יחזקאל, פרק ל״ז, פסוק ה׳

A promise of resurrection outlines a deliberate process of restoring life to dry remains. God declares that He will bring the bones back to life by infusing them with a spirit. However, this spiritual awakening does not happen immediately. The infusion of life takes place only after the body undergoes a complete physical reconstruction, requiring the flesh, skin, and sinews to be fully formed and reassembled first [רד״ק].

Commentators explore the exact nature of this initial spirit, offering complementary perspectives. One approach suggests that it is a physical gust of wind. This breath of air enters the bones to provide a faint, preliminary spark of vitality, giving them just enough energy to move, draw close to one another, and physically reconnect [מצודת דוד]. Another perspective views this event as the return of the original life force that these individuals possessed before they died [ביאור שטיינזלץ, נחל שורק].

Regaining this original life force is merely the first phase of a much deeper spiritual transformation. Initially, a person receives their own human spirit back. Once this occurs, a second, higher stage is promised later in the prophecy. Ultimately, God will grant the people His own divine spirit. This profound addition serves to elevate them entirely, ensuring that they will never fall into sin again [נחל שורק].