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Lent · Fifth Sunday in Lent · Year A

Ezekiel 37:1-14

The Valley of Dry Bones

March 22, 2026

The Vision of Ezekiel, Francisco Collantes
The Vision of Ezekiel, Francisco Collantes, 1630Museo del Prado
A Spanish Baroque landscape of the valley of dry bones, painted as weather: the bones in the foreground, the storm doing the work, the prophet small and off to one side.It is this reading, and it keeps the prophet small, which is the point the reading makes about who is doing the raising.Francisco CollantesA Madrid painter of the generation around Velázquez, known almost entirely for landscape and for this one visionary subject.Museo del PradoBuilt on the Spanish royal collection, which is why it is unrivalled in Titian, Velázquez, Rubens and Goya and thinner elsewhere.Museo del Prado
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelJn. 11:1-45 (46-53)Jn 11:1-45 (46-53)Alt. GospelJn. 11:17-27, 38-53Jn 11:17-27, 38-53
EpistleRom. 8:1-11Rom 8:1-11
Old TestamentEzek. 37:1-14Ez 37:1-14
PsalterPs. 130Ps 130

Overview & Insights

“O my people, I will open your graves… and I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live.” (Ezekiel 37:12-14)

The sixth oracle in this section of Ezekiel, the vision of the dry bones, is arguably the most famous and influential passage in this book. As one of the passages from Ezekiel used in the Common Lectionary, it is read during Lent in Year A, and every year in the Paschal Vigil. The use of this passage in the great vigil leading up to Easter underlines the influence of verses 1–14 on Jewish and Christian theology. For while in its context this passage is a symbolic representation of the restoration and reunification of Israel, later readings of Ezekiel’s vision find here the primary image for life after death in Judaism and Christianity: that is, the resurrection of the body. Like the wheels in Ezekiel’s vision of God’s chariot throne in chapters 1–3, the odd and powerful imagery of this passage captured the imagination of African slaves in America.

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Commentary

Commentary on Ezekiel 37:1-14Commentary on Ez 37:1-14 Working Preacher

The Lutheran lectionary voice on the valley of dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 CommentaryEz 37:1-14 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed reading of the breath of God raising the bones.

Ezekiel 37 CommentaryEz 37 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse study of the valley of dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:1 CommentariesEz 37:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators gathered on the vision of the dry bones.

Ezekiel 37 CommentaryEz 37 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed study notes and cross references on the chapter.

Barnes' Notes: Ezekiel 37Barnes' Notes: Ez 37 StudyLight

A historic verse by verse commentary on the passage.

Background & Word Study

Book of Ezekiel OverviewBook of Ez Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the first part of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 37 (Hebrew and English)Ez 37 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria

The Hebrew text of the dry bones vision with classic Jewish commentary.

Ezekiel 37:1 InterlinearEz 37:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew word by word of the hand of the LORD upon Ezekiel.

The Church Fathers

Ezekiel 37 - CatenaEz 37 - Catena Catena

Patristic comment on the dry bones from the Church Fathers.

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