Ezekiel 37:9 Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!"

◄ Ezekiel 37:9 ►

New International Version
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’”

New Living Translation
Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”

English Standard Version
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!”

King James Bible
Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

New King James Version
Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ”

New American Standard Bible
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘The Lord GOD says this: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, so that they come to life.”’”

NASB 1995
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life."’”

NASB 1977
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these who were killed, that they may come to life.”’”

Amplified Bible
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”

Christian Standard Bible
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! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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!”

American Standard Version
Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said: Ezekiel, now say to the wind, "The LORD God commands you to blow from every direction and to breathe life into these dead bodies, so they can live again."

English Revised Version
Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the LORD said to me, "Prophesy to the breath! Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: Come from the four winds, Breath, and breathe on these people who were killed so that they will live.' "

Good News Translation
God said to me, "Mortal man, prophesy to the wind. Tell the wind that the Sovereign LORD commands it to come from every direction, to breathe into these dead bodies, and to bring them back to life."

International Standard Version
Then he ordered me, "Prophesy to the Spirit, Son of Man. Tell the Spirit, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Come from the four winds, you Spirit, and breathe into these people who have been killed, so they will live."'"

Majority Standard Bible
Then He said to me, ?Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!?

NET Bible
He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath,--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.'"

New Heart English Bible
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said he to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

World English Bible
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And He says to me: “Prophesy to the Spirit, prophesy, son of man, and you have said to the Spirit, Thus said Lord YHWH: Come in from the four winds, O Spirit, and breathe on these slain, and they live.”

Young's Literal Translation
And He saith unto me: 'Prophesy unto the Spirit, prophesy, son of man, and thou hast said unto the Spirit: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: From the four winds come in, O Spirit, and breathe on these slain, and they do live.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to me, prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man, and say to the spirit, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Come from the four winds, O wind and blow upon these slain, and they shall live.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to me: Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, O son of man, and say to the spirit: Thus saith the Lord God: Come, spirit, from the four winds, and blow upon these slain, and let them live again.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to me: “Prophesy to the spirit! Prophesy, O son of man, and you shall say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord God: Approach, O spirit, from the four winds, and blow across these ones who were slain, and revive them.”

New American Bible
Then he said to me: Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man! Say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: From the four winds come, O breath, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life.

New Revised Standard Version
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then he said to me, Prophesy concerning the breath; prophesy, Son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the LORD God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to me: ‘Prophesy unto The Spirit, prophesy, son of man, and say to the Spirit: “Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: come, Spirit, from the four Spirits (or “Winds”), and breathe into these slain, and they shall live!”’

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said He unto me: 'Prophesy unto the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord; Come from the four winds, and breathe upon these dead men, and let them live.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Valley of Dry Bones
…8As I looked on, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!” 10So I prophesied as He had commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet—a vast army.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 2:7
Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

John 20:22
When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:2-4
Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. / They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. / And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

John 3:8
The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Revelation 11:11
But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them.

Isaiah 26:19
Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead.

Romans 8:11
And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

Job 33:4
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

1 Corinthians 15:45
So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam a life-giving spirit.

Isaiah 42:5
This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:

Psalm 104:30
When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.

John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

2 Corinthians 3:6
And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

Treasury of Scripture

Then said he to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus said the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.

wind.

Ezekiel 37:5,14
Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: …

Song of Solomon 4:16
Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

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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

Berean Study Bible

Then He said to me
This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to Ezekiel. The Hebrew word for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which implies a command or instruction. In the context of Ezekiel's prophetic vision, it underscores the authority and divine origin of the message. God is actively engaging with His prophet, emphasizing the importance of obedience and the role of the prophet as a mediator between God and His people.

Prophesy to the breath
The Hebrew word for "prophesy" is "נָבָא" (naba), which means to speak or sing by inspiration. Here, Ezekiel is instructed to speak to the "breath" or "רוּחַ" (ruach), which can mean spirit, wind, or breath. This dual meaning highlights the life-giving power of God's Spirit. The act of prophesying to the breath signifies calling upon the divine life force to bring about transformation and renewal.

