Focused Passage

Matthew 17:1-13

The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom

Matthew moves from the glory of the transfigured Son, to the Father’s command to listen to him, to the clarification that Elijah has come and suffered, to a failed exorcism caused by little faith, to Jesus’ authority over the demon, to a second passion prediction, and finally to the Son’s freedom and humble payment of the temple tax.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.

7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.”

8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

10 The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.

12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”

13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction After μεθ’ G3326 Preposition six ἓξ G1803 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural days ἡμέρας G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular took with [Him] παραλαμβάνει G3880 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρον G4074 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction James Ἰάκωβον G2385 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction John Ἰωάννην G2491 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular brother ἀδελφὸν G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of [James] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction led them up ἀναφέρει G399 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition a high ὑψηλὸν G5308 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular mountain ὄρος G3735 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular by κατ’ G2596 Preposition themselves ἰδίαν G2398 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 2

Original words

[There] καὶ G2532 Conjunction He was transfigured μετεμορφώθη G3339 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular before ἔμπροσθεν G1715 Preposition them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular face πρόσωπον G4383 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular shone ἔλαμψεν G2989 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular like ὡς G5613 Adverb the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular sun ἥλιος G2246 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and δὲ G1161 Conjunction His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural clothes ἱμάτια G2440 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural became ἐγένετο G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular as white λευκὰ G3022 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural as ὡς G5613 Adverb the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular light φῶς G5457 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Verse 3

Original words

Suddenly Καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Moses Μωϋσῆς G3475 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction Elijah Ἠλίας G2243 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular appeared ὤφθη G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular before them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural talking συλλαλοῦντες* G4814 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural with μετ’ G3326 Preposition [Jesus] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 4

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular it is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular good καλόν G2570 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular for us ἡμᾶς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural to be εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active here ὧδε G5602 Adverb If εἰ G1487 Conjunction You wish θέλεις G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular I will put up ποιήσω G4160 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular three τρεῖς G5140 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural shelters σκηνάς G4633 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural - ὧδε G5602 Adverb one μίαν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular for You σοὶ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction one μίαν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular for Moses Μωϋσεῖ G3475 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction one μίαν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular for Elijah Ἠλίᾳ G2243 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or three tabernacles
Verse 5

Original words

While Ἔτι G2089 Adverb [Peter] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular was {still} speaking λαλοῦντος G2980 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular - ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular a bright φωτεινὴ G5460 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular cloud νεφέλη G3507 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular enveloped ἐπεσκίασεν G1982 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular a voice φωνὴ G5456 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular cloud νεφέλης G3507 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular said λέγουσα G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular This Οὗτός G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular beloved ἀγαπητός G27 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Son Υἱός G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition whom G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular I am well pleased εὐδόκησα G2106 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Listen ἀκούετε G191 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural to Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in 2 Peter 1:17
Verse 6

Original words

When καὶ G2532 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταὶ G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural heard [this] ἀκούσαντες G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural they fell ἔπεσαν G4098 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural facedown ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition . . . αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural . . . πρόσωπον G4383 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv σφόδρα G4970 Adverb in terror ἐφοβήθησαν G5399 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 7

Original words

Then Καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular came over προσῆλθεν G4334 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction touched ἁψάμενος G680 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural Get up Ἐγέρθητε G1453 Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Plural He said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb Do not be afraid φοβεῖσθε G5399 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Verse 8

Original words

And when δὲ G1161 Conjunction they looked up ἐπάραντες G1869 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural . . . τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . ὀφθαλμοὺς G3788 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural they saw εἶδον G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural no one οὐδένα G3762 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular except εἰ G1487 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb . . . μόνον G3440 Adverb Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 9

Original words

As Καὶ G2532 Conjunction they αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural were coming down καταβαινόντων G2597 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural . . . ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular mountain ὄρους G3735 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular commanded ἐνετείλατο G1781 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural - λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Do not tell anyone εἴπητε G2036 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . Μηδενὶ G3367 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular [about this] τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular vision ὅραμα G3705 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular until ἕως G2193 Preposition . . . οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular has been raised ἐγερθῇ G1453 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition [the] dead νεκρῶν G3498 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 10

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction The οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταὶ G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural asked ἐπηρώτησαν G1905 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Why Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular then οὖν G3767 Conjunction {do} the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural scribes γραμματεῖς G1122 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural say λέγουσιν G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction Elijah Ἠλίαν G2243 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular must δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular come ἐλθεῖν G2064 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active first πρῶτον G4412 Adverb - Superlative
Verse 11

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular [Jesus] replied εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Elijah Ἠλίας G2243 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular {does} indeed μὲν G3303 Conjunction come ἔρχεται G2064 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction he will restore ἀποκαταστήσει G600 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular all things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 12

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction Elijah Ἠλίας G2243 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular {has} already ἤδη G2235 Adverb come ἦλθεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb they did not recognize ἐπέγνωσαν G1921 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular but ἀλλὰ* G235 Conjunction have done ἐποίησαν G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to ἐν G1722 Preposition him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular whatever ὅσα G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural they wished ἠθέλησαν G2309 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural In the same way οὕτως G3779 Adverb . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular will μέλλει G3195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular suffer πάσχειν G3958 Verb - Present Infinitive Active at their hands ὑπ’ G5259 Preposition . . . αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 13

Original words

Then τότε G5119 Adverb the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταὶ G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural understood συνῆκαν G4920 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction He was speaking εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural about περὶ G4012 Preposition John Ἰωάννου G2491 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Baptist Βαπτιστοῦ G910 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.