Mark 9:8 kjv
And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
Mark 9:8 nkjv
Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
Mark 9:8 niv
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
Mark 9:8 esv
And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
Mark 9:8 nlt
Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.
Mark 9 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 17:8 | And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. | Synoptic parallel, Jesus' singular presence |
| Lk 9:36 | And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. | Synoptic parallel, Jesus found alone |
| Deut 18:15 | The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you... To him you shall listen. | Moses foreshadows Jesus; commands listening to the "Prophet" |
| Deut 18:18 | I will raise up for them a prophet like you... and I will put my words in his mouth... | God promises the Prophet like Moses |
| Acts 3:22 | Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.' | Peter quotes Deut 18, applying it to Jesus |
| Mark 9:7 | And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." | Divine command to listen to Jesus, reinforcing His singular authority |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets... but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | Jesus is God's final and complete revelation |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Jesus' ultimate exaltation and supremacy over all |
| Col 1:15-20 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created... He is before all things, and in him... | Jesus' pre-eminence and creative/redemptive centrality |
| Heb 12:2 | looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross... | Encourages sole focus on Jesus |
| John 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Jesus as the exclusive path to God |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. | Salvation exclusively through Jesus' name |
| Matt 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 fulfills the Law and Prophets, not replaces without purpose |
| Lk 24:27 | And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. | Old Testament points to Jesus |
| Rom 10:4 | For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. | Christ as the telos (fulfillment/purpose) of the Law |
| 2 Cor 3:12-16 | ...not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end... | Old Covenant's transient glory contrasted with enduring glory in Christ |
| Gen 1:26-27 | Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness"... | Humanity made in divine image; only God's singular supremacy |
| Isa 45:22-23 | "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." | God's solitary uniqueness, no other savior |
| Joel 2:28-29 | "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh..." | New Covenant promise; the age of the Spirit through Christ |
| John 6:68 | Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," | Recognition of Jesus as the unique source of truth and life |
| Mk 8:38 | For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words... the Son of Man will be ashamed of him... | Emphasizes commitment to Jesus and His words alone |
Mark 9 verses
Mark 9 8 Meaning
After the sublime manifestation of divine glory and the validating presence of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) alongside Jesus on the mountain, the disciples suddenly found themselves seeing only Jesus. This moment underscores Jesus' unparalleled and singular supremacy, indicating that the former covenant revelations served their purpose in testifying to Him, and He alone remains as the ultimate revelation, the One to whom all now must exclusively focus their attention and obedience.
Mark 9 8 Context
Mark 9:8 concludes the account of the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8). Preceding this event, Jesus had first predicted His suffering, death, and resurrection (Mark 8:31) and called His disciples to self-denial and cross-bearing (Mark 8:34-38). The Transfiguration serves as a pivotal revelation, offering Peter, James, and John a profound glimpse into Jesus' divine glory. It validates Jesus' claims as the Messiah, receiving validation from both the Old Testament (Moses representing the Law, Elijah representing the Prophets) and directly from the heavenly Father, who commands, "This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!" (Mark 9:7). Verse 8 marks the cessation of this profound supernatural vision, emphasizing that after all the extraordinary manifestations, only Jesus remains. The historical context positions this event as a powerful encouragement and confirmation for the disciples before Jesus embarks fully on His path to the cross.
Mark 9 8 Word analysis
- And suddenly (καὶ ἐξάπινα - kai exapina):
- kai: "and," connecting to the preceding events of the cloud and divine voice.
- exapina: "suddenly," "unexpectedly." Highlights the immediacy and swiftness of the transition. It implies a divine promptness in removing the additional figures, ensuring Jesus' sole preeminence.
- looking around (περιβλεψάμενοι - periblepsamenoi):
- periblepsamenoi: From periblepō, meaning "to look around," "gaze about." Implies the disciples were searching, perhaps for Moses, Elijah, or the cloud that had just overshadowed them. This action signifies their processing the remarkable events they had just witnessed.
- they no longer saw (οὐκέτι ἔβλεπον - ouketi eblepon):
- ouketi: "no longer," "no more." Emphasizes the cessation of the vision. The presence of Moses and Elijah was temporary and had served its specific purpose.
- eblepon: "they saw." Simple past tense of "to see."
- anyone with them (οὐδένα μεθ᾽ ἑαυτῶν - oudena meth' heautōn):
- oudena: "no one," "not anyone." Specifies that the figures of Moses and Elijah had vanished. This directly refutes Peter's suggestion of building three tabernacles (Mark 9:5).
- meth' heautōn: "with themselves." Indicates the figures' departure from their immediate vicinity and shared experience.
- but Jesus only (εἰ μὴ Ἰησοῦν μόνον - ei mē Iēsoun monon):
- ei mē: "but," "except." Establishes an exclusive contrast.
- Iēsoun: "Jesus." The central figure.
- monon: "only," "alone." This is the most significant word in the verse. It asserts Jesus' unique solitary standing. It proclaims His supremacy, underscoring that His ministry, teaching, and person are the ultimate and sole focus. He stands preeminent, above Law and Prophets.
Word-Group Analysis:
- And suddenly, looking around: Describes the disciples' immediate reaction after the overwhelming supernatural event and heavenly pronouncement. Their action signifies a return to their sensory reality, prompting discovery of the change.
- they no longer saw anyone with them: Confirms the removal of the Old Testament witnesses. This swift disappearance ensures that the focus does not remain divided. The prophetic era has delivered its testimony to Christ and recedes, making way for Christ Himself.
- but Jesus only: This phrase acts as the powerful conclusion to the entire Transfiguration event. It emphasizes that despite the spectacular presence of Moses and Elijah, and the voice of God, the outcome leaves Jesus alone with His disciples. This conveys a profound theological truth: Jesus is not merely another prophet, but the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. He is the ultimate, final, and supreme revelation of God, worthy of the Father's command "Listen to Him." The scene solidifies Jesus' unparalleled identity as God's Son and sole authority.
Mark 9 8 Bonus section
The profound emphasis on "Jesus only" (Mark 9:8) implicitly serves as a powerful theological statement known in Christian theology as "solus Christus" – "Christ alone." This concept means that salvation and ultimate truth are found exclusively in Jesus Christ, distinct from and preeminent over any other source, person, or system. The disappearing act of Moses and Elijah is not a denigration of the Law and Prophets but rather a dramatic declaration that they pointed to Christ, and now, having served their purpose, the spotlight rests definitively on Him as the central and singular figure of God's unfolding story. This vision prepared the disciples, and by extension believers throughout history, to look solely to Jesus for wisdom, authority, and life, particularly in the face of suffering and uncertainty, aligning their understanding and faith exclusively with Him as the Beloved Son.
Mark 9 8 Commentary
Mark 9:8 serves as the poignant and theological culmination of the Transfiguration narrative. The departure of Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah, embodying the Prophets, along with the lifting of the overshadowing cloud of glory, signifies a deliberate divine act. This verse firmly establishes Jesus' unique supremacy: the Old Covenant witnesses have fulfilled their role by testifying to Him and recede into the background, leaving Jesus as the singular focal point. The disciples are left with "Jesus only," emphasizing that He is the sole, ultimate authority and revelation from God, echoing the Father's command from the cloud, "Listen to Him!" This moment pivots discipleship entirely onto Christ alone, asserting His preeminence over all previous dispensations. It highlights that the era of the Law and Prophets found its consummation in Christ; He is the sum and substance of God's redemptive plan.