And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

And he said to me: Son of man, dost thou think these bones shall live? And I answered: O Lord God, thou knowest.

And He saith unto me, 'Son of man, do these bones live?' And I say, 'O Lord Jehovah, Thou, Thou hast known.'

And he said to me, Son of man, is it possible for these bones to come to life? And I made answer, and said, It is for you to say, O Lord.

And he said to me, "Son of man, do you think that these bones will live?" And I said, "O Lord God, you know."

Can these bones live? - Is it possible that the persons whose bones these are can return to life?

And he said unto me, son of man, can these bones live?.... Is there any probability of it? is there any reason to believe they shall live? can any ways and means be devised, or any methods taken, to cause them to live?
and I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest; the prophet does not pronounce at once that it was improbable and impossible; he knew indeed it was not probable, or possible, that these bones should revive of themselves; and he knew that neither he nor any creature could quicken them; but he wisely refers it to an omniscient and omnipotent God, who knew what he could and what he would do: the conversion of sinners is not of themselves, nor of ministers, but of God; it is wholly owing to his will and power, John 1:13 nothing else can make it probable, or possible.

can these bones live? . . . thou knowest--implying that, humanly speaking, they could not; but faith leaves the question of possibility to rest with God, with whom nothing is impossible (Deuteronomy 32:39). An image of Christian faith which believes in the coming general resurrection of the dead, in spite of all appearances against it, because God has said it (John 5:21; Romans 4:17; 2-Corinthians 1:9).

And he - The Lord.