Ezekiel 37:8

And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but [there was] no breath in them.

And when I beheld {H7200}, lo, the sinews {H1517} and the flesh {H1320} came up {H5927} upon them, and the skin {H5785} covered {H7159} them above {H4605}: but there was no breath {H7307} in them.

As I watched, ligaments grew on them, flesh appeared and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.

As I looked on, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.

And I beheld, and, lo, there were sinews upon them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.

Commentary

Ezekiel 37:8 is a pivotal verse within the profound "Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones," delivered by the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile. It describes an intermediate stage in God's miraculous work of restoring what was once utterly dead and hopeless.

Context

The prophet Ezekiel is transported by the Spirit of the Lord into a valley filled with dry bones, representing the desolate and spiritually dead nation of Israel, who felt their hope was lost (Ezekiel 37:11). God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to these bones. In the preceding verses (Ezekiel 37:7), a rattling sound occurred, and the bones came together, bone to bone. Verse 8 describes the next phase: the physical reconstruction of these bodies.

Key Themes

  • Partial Restoration: This verse highlights a crucial step in God's restorative process. The bones are no longer scattered and dry; they have been re-formed with sinews, flesh, and skin. It signifies a physical reconstitution, a visible sign of God's power to bring order out of chaos and form out of nothingness.
  • Divine Sovereignty: The vision vividly illustrates God's absolute power to orchestrate life and renewal, even from the most impossible circumstances. He is the one who initiates and directs this miraculous re-formation.
  • The Need for the Spirit: Crucially, the verse ends with "but there was no breath in them." This emphasizes that while physical restoration is impressive, it is incomplete without the life-giving breath or Spirit of God. It sets the stage for the next phase of the prophecy, where the Spirit is introduced to bring true life.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated as "breath" in the King James Version is the Hebrew word ruach (Χ¨Χ•ΦΌΧ—Φ·). This powerful term can mean wind, breath, or spirit. Its absence in verse 8 is highly significant, contrasting with its presence in the subsequent verses (Ezekiel 37:9-10) when true life is imparted. The lack of ruach here underscores that mere physical reassembly is not enough; genuine life and spiritual vitality come only from God's animating Spirit.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 37:8 offers several profound applications for believers today:

  • Stages of Revival: Just as the bones were reformed before receiving breath, personal or spiritual revival can often occur in stages. We may see outward changes or structures put in place, but true spiritual life and vitality require the active presence of God's Spirit.
  • Hope in Despair: For those feeling spiritually dead or hopeless, this verse reminds us that God is capable of beginning a work of restoration, even when it seems impossible. He can bring form and structure back to what was broken.
  • The Necessity of the Holy Spirit: The verse powerfully reinforces the biblical truth that human effort or external appearances are insufficient for true life. It is the Spirit of God that gives life (John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6), making us truly alive in Christ.
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Cross-References

No cross-references found.