Prophesy, son of man
The term "son of man" (בֶּן־אָדָם, ben-adam) is a title used frequently in Ezekiel, emphasizing the prophet's humanity and his role as a representative of mankind. It serves as a reminder of the humility and responsibility inherent in being chosen as God's messenger. The repetition of "prophesy" underscores the urgency and importance of the task at hand.

And say to it
This phrase indicates a direct address to the "breath," reinforcing the idea that the prophet's words, though spoken by a human, carry divine authority. The act of speaking to the breath symbolizes the power of God's word to effect change and bring life.

This is what the Lord GOD says
The phrase "Lord GOD" is a translation of "אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה" (Adonai Yahweh), emphasizing both the sovereignty and covenantal relationship of God with His people. It assures the listener that the message is not of human origin but is a divine decree, carrying the weight and certainty of God's will.

Come, breath, from the four winds
The "four winds" (אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת, arba ruachot) symbolize the universal reach and omnipresence of God's Spirit. In ancient Near Eastern thought, the four winds represented the entirety of the earth. This imagery conveys the idea that God's life-giving power is not limited by geography or circumstance but is available to all creation.

And breathe into these slain
The act of breathing into the slain echoes the creation narrative in Genesis 2:7, where God breathes life into Adam. The Hebrew word for "breathe" is "נָפַח" (naphach), which means to blow or inflate. This action signifies the impartation of life and spirit, transforming the lifeless into the living. It is a powerful metaphor for spiritual revival and resurrection.

So that they may live
The ultimate purpose of the prophecy is life. The Hebrew word for "live" is "חָיָה" (chayah), which means to live, revive, or restore. This promise of life is central to the message of hope and restoration that Ezekiel brings to the exiled Israelites. It assures them that despite their current state of despair and death, God's power can restore them to life and vitality. This verse, therefore, serves as a profound reminder of God's ability to bring life out of death and hope out of hopelessness.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) Upon these slain.--The word is used designedly. The bones which Ezekiel had seen were those not merely of dead, but of slain men; and in this was their likeness to Israel: as desolated, and their nationality for the time destroyed by their enemies.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - The finishing stage began by the prophet receiving a command to prophesy unto the wind (better, breath, or spirit), and to summon it from the four "breaths," or "winds" (in this case the preferable rendering), that it might breathe upon the slain. "Four winds" are mentioned, as in Ezekiel 40:20, to indicate the four quarters of heaven (comp. Ezekiel 5:10, 12; Ezekiel 12:14; Ezekiel 17:21), and perhaps also to suggest the immense quantity of vitalizing force demanded by the multitude of the dead (Smend), "the fullness and force of the Spirit's operations" (Hengstenberg), or the notion that the Spirit, in resuscitating Israel, would make use of all the varied forces that were then working in the world (Plumptre). The designation of the dead as slain reveals that the resurrection intended was not that of men in general, but of the nation of Israel.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then He said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to me,
אֵלַ֔י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Prophesy
הִנָּבֵ֖א (hin·nā·ḇê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the breath;
הָר֑וּחַ (hā·rū·aḥ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

prophesy,
הִנָּבֵ֣א (hin·nā·ḇê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration

son
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of man,
אָ֠דָם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

and tell
וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

it
הָר֜וּחַ (hā·rū·aḥ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

that this is what
כֹּֽה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַ֣ר ׀ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Come
בֹּ֣אִי (bō·’î)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

from the four
מֵאַרְבַּ֤ע (mê·’ar·ba‘)
Preposition-m | Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 702: Four

winds,
הָר֔וּחַ (hā·rū·aḥ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

O breath,
רוּחוֹת֙ (rū·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

and breathe
וּפְחִ֛י (ū·p̄ə·ḥî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 5301: To breathe, blow

into these
הָאֵ֖לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

slain,
בַּהֲרוּגִ֥ים (ba·hă·rū·ḡîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

so that they may live!??
וְיִֽחְיֽוּ׃ (wə·yiḥ·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 37:9 Then said he to me Prophesy (Ezek. Eze Ezk)