Matthew 17:11 kjv
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
Matthew 17:11 nkjv
Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.
Matthew 17:11 niv
Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.
Matthew 17:11 esv
He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.
Matthew 17:11 nlt
Jesus replied, "Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready.
Matthew 17 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great..." | Prophecy of Elijah's pre-Messianic arrival. |
| Mt 11:13-14 | "For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John... he is Elijah..." | John the Baptist as the prophetic Elijah. |
| Lk 1:17 | "He will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah..." | John the Baptist's role in Elijah's spirit. |
| Mk 9:11-13 | "Elijah does come first and restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah..." | Disciples' question, Jesus affirms prophecy. |
| Acts 3:20-21 | "And that He may send Jesus Christ... Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things..." | Universal restoration linked to Christ's return. |
| Mt 19:28 | "...in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory..." | The renewal of all things, regeneration. |
| Isa 40:3-5 | "A voice crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD!'" | Preparing the way, linked to John/Elijah. |
| Isa 49:6 | "...restore the preserved ones of Israel, and I will give You as a light to the Gentiles..." | Broader spiritual and universal restoration. |
| Jer 30:17 | "...I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, declares the LORD." | Metaphorical and physical restoration. |
| Joel 2:25 | "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten..." | God's restorative power in judgment/blessing. |
| Amos 9:11 | "In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down..." | Restoration of the Davidic kingdom. |
| Zech 8:3 | "...I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem..." | God's restoration of Jerusalem and His presence. |
| Rom 11:25-27 | "...all Israel will be saved... as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come out of Zion...'" | Eschatological restoration of Israel. |
| 1 Cor 15:28 | "...then the Son Himself also will be subject to Him... that God may be all in all." | Ultimate divine ordering and restoration. |
| Eph 1:10 | "...a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in Christ..." | Cosmic restoration and unity in Christ. |
| 2 Pet 3:13 | "But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth..." | New creation, ultimate restoration. |
| Isa 1:26 | "I will restore your judges as at the first..." | Restoration of righteous governance. |
| Ps 23:3 | "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness..." | Individual spiritual restoration. |
| 1 Pet 5:10 | "The God of all grace... will Himself perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." | God's restorative work in believers. |
| Ezek 36:33-36 | "...I will cleanse you from all your iniquities; and I will cause the cities to be inhabited..." | Restoration of land and people. |
| Hag 2:6-7 | "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more... I will shake heaven and earth... I will fill this temple with glory.'" | Eschatological shaking and glorious restoration. |
Matthew 17 verses
Matthew 17 11 Meaning
Jesus confirms the traditional Jewish understanding and prophecy that Elijah will indeed come before the Messiah's kingdom to prepare the way and effect a profound spiritual restoration. This statement serves as an affirmation of prophecy before His subsequent clarification that this prophetic "coming" had, in a sense, already occurred in John the Baptist. The "restoration of all things" encompasses a holistic renewal, aligning people's hearts with God, restoring proper worship, justice, and ultimately preparing for the establishment of God's perfect reign.
Matthew 17 11 Context
Matthew 17:11 directly follows the miraculous Transfiguration of Jesus on a high mountain, where He was momentarily glorified before Peter, James, and John. During this profound event, Moses and Elijah appeared, conversing with Jesus. As they descended the mountain, the disciples, having witnessed Elijah's visible presence, questioned Jesus about the common rabbinic teaching, based on Malachi 4:5-6, that Elijah must come first before the Messiah. Jesus's initial answer in this verse (17:11) acknowledges the truth of this prophecy. The subsequent verse (17:12) clarifies that Elijah had already come in the person of John the Baptist, indicating both a literal and a spiritual fulfillment of the prophecy, challenging their understanding of its timing and manner. This passage sits between the divine revelation of Jesus's glory and a subsequent demon exorcism, illustrating Jesus's divine authority alongside His compassionate earthly ministry.
Matthew 17 11 Word analysis
- Ἀποκριθεὶς (Apokritheis - Answered): This is an aorist participle, indicating Jesus's immediate response to the disciples' question. It signifies not just a simple reply but a definitive statement that addresses their spiritual query rooted in Old Testament prophecy.
- δὲ (de - And/But): A common conjunction often used for transition or gentle contrast. Here, it simply connects Jesus's answer to the preceding discussion about Elijah.
- εἶπεν (eipen - Said): A straightforward verb for speaking, emphasizing Jesus's teaching authority.
