Luke 9:19 kjv
They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
Luke 9:19 nkjv
So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."
Luke 9:19 niv
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."
Luke 9:19 esv
And they answered, "John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen."
Luke 9:19 nlt
"Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead."
Luke 9 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 9:18 | Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" | Jesus inquires about His identity |
| Lk 9:20 | He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." | Peter's confession of Jesus' true identity |
| Mt 16:13-14 | When Jesus came into the region... He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." | Parallel account of the public's perceptions |
| Mk 8:27-28 | Jesus went out... He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." | Parallel account of the public's perceptions |
| Lk 9:7-8 | Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening... Some said John had been raised from the dead, others said Elijah had appeared, and still others, that one of the prophets of old had risen. | Herod's confusion regarding Jesus' identity |
| Mk 6:14-16 | King Herod heard about this... He kept saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead!" But others were saying, "He is Elijah!" And others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." | Herod and others speculating about Jesus |
| Lk 1:17 | He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. | John the Baptist in the spirit/power of Elijah |
| Mt 11:10-14 | This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face...' if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. | Jesus identifies John as "Elijah" |
| Lk 7:27 | This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You...' | Jesus affirms John's unique prophetic role |
| Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord..." | Prophecy of Elijah's return before the Lord's Day |
| Mt 17:10-13 | His disciples asked Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Jesus replied... "Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased... then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist." | Jesus clarifies Elijah's fulfillment in John |
| Mk 9:11-13 | The disciples questioned Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He said to them... "Indeed Elijah is coming first... But I say to you that Elijah has come..." | Jesus confirms Elijah's fulfillment |
| 2 Ki 2:11 | As they were walking along and talking, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. | Elijah's unique ascension fueled return belief |
| Dt 18:15 | "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers; to him you shall listen." | Expectation of "the Prophet" (like Moses) |
| Jn 1:21 | "Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." | John the Baptist directly refutes these claims for himself |
| Jn 6:14 | Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world." | Public often associated Jesus with "the Prophet" |
| Jn 7:40-41 | Some of the people, therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, "This certainly is the Prophet." But others were saying, "This is the Christ." | Diverse opinions among the people |
| Acts 3:22-23 | "Moses indeed said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers..." | Peter identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of Dt 18:15 |
| Lk 24:19 | He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." | The disciples on the road to Emmaus recognize Jesus as a great prophet (before full understanding) |
| Isa 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek... | A Messianic prophecy, often linked to prophetic calling |
| Lk 4:18-19 | The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news... | Jesus identifies His ministry with this prophetic passage from Isaiah |
Luke 9 verses
Luke 9 19 Meaning
This verse details the varied popular opinions the disciples encountered regarding Jesus' true identity. Following Jesus' query about public perception, "They answered, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the ancient prophets risen from the dead.'" These responses indicate that people recognized Jesus as an extraordinary figure with prophetic power and authority, similar to highly revered Old Testament prophets, but they did not yet grasp His unique divine and Messianic nature as the Christ. The views reflect prevailing Jewish eschatological expectations about prominent figures returning before the Messianic age.
Luke 9 19 Context
This verse appears at a pivotal point in Luke's Gospel, following significant events that elevated Jesus' public profile: His commission of the twelve (Lk 9:1-6), reports of His miracles spreading widely to the point that Herod Antipas himself was perplexed (Lk 9:7-9), and the miraculous feeding of five thousand (Lk 9:10-17). Despite these displays of divine power and authority, the general populace remained unsure of Jesus' identity, viewing Him through the lens of established Jewish prophetic figures. This question by Jesus, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" (Lk 9:18), serves as a prelude to a much more critical inquiry to His disciples: "But who do you say that I am?" (Lk 9:20), which elicits Peter's groundbreaking confession of Jesus as "the Christ of God." The setting is isolated, away from the crowds, allowing for this crucial personal interrogation and revelation to His closest followers.
Luke 9 19 Word analysis
- They answered (ἀπεκρίθησαν - apekrithēsan): Refers to the disciples, who, as the primary observers and reporters of the crowds' views, relay the diverse opinions. The plural "they" indicates a collective report based on their encounters with the people.
