Isaiah 26:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If any skeptics or nonbelievers inquire, “How will the dead be raised, and what kind of body will they have?” I will respond with the words of the apostle: ‘You foolish man, what you sow will not come to life unless it dies. And when thou sowest, thou sowest not a future body, but bare grain, whatever happens to be wheat or other seed, grain that is dead and dry, without moisture’ (1 Cor. 15:36, 37). Just as a grain that withers can rise again and produce fruit, clothed in leaves and bearing ears, so too will He who awakens the grain of wheat be able to resurrect you for Himself. He who brings forth the sun each day as if from the tomb of night, and raises the moon from the depths of darkness, and calls back the seasons that benefit us, will He not restore our lives for whom He renews all creation? Will He allow those whom He has enriched with His breath and enlivened with His Spirit to fade away forever? Could the one who has reverently known and honored Him truly cease to exist? Yet you doubt again: how can you be renewed after death, reformed from dust and broken bones? Tell me, what were you before you were conceived in your mother’s womb? Truly nothing. Therefore, if God created you from nothing, is it not simpler for Him to recreate you from something? I assure you, it would be easier for Him to restore that which once existed than to create something from nothing. He who commanded you in your mother’s womb to emerge from a drop and to be adorned with nerves, veins, and bones, will assuredly bring you forth again from the earth. Are you worried that your withered bones cannot be clothed anew? Do not underestimate the greatness of God based on your own limitations. The Creator of all, who adorns trees with leaves and meadows with flowers, can instantly cover your bones at the appointed time of resurrection. The prophet Ezekiel, too, once expressed doubt regarding this; when God asked him if the dry bones he saw scattered in the field could come to life, he responded: Lord God, You know (Ezekiel 37:3). Yet when he witnessed the bones, at God’s command and through his prophecy, coming together in their rightful places and being clothed with flesh and skin, he prophesied the coming of the Spirit, which entered into the lifeless bodies, causing them to rise and stand. Thus, assured of the resurrection, the prophet documented this vision so that future generations might understand. Hence, Isaiah rightly proclaims, Thy dead shall be made alive, thy dead bodies shall rise! Rise and triumph, ye that are cast down in the dust: for Thy dew is the dew of plants, and the earth shall spew out the dead (Isaiah 26:19). Just as seeds revived by dew wither and grow, so too shall the bones of the faithful blossom through the Spirit’s dew. Yet you question how an entire person can be restored from mere bones? Just as from a small spark a great flame can arise, would not God be capable of restoring the full form of your body from the small amount of your ashes? If you assert that the remains of the body are lost or perhaps consumed by fire or animals, remember that all that has disintegrated is preserved in the earth, from which, by God’s command, it can arise again. And consider that when fire is not yet visible, you can take a stone and a piece of iron, and from the depths of rock create a flame as needed. If through your own intellect and skill, which God Himself has blessed you with, you reveal what was once invisible, will not the majesty of God have the power to bring forth that which has yet to be revealed? Trust me, for with God, all things are possible.

Our Lord Jesus Christ experienced death for everyone, yet He rose again on the third day, becoming the pioneer of those who have died and the source of life for those who are transformed through Him. He represents the dawn of a new human nature, liberated from decay, and we are filled with the unwavering hope of eternal life. The dead will indeed rise, and the dominion of death will be entirely abolished, although the appointed time for this resurrection has not yet arrived. In the meantime, humanity must endure the inevitability of death, patiently awaiting its end, which in Christ has already been exhausted, after which it will lose its grip on us. However, one might question whether it contradicts our affirmations and salvific messages that those who remain alive on earth experience death. Certainly not, for the dead will rise again, and the bodies that rest in the earth and the graves shall come back to life. How will this resurrection occur? The dew that flows from You is their healing. It is understood that this dew signifies the effectiveness and power of the Spirit, which will awaken the dead, echoing the sentiments expressed by blessed David. He praises God, stating: “But when I turn away Thy face, they shall rise up; Thou shalt take away their spirit, and they shall vanish away, and return to their dust: after Thy spirit, they shall rise up, and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth” (Psalm 103:29, 30). Thus, the Spirit of the Father through the Son acts as the life-giving dew, granting incorruption to the very bodies of the earth; those that fall to the ground shall be made alive. However, the soil of the wicked will perish. This was evident, as the land of the Jews endured such consequences for their defiance against Christ and the keepers of the sacred mysteries, despite having received the spirit of salvation offered to the earth’s inhabitants.

Furthermore, if we consider the holy ones whom the Lord will encounter alive at His return, we note the addition, "They shall rejoice; the dew that comes from Thee shall be their cure." Here, the term "healing" appropriately signifies immortality, for it represents the ultimate form of well-being, which cannot be achieved through the conventional means of medicine, sustenance, and drink.

Moreover, we highlight how the tombs were opened, and many of the holy ones who had passed away were brought back to life (Matthew 27:52). Most importantly, we must emphasize that Christ has risen from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20). Be wary of those who claim that this body does not rise—indeed, it does. Isaiah confirms this when he states, Your dead will come to life, dead bodies shall rise, and the angel who spoke to Daniel said, And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake (Dan. 12:2). Every person will experience resurrection; however, it will not be the same for all. We will all be granted eternal bodies, but they will differ in glory. The righteous will be ushered into everlasting joy alongside the angels, while the wicked will endure eternal punishment for their transgressions. Let this be a clarion call for those seeking enlightenment.

Those who have walked in this world according to Christ's teachings and righteousness will dwell with Him eternally in heaven. This is the everlasting and blessed life that you profess; this is the outcome of true faith and sincere repentance; this is the hope for which we are created, to which we believe, and through which we are reborn. For this promise, the prophets, the apostles, and the martyrs faced tremendous trials and willingly embraced death.

Moreover, even if the sorrowful circumstances of the time temporarily burdened Israel, the essence of this vision should not be interpreted merely as a parable, but rather as a declaration of resurrection, aimed at rekindling the hope of eternal salvation and the essential resurrection, encouraging them to look beyond current adversities. This is also the intent of other prophets: "Ye shall come forth out of the tombs like calves when they are loosed from their cords, and shall trample upon your enemies" (Malachi 4:2). Furthermore, it is written: "And you shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice in the bounty, and your bones shall flourish like young herbs" (Isaiah 66:14), for the herb arises from the decay and uncorrupted nature of the seed. Most importantly, if the vision of the resurrecting bones solely pertains to the nation of Israel, then why is this same hope proclaimed to not just the Israelites, but to all nations? This is the hope that the remains of the dead will be reunited with a body, will again be animated, and that the dead shall rise from their graves. For it is written, "Thy dead shall come to life, those in the tombs shall rise, and those on the earth shall rejoice, for Thy dew is medicine for them."