Matthew 17:13 kjv
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:13 nkjv
Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:13 niv
Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:13 esv
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:13 nlt
Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.
Matthew 17 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mal 4:5-6 | Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming... | Prophecy of Elijah's return before the great day of the LORD. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me..." | Prophecy of a messenger to prepare the Lord's way. |
| Isa 40:3 | The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD..." | Prophecy quoted by John as describing his own ministry. |
| Mt 3:1-3 | In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness... | John's ministry, fulfilling the role of the messenger. |
| Mt 11:10 | "This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face...'" | Jesus identifies John with the messenger prophecy. |
| Mt 11:14 | "And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come." | Jesus explicitly identifies John as Elijah. |
| Mk 1:2-3 | As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I send My messenger... prepare the way..." | John's role as the prophesied forerunner. |
| Lk 1:17 | He will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah... to make ready a people... | Angel Gabriel's prophecy of John fulfilling Elijah's role. |
| Lk 7:27 | "This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger...'" | Jesus' further affirmation of John's identity as the messenger. |
| Jn 1:21 | They asked him, "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." | John's humility, denying he was literally Elijah returned, yet fulfilling the prophecy. |
| Mt 17:10 | And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" | Immediate preceding verse, prompting Jesus' explanation. |
| Mt 17:12 | "But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him... Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer..." | Jesus explains Elijah's past coming (John) and links his suffering to His own. |
| Mt 14:10-12 | So he sent and had John beheaded in prison... | Account of John the Baptist's suffering and death. |
| Mk 9:12-13 | He answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first... but I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him." | Mark's parallel account affirming John's role and suffering. |
| Mt 16:12 | Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. | Parallel example of disciples reaching understanding after clarification. |
| Lk 9:45 | But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them... | Highlights disciples' general struggle to comprehend difficult truths. |
| Acts 13:24-25 | Before His coming John had first preached... But when John had finished his course... | Paul's sermon acknowledges John's preparative role. |
| Rom 11:2 | God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah...? | References Elijah's ministry and context of prophetic history. |
| Mt 16:21 | From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things... | Connects to the suffering motif introduced by John's fate. |
| Lk 24:45 | And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. | Broader concept of Christ illuminating disciples' understanding of prophecy. |
| 2 Cor 3:16 | Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. | Spiritual understanding requires turning to Christ. |
Matthew 17 verses
Matthew 17 13 Meaning
This verse marks a significant moment of insight for the disciples, clarifying Jesus' preceding discussion about Elijah's prophetic return. They comprehended that when Jesus spoke of the promised forerunner who must suffer rejection, He was referring specifically to John the Baptist. It directly links the Old Testament prophecy of Elijah with its New Testament fulfillment in John's ministry and eventual death.
Matthew 17 13 Context
This verse is the culminating understanding after a crucial dialogue following the Transfiguration. In Matthew 17:1-8, Jesus reveals His divine glory to Peter, James, and John. As they descend from the mountain, the disciples raise a question in verse 10: "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" This question reflects a prevalent Jewish expectation, rooted in Malachi 4:5-6, that Elijah would physically reappear before the Messiah. Jesus' answer in verses 11-12 confirms that Elijah indeed comes first, but clarifies that he "has come already," identifying this "Elijah" with someone who "they did not know him, but did to him whatever they wished." This directly points to the recent martyrdom of John the Baptist. Matthew 17:13 thus serves as the disciples' critical moment of discernment, connecting Jesus' cryptic statement about a suffering Elijah with the real-life suffering and death of John. This realization further prepares them for the equally uncomfortable truth of the Son of Man's impending suffering (verse 12b), subtly linking John's rejection to Jesus' own.
Matthew 17 13 Word analysis
- Then (Τότε - tote): This Greek temporal particle signifies a specific moment, an immediate consequence, or a logical follow-up to the preceding discourse. It emphasizes that the understanding occurred at that point as a direct result of Jesus' explanation. It indicates a cognitive shift.
- the disciples (οἱ μαθηταί - hoi mathētai): Refers to the followers of Jesus, likely encompassing the core three (Peter, James, John) present at the Transfiguration, but implicitly including the broader group. It underscores their role as learners being progressively taught.
- understood (συνῆκαν - synēkan): From syniēmi, meaning to put together, to comprehend, to grasp the meaning. It implies a deeper intellectual and spiritual insight, a coming-together of previously disparate ideas or an obscure statement becoming clear. They didn't just hear; they perceived and connected the dots. This highlights their cognitive growth, moving beyond simple questioning (v.10) to true comprehension.
- that He spoke (ὅτι ... ἔλεγεν - hoti ... elegen): Hoti introduces the content of their understanding. Elegen (imperfect tense of legō, to speak) indicates that Jesus was speaking or had been speaking concerning this. It frames Jesus' prior statements (v.11-12) as the specific source of their new clarity.
- to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Emphasizes that the communication and the resultant understanding were specifically directed towards and achieved by the disciples. It was a revelation given for their benefit.
- of John the Baptist (περὶ Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ - peri Iōannou tou Baptistou): This phrase unequivocally identifies the subject of Jesus' discussion. Peri (about/concerning) directly links the prophetic Elijah to John. "The Baptist" (tou Baptistou) is John's most common identifying epithet in the Gospels, confirming the specificity.
- Then the disciples understood: This phrase denotes a moment of cognitive breakthrough. After asking Jesus about Elijah's coming (v.10) and hearing His reply about "Elijah has come already" (v.12a) and "they did not know him, but did to him whatever they wished" (v.12b), the disciples connected the suffering of this implied "Elijah" to John's beheading by Herod.
- He spoke to them of John the Baptist: This clearly defines the subject matter that Jesus had been referring to, ending any ambiguity. It confirms Jesus' unique authority to interpret prophecy and identify its fulfillment in contemporary figures.
Matthew 17 13 Bonus section
- This verse underscores Jesus' authoritative interpretation of Old Testament prophecy. He does not deny Malachi's prophecy but redefines its fulfillment, steering the disciples away from popular misconceptions of Elijah's literal, dramatic reappearance.
- The disciples' belated understanding, indicated by "Then...understood," highlights their initial spiritual dullness or lack of immediate comprehension of Jesus' earlier hints (e.g., Mt 11:14). It points to the progressive nature of discipleship and spiritual growth, often requiring direct, plain teaching.
- The "whatever they wished" (from v.12) which they now linked to John's fate serves as a chilling precursor to what awaits Jesus. If the messenger suffered rejection, how much more would the One he announced? This helps prepare the disciples for Jesus' coming passion.
- The fact that they understood also indicates a victory for clarity over prophetic ambiguity. For the Jewish mind, the coming of Elijah was paramount; Jesus' identification of John clarifies this critical element of messianic expectation.
Matthew 17 13 Commentary
Matthew 17:13 is not merely a statement of fact but a crucial interpretive key. It reveals that the disciples, through Jesus' explanation, finally grasp the profound truth that John the Baptist, in his ministry and his tragic death, was the spiritual and prophetic fulfillment of Elijah's return prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6. This understanding signifies their maturation in perceiving the true nature of God's redemptive plan. They realize that prophetic fulfillment might not align with human expectations (e.g., a literal, fire-from-heaven Elijah). Instead, it could be a humble prophet rejected by the very people he prepared for the Messiah. This moment also subtly connects John's suffering as the forerunner to Jesus' own impending suffering as the Messiah (Mt 17:12b). It illustrates that true discernment comes from divine revelation and highlights the continuity between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament events, even when those fulfillments defy popular theological assumptions.