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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

Matthew 17:3

There appeared

(ωφθη). Singular aorist passive verb with Moses (to be understood also with Elijah), but the participle συνλαλουντες is plural agreeing with both. "Sufficient objectivity is guaranteed by the vision being enjoyed by all three" (Bruce). The Jewish apocalypses reveal popular expectations that Moses and Elijah would reappear. Both had mystery connected with their deaths. One represented law, the other prophecy, while Jesus represented the gospel (grace). They spoke of his decease (Luke 9:31), the cross, the theme uppermost in the mind of Christ and which the disciples did not comprehend. Jesus needed comfort and he gets it from fellowship with Moses and Elijah.

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See also Matthew 17:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Matthew 17:3. _MOSES AND ELIAS_] Elijah came from heaven in the same body which he had upon earth, for he was _translated_, and did not see death, 2 Kings 2:11. And the body of Moses was probab...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND BEHOLD THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM MOSES AND ELIAS - Moses, a distinguished servant of God, by whom the law was given, and whose institutions typified the Messiah. It was particularly proper that he...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    5. THE COMING GLORY; the Helpless Disciples and the Power of the King. The Tribute Money. CHAPTER 17 1. The Transfiguration. (Matthew 17:1 .) 2. The Helpless Disciples and the Power of the King. (M...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE TRANSFIGURATION, AND THE COMING OF ELIJAH (Mark 9:2 *, Luke 9:28). The narrative agrees closely with Mk., the chief difference being the appropriate addition of Matthew 17:7. The fear of the disci...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Six days after, Jesus took Peter, and James, and John his brother, and brought them by themselves to a high mountain, and his appearance was changed in their presence. His face shone like the sun, and...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION (Matthew 17:1-8)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos_ (App-6), for emphasis. APPEARED. App-106. MOSES. Representing the Law, and those to be raised from the dead. See note on Matthew 8:4. ELIAS. Elijah. Representin...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Moses and Elias_ (Elijah). The representatives of the Law and the Prophets. The whole history of the Jewish Church is brought in one glance, as it were, before the Apostles" eyes in its due relation...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE TRANSFIGURATION Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΜΩΫΣΗ͂Σ ΚΑῚ ἩΛΊΑΣ (Elijah). The representatives of the Law and the Prophets. The whole history of the Jewish Church is brought in one glance, as it were, before the Apostles’ eyes in its due relation...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver l. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2. And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _JESUS IN HIS GLORY, TRANSFIGURED MATTHEW 17:1-13:_ It was probably on Mount Hermon that the transfiguration took place. Jesus had gone up on this mountain to pray. Luke describes it this way, "Now it...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΏΦΘΗ _aor. ind. pass. от_ ΌΡΆΩ (G3708) видеть; _pass._ виднеться, являться. О гл. в форме ед. ч. при подлежащем во мн. ч. _см._ BD, 74f. ΣΥΛΛΑΛΟΎΝΤΕΣ _praes. act. part. от_ ΣΥΛΛΑΛΈΩ (G4814) говорить,...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND BEHOLD, THERE APPEARED—MOSES AND ELIAS— See Luke 9:30., &c. respecting the remainder of this transaction....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Section 42 TRANSFIGURED ON HIGH MOUNTAIN JESUS SHOWS HIS GLORY TO PETER, JAMES AND JOHN (Parallels: Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36) TEXT: 17:1-13 1 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and Jam...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, For the exposition, see the notes at Luke 9:28. The time of this section is su...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    28 See 2Pe_1:16-18. 28 This prediction was fulfilled about a week later when He took His most intimate disciples with Him and they saw His power and presence and were spectators of His magnificence (2...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    MOSES and Elijah were recognised through the supernatural power of insight which enabled them to be seen....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE TRANSFIGURATION 1-8. The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28). St. Leo rightly apprehended the historical situation when he said that in the Transfiguration the principal object aimed at was tha...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MATTHEW’S GOOD NEWS MATTHEW’S *GOSPEL _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 17 JESUS CHANGED HIS APPEARANCE 17:1-13 V1 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and John (who was James’s brother) with him. He le...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    MOSES AND ELIAS. — The identification of the forms which the disciples saw was, we may well believe, intuitive. If we accept the narrative as a whole, it is legitimate to assume that, in the state of...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Chapter 13 The New Departure (Founding of the Church.) - Matthew 16:13; Matthew 17:1 THIS conversation at Caesarea Philippi is universally regarded as marking a new era in the life of Christ. His rej...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    καὶ ἰδού introduces a leading and remarkable feature in the scene: ὤφθη αὐτοῖς, there appeared to the three disciples, not necessarily an absolutely real, objective presence of Moses and Elias. All pu...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _The Transfiguration_ (Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36)....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JESUS SHOWS DIVINE GLORY Matthew 17:1-8 _Moses'_ face shone after having absorbed the divine glory, as some diamonds burn with sunlight after being carried into a dark room. _Stephen's face_ shone be...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    "After six days." Days of silence. No record have we of what transpired in those days. The strange declarations of the Cross had crushed the hearts of these men. Now to three of their number, as speci...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Moses and Elias. Jesus Christ had been taken by the people for Elias, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He therefore chose the chief of all the prophets to be present, that he might shew his great sup...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHAPTER 37 TRANSFIGURATION Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36. Mark: “And after six days, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John, and carries them up into an exceedingly high mountain, privately,...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    "And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him." Moses and Elias were seen, and it should seem were known by the Apostles, though the former had been dead fifteen hundred year...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    3._And, lo, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah. _It is asked, Were _Moses and Elijah _actually present? or was it only an apparition that was exhibited to the disciples, as the prophets frequentl...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Jesus leads them up into a high mountain, and there is transfigured before them: "His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." Moses and Elias appeared also, talking with Hi...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND BEHOLD THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM,.... The disciples: MOSES AND ELIAS; Moses the giver of the law, and Elias one of the chief of the prophets: one of them had been dead near a thousand and five hun...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Ver. 3. _Moses and Elias appeared_] Those _immortalitalis candidali, _ as the ancients called them. God had buried Moses, but b...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And behold_ To heighten the grandeur and solemnity of the scene; _there appeared unto them_ That is, unto the disciples as well as Jesus; _Moses and Elias_ Luke says, _two men, which were Moses and E...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    MOSES AND ELIAS; the representatives of "the law and the prophets" here appear in glory, but subordinate to the Saviour. Thus the unity of the old and new dispensation is set forth, and also the supre...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND, BEHOLD, THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM MOSES AND ELIAS, TALKING WITH HIM....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A further revelation:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Only six days intervened before the three disciples witnessed the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus. Luke says, "about eight days after these things," for no doubt he counts the day the Lord spoke, an...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-13 Now the disciples beheld somewhat of Christ's glory, as of the only begotten of the Father. It was intended to support their faith, when they would have to witness his crucifixion; and would giv...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "MATTHEW 17:4"....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV And for this reason did He [the Lord] confer with him face to face on the top of a mountain, Elias being also present, as the Gospel relates,[294] Tertullian A Trea...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Matthew 17:3 And G2532 behold G2400 (G5628) Moses G3475 and G2532 Elijah G2243 appeared G3700 (G5681) them...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him.' And then to cap His glory Moses and Elijah appeared before the amazed eyes of the disciples and talked with Him. Men of Heaven c...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Matthew 17:3. AND BEHOLD. The second stage of the miraculous occurrence. THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM. These persons were really present. It was not a vision, as is plain from the account of Luke. MOSE...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    After our Lord's prediction of His sufferings and hint of His glory (chap. Matthew 16:21-28), three chosen disciples receive a supernatural testimony and pledge of that glory. But the primary purpose...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 17:1. _And after six days_ Luke says, «about an eight days after these sayings;» but I suppose he counted the day before and the day after. «After six days,» and the first day was, probably,...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 17:1. _And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The transfiguration of Jesus Christ. The powerless disciples, unable to heal a lunatic, and the mighty Christ. Resurrection again foretold. Miracle of the tribute money. CHARACTERS: God, Je...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Matthew 17:2. _He was transfigured before them._ Μεταμορφωθη, was transformed before them. Matthew, Mark, and Luke record this vision; and name the three selected witnesses. Peter had just confessed t...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    MOSES AND ELIJAH. Both were special in Jewish thinking. Elijah had not died at all (2 Kings 2:11), being taken directly in a "chariot of fire." Moses, who at the moment of death, was snatched bodily f...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And was transfigured before them._ THE MOUNT OF VISION I. Take what is taught in the passage as to Christ’s humanity and its aspects. Among all the aspects in which the Saviour is presented to us,...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 17:3 MOSES AND ELIJAH represent the Law and the Prophets, which bear witness to Jesus as the Messiah (compare Matthew 5:17)....

