Luke 9:30 kjv
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Luke 9:30 nkjv
And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
Luke 9:30 niv
Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.
Luke 9:30 esv
And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,
Luke 9:30 nlt
Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus.
Luke 9 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 17:1-3 | After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and led them up a high mountain... Moses and Elijah appeared... | Parallel Transfiguration account. |
| Mk 9:2-4 | After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John... he was transfigured... and there appeared to them Elijah with Moses... | Parallel Transfiguration account. |
| Lk 9:28 | Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. | Immediate preceding context to the event. |
| Lk 9:31 | They were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. | Reveals the topic of conversation. |
| Mt 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." | Jesus fulfilling the entire Old Testament. |
| Lk 24:27 | And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. | Jesus explains how OT points to Him. |
| Lk 24:44 | "Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." | Jesus as the central theme of OT. |
| Deut 18:15 | "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—him you shall listen." | Moses' prophecy of a greater prophet. |
| Mal 4:5 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes." | Prophecy of Elijah's return. |
| 2 Kgs 2:11 | And as they still went on and talked, 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 translation without death. |
| Deut 34:5-6 | So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in the valley... | Moses' death and unique burial. |
| Deut 19:15 | "On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the matter shall be established." | Principle of witness validity. |
| 2 Cor 13:1 | "Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses." | NT reiteration of witness principle. |
| Jn 5:39 | "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me." | Scriptures testify of Jesus. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | Progressive revelation culminates in Christ. |
| Ex 24:16-17 | The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it... The appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire... | Divine glory and cloud on mountains. |
| Heb 12:1 | Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight... | Saints in heaven as witnesses (figurative). |
| Jn 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | Jesus' glory beheld by disciples. |
| Phil 3:20-21 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body... | Believers to share in Christ's glory. |
| 1 Pet 1:10-11 | Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he foretold the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. | Prophets anticipating Christ's mission. |
| Jude 1:9 | But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses... | Implied resurrection/care for Moses' body. |
| Jn 6:32 | Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven." | Jesus is superior to Moses in providing life. |
Luke 9 verses
Luke 9 30 Meaning
Luke 9:30 reveals a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, the Transfiguration. Here, Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah, embodying the Prophets, appear and converse with Jesus. This event signifies that Jesus is the culmination and fulfillment of all Old Testament revelation and prophecy. It serves as a divine affirmation of His identity as the Messiah, establishing His authority above the greatest figures of Israel's spiritual history, and validating His impending suffering and "departure" as central to God's redemptive plan.
Luke 9 30 Context
Luke 9:30 is embedded within the miraculous event of the Transfiguration, which immediately follows Peter's confession of Jesus as "the Christ of God" (Lk 9:20). After warning His disciples about His impending suffering and calling them to self-denial and cross-bearing (Lk 9:21-27), Jesus ascends a mountain to pray with Peter, James, and John. This private revelation on the mountaintop serves to reinforce their understanding of His divine identity and strengthen them for the trials ahead. The appearance of Moses and Elijah precedes the overshadowing cloud and the Father's voice, progressively revealing Jesus' supreme authority. Historically and culturally for the Jewish audience, mountains were often places of divine encounter and revelation (e.g., Mount Sinai for Moses, Mount Horeb for Elijah). The presence of these two towering figures confirms that Jesus is the pinnacle of God's interaction with humanity, the fulfillment of everything foreshadowed in their sacred history.
Luke 9 30 Word analysis
And behold (καὶ ἰδοὺ, kai idou): This Greek interjection serves as an exclamation to draw the reader's attention to something sudden, striking, and significant. It introduces a marvelous or divine manifestation, highlighting the extraordinary nature of the event unfolding.
two men (δύο ἄνδρες, dyo andres): Emphasizes the real, identifiable presence of two individuals. The number "two" aligns with the biblical principle of two witnesses confirming truth or validity (Dt 19:15). Their clear personhood testifies to the reality of the heavenly realm.
were talking (ἦσαν συλλαλοῦντες, ēsan syllalountes): The imperfect tense "were" denotes ongoing, continuous action. "Syllalountes" means "speaking together with" or "conversing," indicating an active and mutual dialogue. It shows a fellowship and purposeful exchange, implying a shared understanding and an agreement, not merely a fleeting appearance.
with Him (αὐτῷ, autō): Signifies that Jesus was not a mere recipient but an active participant in the conversation. Moses and Elijah conversed with Jesus, acknowledging His central position and authority, rather than instructing or judging Him.
Moses (Μωϋσῆς, Mōysēs): Represents the Law (Torah). As the divinely appointed lawgiver who received the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Covenant at Mount Sinai, his presence signifies the entirety of God's revealed law bearing witness to Christ as its fulfillment. He also signifies God's relationship with Israel through deliverance and covenant.
Elijah (Ἠλίας, Ēlias): Represents the Prophets. He was one of Israel's greatest prophets, known for his zeal for God, miraculous works, and unique translation into heaven without experiencing death (2 Kgs 2:11). His appearance signifies the prophetic tradition testifying to and anticipating the Messiah.
Words-group analysis:
- And behold, two men: Draws immediate, striking attention to the extraordinary appearance of real, discernible figures, stressing the significance of their presence.
- were talking with Him: This phrase emphasizes an active, respectful, and shared communion. It portrays Jesus not as someone receiving instruction from these revered figures, but as their co-equal in a significant dialogue, hinting at the divine authority underpinning His mission.
- Moses and Elijah: These two figures together powerfully symbolize the Law and the Prophets—the two primary divisions of the Old Testament. Their presence signifies the entire Old Testament testament, confirming and authenticating Jesus as the climax of God's redemptive plan and the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament foreshadowed and proclaimed. Their appearance demonstrates the unity of God's revelation across time.
Luke 9 30 Bonus section
- The fact that Moses, who died (Dt 34), and Elijah, who was taken to heaven without dying (2 Kgs 2), appear together underlines Jesus' dominion over both death and life, showcasing His victory for those who die and those who remain.
- This gathering serves as a foretaste of the future heavenly assembly of the redeemed, confirming the continuity between the Old Covenant saints and the Messiah. It implicitly teaches about the communion of saints and the reality of life beyond the grave.
- For Peter, James, and John, the core inner circle, this profound revelation served as a unique and personal divine affirmation of Jesus' identity and the righteousness of His suffering. It bolstered their faith to face the scandal of the cross that was to follow.
Luke 9 30 Commentary
Luke 9:30 is a concise yet profoundly significant verse within the Transfiguration narrative. The simultaneous appearance of Moses and Elijah is not coincidental; it is a profound theological statement. Moses, the Lawgiver, and Elijah, the leading Prophet, were paramount figures in Israel's history, representing the full scope of Old Testament revelation and God's interaction with His people. Their conversation with Jesus affirms that He is not merely a successor to them, but the culmination and living embodiment of all that they prefigured. This heavenly counsel validates Jesus' Messiahship, demonstrating that His earthly journey, including His impending suffering and death, was part of a divine, predetermined plan (as explicitly revealed in the next verse, Lk 9:31, concerning His "departure"). Their appearance on a high mountain, a traditional place of divine encounter, serves as a powerful spiritual witness to the disciples, fortifying their faith before the difficult path to Jerusalem and the cross. It foreshadows Jesus' ultimate triumph over both death (represented by Moses) and mortal life (represented by Elijah), showcasing His universal dominion.