Ezekiel 37:8

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

Ezekiel 37:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 37:8

And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon
them
And they began to look like men, in the shape of men, and were a body of them, as the Jews did when gathered together: and the skin covered them above;
and so looked comely and beautiful, as in the proper form of men; as did the Jews enriched and protected by Cyrus: and this may be an image of such persons so far wrought upon under the word as to look like Christians; to have the form of godliness, and appear outwardly righteous before men, submitting to ordinances, and performing the duties of religion; and yet no principle of spiritual life in them; but, like Adam's body, of the earth, earthly, and breathless, before the breath of life was breathed into it; so here, but there was no breath in them; no spirit in the Jews to return to their land, though they had liberty, till the Lord stirred up their spirits, ( Ezra 1:5 ) , all this, in a spiritual sense, shows how far persons may go under temporary convictions by the word, and yet not be living Christians.

Ezekiel 37:8 In-Context

6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh grow upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath within you so that you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded. And as I prophesied, there was suddenly a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone.

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

9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!”

10 So I prophesied as He had commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet—a vast army.