  • The Gospels Compared

    JESUS IS TRANSFIGURED ON THE MOUNTAIN MATTHEW 17:1-13; MARK 9:2-13; LUKE 9:28-36; MATTHEW 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, Jame

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 17 _And after six days_, &c. There seems to be here a discrepancy with Luke 9:28, who says, _it came to pass about an eight days after these things._ S. Jerome answers, "The solution is simple...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 17:1. AFTER SIX DAYS.—Within a week of Peter’s confession. St. Luke has “about an eight days after,” according to the common Jewish reckoning, by which each part of a day is c...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MATTHEW 17:1 _The Transfiguration of Jesus_._ _(Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28.) This mysterious event was intended primarily to confirm the faith of the three apostles who were to h

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn now in our Bibles to Matthew chapter seventeen. The seventeenth chapter of Matthew actually begins with the twenty-eighth verse of the sixteenth chapter. It's unfortunate that the men who d...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:36; 2 Corinthians 3:7; 2 Kings 2:11;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    There appeared Moses and Elijah — Here for the full confirmation of their faith in Jesus, Moses, the giver of the law, Elijah, the most zealous of all the prophets, and God speaking from heaven, all b...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, the glorious attendance upon our Saviour at his glorious transfiguration; they were two men, Moses and Elias. This being but. glimpse of Christ's glory, not. full manifestation of it, on...

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Old Testament