of this new life: freedom and rising up. The call to "Leave those shackles in the grave now" and "dance like you were young" speaks to liberation from the burdens of the past, sin, or despair. The phrase "You do not have to live in chains now / There’s a key within your song" suggests that the very act of worship and proclaiming truth holds the power to unlock freedom. The message culminates in an exhortation to leave the past behind, step into the light, claim the freedom intended from birth, and command one's soul to rise. This ascent "up from the ashes" signifies a complete transformation, where new life is born and flesh is put back on the bone, mirroring the physical and spiritual restoration depicted in the scriptural source and applying it to the believer's journey of faith and revival.
![Come Alive Lyrics - Hillsong Worship]()
