The dry bones
Whether the vision speaks of national restoration or bodily resurrection, or both.
Ezekiel 37:1-14
1Yahweh’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in Yahweh’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.
2He caused me to pass by them all around: and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and behold, they were very dry.
3He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord Yahweh, you know.”
4Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear Yahweh’s word.
5The Lord Yahweh says to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live.
6I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” ’ ”
7So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone.
8I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
9Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ”
10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’
12Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
13You will know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people.
14I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh.’ ”
What each tradition says
Rabbinic / Midrashic
Kaufmann Kohler states that Ezekiel expressed the hope of resurrection only with reference to the Jewish nation as such. In Kohler’s reading, Ezekiel’s hope is directed to the Jewish nation itself.
Kaufmann Kohler, Eschatology (Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901-1906) — Eschatology, section 'Resurrection of the Dead' (first documented view: national)
Rabbinic / Midrashic
Ezekiel’s greatest miracle was his resuscitation of the dead, as recounted in Ezekiel 37. The tradition records differing views about the fate of these men both before and after their resurrection, and about when it happened.
Emil G. Hirsch, Karl Heinrich Cornill, Solomon Schechter, Louis Ginzberg, Ezekiel (Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901-1906) — Ezekiel, section 'The Dead Revived by Ezekiel' (second documented view: literal resurrection traditions)
Patristic
Tertullian says the recovery of the Jewish state is prefigured by the reincorporation and reunion of bones. This very circumstance proves that the event will also happen to the bones themselves, for the metaphor could not have been formed from bones unless the same thing were exactly realized in them also.
Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh (ANF vol. 3) — Ch. XXX, 'This Vision Interpreted by Tertullian of the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Dead'
Catholic
Haydock’s commentary says the vision insinuates the liberation of the captives and of the Gentiles, as well as the mystery of the resurrection. It adds that if this were not to take place, it would not be adduced as a figure.
George Leo Haydock, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary (1859) — On Ezekiel 37:1
Orthodox
John of Damascus takes Ezekiel's vision to concern bodies, not souls, since it is the bodies, not the souls, that lie in the graves. He cites the prophet's bones coming together, bone to its bone, each to its own joint.
John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith (NPNF II/9) — Book IV, ch. 27, 'Concerning the Resurrection'
Reformed / Protestant
Gill notes that some understand the whole vision parabolically. The bones and their quickening are an emblem of the Jews’ restoration from captivity, the conversion of that people in the latter day, the revival of the interest and church of Christ when the slain witnesses rise, and the resurrection of the dead at the last day.
John Gill, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible — On Ezekiel 37:1
Evangelical
Wesley reads Ezekiel 37:1 as a lively representation of a threefold resurrection. It depicts souls raised from the death of sin to righteousness, the church raised from affliction to liberty and peace, and the body raised at the great day, especially believers’ bodies to eternal life.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament — Note on Ezekiel 37:1