Holy Week · Holy Saturday Seventh Reading · Year C
Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 or Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 (3)
A Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel
April 15, 2028
Overview & Insights
“I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26)
Ezekiel 34–48, the second major part of this book, is concerned with a message of hope for the exiles and with the promise of Israel’s future restoration. That message has broken through in a muted sense in chapters 1–33 (11:14–21; 16:53–63; 20:33–44; 28:25–26), but it now becomes the central theme. These fifteen chapters fall into three sections. The first, chapters 34–37, is a series of seven oracles dealing with the restoration of Israel. The second section describes the rise and fall of Gog of Magog, Israel’s last great enemy (chs. 38–39). Finally, chapters 40–48 express a message of hope for Israel’s present and future, grounded in the presence of the Lord. These chapters present Ezekiel’s third great vision of the Glory of the Lord (see chs. 1–3 and 8–11) entering the perfect temple of the prophet’s vision just as it had departed the corrupted temple in Jerusalem.
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Commentary
Commentary on Ezekiel 36:24-28 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary's Easter Vigil commentary on the gathering, cleansing, and new-heart promise at the climax of this reading.
Ezekiel 36 Commentary: A New Covenant for Israel's Land Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse commentary on the sprinkled clean water, the new heart, and the new spirit.
Ezekiel 36 Commentary Precept Austin
Gathers many commentators and word studies on the regeneration God promises before the land is restored.
Ezekiel 36:16 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentary set from the reading's opening, where God explains why Israel was scattered among the nations.
The Easter Vigil (Year B), Dr. Brant Pitre Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
A Catholic scholar connects the clean water and new heart of Ezekiel to baptism within the Vigil's salvation story.
Background & Word Study
Ezekiel, Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's introduction to the prophet in exile, the setting for the promise of a renewed people.
Ezekiel 36 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria
The Hebrew text with English and Jewish commentary for study of the new heart (lev) and new spirit (ruach).
Ezekiel 36:16 Interlinear BibleHub
Word-by-word Hebrew with Strong's numbers for the vocabulary of cleansing, heart, and spirit.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What does God promise in Ezekiel 36?
God will sprinkle clean water on his people, give them a new heart of flesh, and put his Spirit within them, a baptismal promise of the Vigil.
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