וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י הִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־הָר֑וּחַ הִנָּבֵ֣א בֶן־֠אָדָם וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֶל־הָר֜וּחַ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה מֵאַרְבַּ֤ע רוּחֹות֙ בֹּ֣אִי הָר֔וּחַ וּפְחִ֛י בַּהֲרוּגִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְיִֽחְיֽוּ׃
And He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”’”
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And He said”; Notes: Continues the dialogue between YHWH and Ezekiel, introducing a new prophetic instruction.
- אֵלַי (ʾelai) – Root: —; Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Indicates direct divine communication to the prophet.
- הִנָּבֵא (hinaveʾ) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Nifal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Prophesy!”; Notes: Command to speak under divine inspiration—now directed toward the “breath.”
- אֶל־הָרוּחַ (ʾel-ha-ruaḥ) – Root: רוח (ruaḥ); Form: Preposition אֶל + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “to the breath”; Notes: “Ruach” can mean breath, wind, or spirit—here referring to the life-giving divine breath.
- הִנָּבֵא (hinaveʾ) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Nifal imperative masculine singular (repetition); Translation: “Prophesy!”; Notes: The repetition underscores prophetic urgency and obedience to divine will.
- בֶן־אָדָם (ben-ʾadam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “son of man”; Notes: Standard form of address emphasizing Ezekiel’s human role contrasted with divine power.
- וְאָמַרְתָּ (ve-amarta) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular (imperatival); Translation: “and say”; Notes: Sequential command following the act of prophesying.
- אֶל־הָרוּחַ (ʾel-ha-ruaḥ) – Root: רוח (ruaḥ); Form: Preposition אֶל + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “to the breath”; Notes: Repeated address stresses the object of prophecy as the agent of life itself.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “Thus”; Notes: Prophetic introduction formula indicating divine authority behind the utterance.
- אָמַר (amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Divine declaration formula, introducing YHWH’s direct words.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person suffix (title of reverence); Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Title expressing divine sovereignty.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name, emphasizing eternal self-existence and divine power.
- מֵאַרְבַּע (me-arbaʿ) – Root: ארבע (ʾarbaʿ); Form: Preposition מִן + numeral feminine singular; Translation: “from four”; Notes: Indicates the four cardinal directions—symbolic of universality of divine power.
- רוּחֹות (ruḥot) – Root: רוח (ruaḥ); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “winds”; Notes: Represents the four directions of the world—breath of life comes from every corner of creation.
- בֹּאִי (boʾi) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “come!”; Notes: Personifies the “breath” as an obedient entity summoned by divine command.
- הָרוּחַ (ha-ruaḥ) – Root: רוח (ruaḥ); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “O breath”; Notes: Vocative form—directly addressing the life-giving spirit.
- וּפְחִי (u-feḥi) – Root: נפשׁ (naphash) or פוח (puʿaḥ, “to blow”); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperative 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “and breathe!”; Notes: Command for the spirit to enter the slain and animate them with life.
- בַּהֲרוּגִים (ba-harugim) – Root: הרג (harag); Form: Preposition בְּ + passive participle masculine plural; Translation: “upon the slain”; Notes: Refers to the lifeless bodies—victims of death now awaiting revival.
- הָאֵלֶּה (ha-elleh) – Root: —; Form: Definite article הַ + demonstrative pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “these”; Notes: Specifies the exact group in the vision—those same lifeless figures previously restored physically.
- וְיִחְיוּ (ve-yihyu) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they shall live”; Notes: The ultimate result of divine breath entering them—signifying resurrection, both literal and symbolic of Yisraʾel’s restoration.