“Formed” [Vayitzer] – there were two acts of formation [involved in the creation of man], a formation for [his life in] this world and a formation for [his life in] the World to Come.13When the dead bodies of the righteous will again take form at the resurrection. Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, Beit Shammai say: The formation that takes place in this world and the formation that takes place in the World to Come are not the same.
In this world, it [man’s formation in the womb] begins with skin and flesh and finishes with sinews and bones, but in the future, it will begin with sinews and bones and finish with skin and flesh, as that is what it says regarding the corpses of Ezekiel: “I saw, and behold, there were sinews upon them,14Upon the bones. and flesh grew, [and skin covered them]” (Ezekiel 37:8). Rabbi Yonatan said: We cannot learn anything from Ezekiel’s corpses.15Because they already had bones.
In the future resurrection, there will be no bones. To what were Ezekiel’s corpses comparable? To one who enters a bathhouse; what he takes off first [when undressing] he puts on last [when dressing]. Beit Hillel say: Just as his formation takes place in this world so will his formation take place in the World to Come.
In this world, it [man’s formation in the womb] begins with skin and flesh and finishes with sinews and bones, so, too, in the future, it will begins with skin and flesh and finish with sinews and bones, as Job says: “Do You not pour me [tatikheni] like milk [and curdle me like cheese, clothe me with skin and flesh and cover me with bones and sinews]?” (Job 10:10–11) – hitakhtani [in past tense]16Which would have referred to his formation in the womb. is not written here, but rather tatikheni [in future tense].17Referring to the resurrection in the future.
“And curdle me [takpieni] like cheese” (Job 10:10) – hikpetani [in past tense] is not written here, but rather, takpieni, [in future tense]. “You clothe me [talbisheni] with skin and flesh” – hilbashtani [in past tense] is not written here, but rather, talbisheni, [in future tense]. “And cover me [tesokhekheni] with bones and sinews” (Job 10:11) – sokhakhtani [in past tense] is not written here, but rather, tesokhekheni [in future tense].
This is analogous to a bowl filled with milk. Before putting the rennet in it the milk is loose; after putting in the rennet, the milk congeals and sets. That is what Job said: “Do You not pour me like milk [and curdle me like cheese]…skin and flesh…You granted me life and kindness, and Your command preserved my spirit” (Job 10:12).