“Thus says Yahweh God
To these bones.
‘I will cause the spirit
To enter you.
You shall live.
I will lay sinews
On you.
I will cause flesh
To come
Upon you.
I will cover you
With skin.
I will put the spirit
In you.
You shall live.
You shall know
That I am Yahweh.’”
The oracle of Yahweh, via Ezekiel, was directly to these bones. Yahweh was going to put the spirit or ruah in them. The three ideas of spirit, breath, or wind were encapsulated in this Hebrew word ruah. This ruah was going to enter these dry bones, so that they would live. Yahweh was also going to put muscles, sinews, flesh, and skin on these dry bones. However, it was the ruah, the Spirit of Yahweh, the breath of Yahweh, or the wind of Yahweh that gave them life. Then, of course, they would know that Yahweh was their God.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 