- Some say (Τινὲς λέγουσιν - Tines legousin): Signifies a lack of universal consensus. "Some" implies a portion of the crowd, highlighting the widespread speculation and various theories about Jesus' person, indicating the ongoing search for His true identity among the Jewish populace.
- John the Baptist (Ἰωάννην τὸν βαπτιστήν - Iōannēn ton baptistēn): This specific identification likely stemmed from similarities in their ministries, particularly their calls for repentance and powerful public teaching. It also echoes the fear and perplexity of Herod (Lk 9:7-9), who had executed John and worried Jesus was John resurrected. This view acknowledges Jesus' powerful, perhaps confrontational, prophetic voice.
- others say Elijah (ἄλλοι δὲ Ἠλίαν - alloi de Ēlian): Elijah was a preeminent prophet in Jewish tradition, known for great miracles and ascending to heaven (2 Ki 2:11), and whose return was prophesied as a herald before the coming of the Messiah (Mal 4:5-6). Identifying Jesus with Elijah indicated a belief in His supernatural origin and a recognition of His powerful miraculous deeds and possibly His call to repentance and revival, fitting a messianic herald figure.
- and still others, one of the ancient prophets (ἄλλοι δὲ ὅτι προφήτης τις τῶν ἀρχαίων - alloi de hoti prophētēs tis tōn archaiōn): This refers to any of the revered prophets of Israel's past, such as Jeremiah (mentioned in Matthew's parallel account), Isaiah, or indeed the expectation of "the Prophet" like Moses (Dt 18:15). This belief acknowledged Jesus' profound teaching authority, moral conviction, and supernatural power to heal and teach, reminiscent of God's messengers in past eras.
- risen from the dead (ἀνέστη - anestē): This specific phrase implies not a new prophet, but a resurrection or return of a former prophet, further indicating a perception of Jesus as an individual uniquely touched by divine power. It suggests the supernatural awe people had for Jesus, yet without the understanding that He was truly the unique Son of God. This concept was entertained even by Herod (Lk 9:7-8).
- "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the ancient prophets risen from the dead": This grouping reveals the public's prevailing interpretive framework for Jesus. They placed Him within the revered prophetic tradition of Israel. This acknowledges Jesus' power and divine appointment but falls short of His true Messianic and divine nature. It shows a deep spiritual inquiry and expectation, yet limited understanding without divine revelation. These are all prominent figures from the past, indicating that people recognized Jesus' profound impact was on par with the greatest of God's servants.
Luke 9 19 Bonus section
- The varied opinions about Jesus’ identity highlight the religious and theological ferment of 1st-century Judaism, particularly regarding eschatological figures. People were actively seeking the Messiah and anticipated prophetic harbingers.
- By reporting these common views, the disciples implicitly acknowledge that while impressive, none of these identities fully captured the magnitude of Jesus’ being. This prepares for the ultimate question Jesus poses to them specifically, necessitating their unique spiritual understanding.
- The answers given are an admission by the crowds of Jesus’ extraordinary, perhaps even supernatural, origins and powers. They clearly saw Him as more than an ordinary man, but struggled with precise identification.
- The question and answers serve as a narrative device to build dramatic tension towards Peter's climactic confession, demonstrating that human reason alone cannot fully grasp the identity of Christ.
Luke 9 19 Commentary
Luke 9:19 provides crucial insight into the widespread but incomplete understanding of Jesus among the crowds during His ministry. People recognized His profound prophetic qualities, associating Him with mighty figures like John the Baptist, Elijah, or even a resurrected ancient prophet. These identifications speak to Jesus' significant impact: His calls for repentance, powerful miracles, and authoritative teaching clearly resonated with the role of a divine messenger. However, they uniformly missed His unique identity as the Messiah, the Son of God, not merely a precursor or a prophet come again. This public misunderstanding underscores the vital distinction between popular human perception and the divine revelation required for a true confession, which is precisely what Peter would deliver in the following verse. The passage thereby highlights humanity's inherent difficulty in discerning God's full truth without spiritual insight, and sets the stage for a deeper understanding of Christ's identity to be revealed to His disciples.