Ezekiel 37:8 NIV

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 37:8

8. So far, they were only cohering in order as unsightly skeletons. The next step, that of covering them successively with sinews, skin, and flesh, gives them beauty; but still "no breath" of life in them. This may imply that Israel hereafter, as at the restoration from Babylon was the case in part, shall return to Judea unconverted at first (Zechariah 13:8; Zechariah 13:9). Spiritually: a man may assume all the semblances of spiritual life, yet have none, and so be dead before God. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezekiel 37:1-14

An illustration of Israel’s restoration 37:1-14This well-known apocalyptic vision of the valley of dry bones pictures the manner in which Yahweh would restore His people. [Note: For a review of apolcalyptic as a literary genre, of which this passage is an example, see the Introduction section of these notes, or Alexander, "Ezekiel," p. 924.] This may be the best-known section of the Book of Ezekiel."Few other passages have suffered more from the extremes of interpreters who see either too much... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezekiel 37:7-8

Ezekiel spoke to the bones as the Lord had commanded him, and as he did he heard a rattling noise as the bones began to come together. The prophet saw sinew, flesh, and skin come back on them, but there was no breath in them; they were not yet alive. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 37:1-28

The Revival and Reunion of IseaelFrom the future of the land Ezekiel now turns to that of the nation, long ago divided by the revolt of the Ten Tribes, and now seemingly extinct. The exiles feel themselves to be but its scattered bones (Ezekiel 37:11). In a striking and beautiful vision, suggested no doubt by this current saying, Ezekiel predicts that the dead nation will come to life again (Ezekiel 37:1-14), and by a symbolic action he represents the coming reunion of the rival kingdoms of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ezekiel 37:8

(8) No breath in them.—The restoration of the dry bones to life is described as taking place in two stages, with evident reference to the record of the creation of man in Genesis 2:7. In the first, they are restored to perfect form, but yet without life; in the second, they receive breath and become “living creatures,” as in Genesis 1:20-21; Genesis 1:24; Genesis 2:7, in all which the same expression is used. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ezekiel 37:1-28

Ezekiel 37:2 Dean Stanley, in the introduction to his Eastern Church, observes: 'It is sometimes said, that of all historical studies that of Ecclesiastical History is the most repulsive. We seem to be set down in the valley of the Prophet's vision strewn with bones, and behold they are very many and very dry: skeletons of creeds, of churches, of institutions; trodden and traversed by the feet of travellers again and again; craters of extinct volcanoes, which once filled the world with their... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 37:1-28

LIFE FROM THE DEADEzekiel 37:1-28The most formidable obstacle to faith on the part of the exiles in the possibility of a national redemption was the complete disintegration of the ancient people of Israel. Hard as it was to realise that Jehovah still lived and reigned in spite of the cessation of His worship, and hard to hope for a recovery of the land of Canaan from the dominion of the heathen, these things were still conceivable. What almost surpassed conception was the restoration of... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ezekiel 37:1-28

CHAPTERS 37-48 The Future Blessings of Israel, the Nation Regathered, Their Enemies Overthrown, the Millennial Temple, and the Division of the Land 1. The vision of the dry bones and Judah and Israel reunited (Ezekiel 37:1-28 ) 2. Gog and Magog and their destruction (Ezekiel 38:1-23 ; Ezekiel 39:1-29 ) 3. The millennial temple, its worship, and the division of the land (Ezekiel 40:1-49 ; Ezekiel 41:1-26 ; Ezekiel 42:1-20 ; Ezekiel 43:1-27 ; Ezekiel 44:1-31 ; Ezekiel 45:1-25 ;... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 37:1-28

BROKEN SILENCE Ezekiel’s commission to his own countrymen is now renewed (Ezekiel 33:21-22 ), and evidences a new tone. “Heretofore his functions had been chiefly threatening, but now the evil having reached its worst in the overthrow of Jerusalem, the consolatory element preponderates.” (See Ezekiel 22:11 .) Ezekiel 33:23-29 of the same chapter, have reference to the handful left in Jerusalem after the siege, the best commentary on which is Jeremiah 40-42.Ezekiel 33:30; Ezekiel 33:30 to the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Ezekiel 37:1-28

Dry Bones Ezekiel 37:0 All this is seen, not in literal reality, but in spiritual dream and vision. Again we ask the question, What is reality? It may be that the things which we call real are not things at all; they may be but transient and misleading shadows. Let us be careful how we talk about reality. Vision is the larger life. A man is still a man in his dreams. He may not be able to put them together well, or to read their enigmas fluently and precisely; but they are still efforts of the... read more