Luke 9:33 kjv

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

Luke 9:33 nkjv

Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"?not knowing what he said.

Luke 9:33 niv

As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters?one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)

Luke 9:33 esv

And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah" ? not knowing what he said.

Luke 9:33 nlt

As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, "Master, it's wonderful for us to be here! Let's make three shelters as memorials ? one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 33 Meaning

Luke 9:33 describes Peter's impulsive reaction during the Transfiguration when Moses and Elijah were about to depart from Jesus. Witnessing this glorious vision, Peter suggests building three tabernacles or shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, seemingly in an attempt to prolong the divine experience and fix the glory on the mountaintop. However, the verse significantly notes that Peter spoke "not knowing what he said," highlighting his spiritual blindness regarding the true purpose of the event and Jesus' redemptive mission, which involved leaving the mount of transfiguration to face suffering and the "exodus" discussed (Lk 9:31).

Luke 9 33 Context

Luke 9:33 is part of the Transfiguration narrative (Lk 9:28-36). This pivotal event occurs after Jesus has predicted His suffering, death, and resurrection (Lk 9:22) and has called His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him (Lk 9:23). Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray. There, His appearance is transformed, and Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, appear and speak with Him about His "exodus" (Lk 9:31), which refers to His departure through death and resurrection in Jerusalem. Peter's suggestion of building tabernacles interrupts this weighty discussion and reveals his limited comprehension of Jesus' mission, seeking to preserve the moment of glory without understanding its redemptive implications or the necessity of Christ's departure for the world's salvation.

Luke 9 33 Word analysis

• And as they were departing from Him, (Greek: Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἐκχωρεῖν αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ)
  • departing (ἐκχωρεῖν, ekchōrein): Implies a literal act of moving away. Moses and Elijah, having completed their divinely appointed purpose in conversing with Jesus about His impending "exodus" (Lk 9:31), were now leaving the scene. This highlights the transient nature of even profound divine encounters. Peter's desire to build tabernacles counters this inherent temporality.
• Peter (Πέτρος, Petros): The lead spokesman among the disciples, often impulsive and eager, yet frequently misunderstanding Jesus' deeper spiritual teachings. His personality consistently reflects both great zeal and significant spiritual immaturity at this stage.
• said to Jesus, (εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν): Peter, true to character, speaks up quickly, demonstrating his vocal role among the apostles.
• "Master, (Ἐπιστάτα, Epistata): This term, unique to Luke among the Synoptics in the Transfiguration narrative, signifies "one standing over," implying authority, command, or a skilled teacher. While a respectful address, it is less common than "Lord" (Kyrios) or "Teacher" (Didaskalos). Its use suggests Peter recognizes Jesus' elevated status but still struggles to fully grasp His divine nature or ultimate mission as a suffering Savior, as indicated by his subsequent misunderstanding.
• it is good for us to be here; (Καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι): This phrase expresses Peter's overwhelming joy and desire to perpetuate the sublime moment of divine glory he witnessed. He feels immense satisfaction and peace in the presence of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, experiencing a temporary foretaste of heaven.
• let us make three tabernacles: (ποιήσωμεν σκηνὰς τρεῖς)
  • make (ποιήσωμεν, poiēsōmen): An action verb, demonstrating Peter's immediate inclination to do something to concretize the spiritual experience.
  • tabernacles (σκηνὰς, skēnas): Refers to "tents," "booths," or "dwellings." This term is highly evocative, drawing connections to the Israelite wilderness wandering and especially to the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). This festival commemorated God's provision and presence with Israel in the wilderness, living in temporary dwellings. It also carried eschatological hopes for God's ultimate dwelling among His people in the Messianic age (Zech 14:16). Peter's suggestion, therefore, might be an attempt to commemorate this unique manifestation of glory, or perhaps a prophetic longing for the inaugurated kingdom, albeit misunderstood. However, in this context, building earthly structures attempts to contain or localize a spiritual and transitional glory, failing to grasp the necessity of Jesus' greater work.
  • three: Peter proposes one for each figure, unintentionally equating Moses and Elijah with Jesus, rather than recognizing Jesus' supreme authority, which the Father's voice would soon correct (Lk 9:35).
• one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah— (σοὶ μίαν καὶ Μωϋσεῖ μίαν καὶ Ἠλίᾳ μίαν) Demonstrates Peter's attempt to give equal honor to all three figures present, which contrasts sharply with the Father's subsequent declaration establishing Jesus' unparalleled authority.
• not knowing what he said." (μὴ εἰδὼς ὃ λέγει): This is Luke's unique and critical interpretive remark.
  • not knowing (μὴ εἰδὼς, mē eidōs): Denotes ignorance or a lack of understanding. It's a key Lukan emphasis on Peter's incomprehension of the moment's spiritual significance. He acted with good intentions and zeal, but without spiritual insight. This emphasizes a polemic against the notion of human attempts to confine divine glory or delay God's appointed timeline.
  • what he said (ὃ λέγει, ho legei): Points to the profound disconnect between Peter's words and the divine will and purpose revealed in the Transfiguration. Peter missed the true essence of Jesus' "exodus" (death and resurrection), seeing only the momentary glory and wishing to arrest its unfolding.

Luke 9 33 Bonus section

The event of the Transfiguration and Peter's reaction serve as a preparatory lesson for the disciples, foreshadowing the temporary nature of earthly glory and the greater significance of Christ's suffering and resurrection. Peter's suggestion of building tabernacles might have implied an attempt to freeze time or to create a permanent monument to a fleeting divine revelation, failing to grasp that God's dwelling is ultimately within hearts and through the resurrected Christ, not bound to earthly structures. This tendency to seek to capture and maintain a spiritual high is contrasted with the ongoing need for discipleship, service, and engagement with the world's needs after receiving a divine encounter.

Luke 9 33 Commentary

Peter's earnest but misguided proposal during the Transfiguration highlights a common human tendency: to desire to prolong moments of profound spiritual experience and to contain or institutionalize divine glory. He wished to "stay on the mountaintop," overlooking the reality of Jesus' redemptive journey. His call to build "tabernacles," though perhaps drawing on biblical imagery of God's presence, revealed a failure to grasp that Jesus' ultimate mission was not to remain in glorious stasis but to descend into the suffering of Jerusalem for humanity's salvation. Luke's parenthetical "not knowing what he said" provides crucial insight into Peter's spiritual immaturity at this point, demonstrating that even heartfelt devotion can lack divine wisdom and alignment with God's ultimate plan, which centered on Jesus' "exodus" through the cross rather than on permanent earthly glory.