The Meaning of Ezekiel 37:8 Explained

Ezekiel 37:8

KJV: 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.

YLT: And I beheld, and lo, on them are sinews, and flesh hath come up, and cover them doth skin over above -- and spirit there is none in them.

Darby: And I looked, and behold, sinews and flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Ezekiel 37:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezekiel 37:1-14 - The Resurrection Of A Dead Nation
A marvelous chapter-the vision is so graphic. Time does not rob it of its significance. Indeed every sign points to speedy fulfillment. The Jewish nation has long resembled those dry and bleaching bones; and the state of sinners generally may truly be described in the same terms. The condition of many souls and neighborhoods is comparable to the harrowing scenes of a recent battlefield. We may preach so as to effect an outward revolution, but there can be no life until the divine breath passes over them. We must preach the Word, instant in season and out; but we must also call on the Spirit of Life. Those that are in their graves must hear the voice of the Son of God. The promises of Ezekiel 37:13-14 await literal fulfillment in the case of the Jews, but let us plead that they may be also realized in our own congregations and neighborhoods. Revival will assuredly end in unity. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 37

1  By the resurrection of dry bones
11  the dead hope of Israel is revived
15  By the uniting of two sticks
18  is shown the incorporation of Israel into Judah
21  The promises of Christ's kingdom

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 37:8 mean?

And as I looked and indeed upon them the sinews and the flesh came and covered them over the skin above but breath [there] [was] no in them
וְרָאִ֜יתִי וְהִנֵּֽה־ עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם גִּדִים֙ וּבָשָׂ֣ר עָלָ֔ה וַיִּקְרַ֧ם עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם ע֖וֹר מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְר֖וּחַ אֵ֥ין בָּהֶֽם

וְרָאִ֜יתִי  And  as  I  looked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְהִנֵּֽה־  and  indeed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם  upon  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
גִּדִים֙  the  sinews 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גִּיד  
Sense: sinew.
וּבָשָׂ֣ר  and  the  flesh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
עָלָ֔ה  came 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
וַיִּקְרַ֧ם  and  covered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרַם  
Sense: to spread or lay something over, cover, spread over.
עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם  them  over 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
ע֖וֹר  the  skin 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹור  
Sense: skin, hide.
מִלְמָ֑עְלָה  above 
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
וְר֖וּחַ  but  breath 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
אֵ֥ין  [there]  [was]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
בָּהֶֽם  in  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural

What are the major concepts related to Ezekiel 37:8?

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