Ezekiel 37:10

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

Ezekiel 37:10 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 37:10

So I prophesied as he commanded me
The second time he prophesied to the wind, as he had done to the bones, as he was ordered: and the issue of it was, and breath came into them;
or, "the spirit"; a spirit of courage in the Jews, to go up to their own land; the Spirit of life from Christ, which will enter into the witnesses slain, and revive them; and into the Jews in the latter day, and convert them; and which enters into dead sinners, and quickens them; and this he does while ministers are preaching the Gospel to them; see ( Revelation 11:11 ) ( Acts 10:44 ) : and then lived;
as men do spiritually, when the Spirit of God has produced a principle of spiritual life in them; they live by faith on Christ, in union and fellowship with him; they live in newness of life, and a holy life and conversation; and shall live and reign with Christ upon the first resurrection, and for evermore: and stood up upon their feet,
an exceeding great army; as the Jews did when they returned from the Babylonish captivity; they were many, and in a posture of defence; and as they will be in the latter day, when converted, ( Hosea 1:10 ) , and as the number of the saints will be upon the first resurrection, ( Revelation 7:9 ) , so when men are quickened by the Spirit of God, "they stand upon their feet"; they stand in the grace of God, and on the foundation Christ; they stand by faith in him, and in the doctrine of faith, and in the house of God; and they stand firm against all their enemies: they are an "army"; they are in a military state; fighting against sin, Satan, and the world; and though few in comparison of others, yet considered by themselves are very numerous; and as they will appear when the Jews will be converted, and the fulness of the Gentiles brought in; and especially when they will be all gathered together at the coming of Christ.

Ezekiel 37:10 In-Context

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

9 He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord God says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live!"

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

11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look how they say: Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.

12 Therefore, prophesy and say to them: This is what the Lord God says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, My people, and lead you into the land of Israel.

Footnotes

• [a] Or wind, or spirit