37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. There was a sound when I prophesied – I heard 4 a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 37:8 As I watched, I saw 5 tendons on them, then muscles appeared, 6 and skin covered over them from above, but there was no breath 7 in them.
37:9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, 8 – prophesy, son of man – and say to the breath: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these corpses so that they may live.’” 37:10 So I prophesied as I was commanded, and the breath came into them; they lived and stood on their feet, an extremely great army.
37:11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are all the house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ 37:12 Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to open your graves and will raise you from your graves, my people. I will bring you to the land of Israel. 37:13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people.
1 tn Heb “I am about to bring a spirit.”
2 tn The exact physiological meaning of the term is uncertain. In addition to v. 8, the term occurs only in Gen 32:33; Job 10:11; 40:17; and Jer 48:4.
3 tn Or “a spirit.”
4 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
5 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
6 tn Heb “came up.”
7 tn Or “spirit.”
8 tn Or “spirit,” and several times in this verse.