Easter Season · A Ninth Reading Easter Vigil · Year B
Ezekiel 37:1-14
The Valley of Dry Bones
March 28, 2027
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 37:1-14 (Working Preacher) Working Preacher
Luther Seminary's commentary written for the RCL Vigil of Easter, reading the valley of dry bones as death giving way to resurrection life.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (Center for Excellence in Preaching) Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on the vision as God's answer of restoration to a nation that had lost all hope.
Ezekiel 37 (Life to Dry Bones and Unity to God's People) Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical study of the whole chapter, dry bones through the two sticks made one.
Ezekiel 37 Commentary (Precept Austin) Precept Austin
Deep inductive study page collecting many classic and modern commentators on the chapter, word by word.
Ezekiel 37:1 Commentaries (BibleHub) BibleHub
Parallel classic commentaries (Matthew Henry, Barnes, Pulpit and more) gathered verse by verse for the passage.
Background & Word Study
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (Sefaria) Sefaria
The Hebrew text of the dry bones vision with English alongside, showing the play on ruach as breath, wind, and spirit.
Ezekiel 37:1 Interlinear (BibleHub) BibleHub
Word by word Hebrew interlinear with Strong's numbers and parsing for close study of the vision's key terms.
Ezekiel (Enter the Bible) Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's introduction to the book, its exile setting, and its structure to frame the chapter 37 vision.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is the Valley of Dry Bones?
The prophet preaches to a valley of dry bones, and by the breath of God they come together, rise, and live, a vision of resurrection and of Israel restored.
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