- αὐτοῖς (autois - To them): Referring specifically to the disciples present: Peter, James, and John, who had just witnessed the Transfiguration.
- Ἠλίας (Ēlias - Elijah): The Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Eliyahu (אֵלִיָּהוּ), meaning "My God is Yahweh." A highly revered prophet in Israel's history, known for confronting Baal worship, his ascension in a whirlwind, and a strong association with the eschatological expectations of the Messiah's coming (Mal 4:5-6). His appearance at the Transfiguration reinforced the disciples' expectation.
- μὲν (men - indeed/truly): A particle often used to confirm or emphasize a statement, usually followed by "de" to introduce a contrast. Here, it highlights the validity of the prophecy.
- ἔρχεται (erchetai - is coming/comes): Present tense, indicating certainty or an event scheduled to happen, but often in Greek, the present tense can denote an established truth or future certainty. Here it acknowledges the prophetic truth of Elijah's pre-Messianic coming.
- πρῶτον (prōton - first): Emphasizes the temporal sequence. Elijah's coming is understood to precede the decisive establishment of the Messianic kingdom. This aligns with the Jewish expectation that Elijah would herald the Messiah.
- καὶ (kai - and): A simple conjunction, connecting the act of "coming" with the subsequent action.
- ἀποκαταστήσει (apokathistēsei - will restore): From apokathistēmi (ἀποκαθίστημι), meaning "to restore," "re-establish," "bring back to its former state." This verb implies a comprehensive and healing return to an ideal, often righteous, condition. It suggests repairing, rebuilding, or setting right what has gone awry. This restoration is moral, spiritual, and potentially physical (e.g., peace within families, return to proper worship). In Septuagint, it is used for bringing things back to proper order, like lands or people.
- πάντα (panta - all things): This signifies universality and comprehensiveness. Not merely certain aspects, but "all" that needs restoration. This speaks to the total brokenness caused by sin and the complete healing that Elijah, in a prophetic sense, would facilitate, preparing the way for the Kingdom of God. This encompasses not just religious ritual, but also social justice, familial harmony (Mal 4:6), and spiritual alignment with God.
- "Elijah is coming first and will restore all things": This phrase directly addresses the disciples' traditional understanding derived from Malachi's prophecy. Jesus affirms the truth of the prophecy concerning Elijah's coming before the "great and dreadful day of the LORD," and his role in preparing people's hearts and re-establishing right relationship with God and each other. This restoration (ἀποκαταστήσει πάντα) goes beyond mere physical return, signifying a moral and spiritual realignment, crucial for welcoming the Messiah.
- Prophetic Affirmation vs. Fulfillment: In this verse, Jesus confirms the validity of the prophetic statement as a general principle. It sets the stage for the next verse (17:12) where He clarifies the fulfillment in John the Baptist, indicating that the prophetic 'spirit' of Elijah had already come. This distinction is crucial for understanding how God fulfills prophecies—sometimes in unexpected ways, or with layered fulfillments.
Matthew 17 11 Bonus section
The concept of "restoration of all things" (apokatastasis pantōn) extends beyond mere Jewish nationalistic hopes. In a broader New Testament theological sense, it refers to the final, comprehensive renewal of creation at Christ's second coming, where all effects of sin will be undone and God's perfect order fully established (Acts 3:21). Elijah's preparatory role, through John the Baptist, initiated this process by "turning the hearts" (Mal 4:6), fostering repentance and spiritual realignment, thus preparing people for the greater and final restoration brought about by the Messiah Himself. This verse therefore carries both an immediate historical fulfillment and an overarching eschatological significance, linking the past prophetic promises with future divine realities.
Matthew 17 11 Commentary
In Matthew 17:11, Jesus directly engages with the disciples' question about Elijah's prophesied coming before the Messiah, a common rabbinic belief rooted in Malachi 4:5-6. His affirmative statement, "Elijah is coming first and will restore all things," validates the accuracy of this ancient prophecy. The term "restore all things" signifies a comprehensive spiritual and moral renewal—a preparation of hearts and lives for the kingdom of God, aligning familial and societal relationships, and turning people back to righteous worship. This immediate affirmation shows that the prophetic blueprint concerning Elijah is true, even though its manner of fulfillment might surprise them. It underscores that God's plan unfolds in both literal and spiritual dimensions, preparing the path for His Christ and for the complete re-establishment of His intended order for creation.