Matthew 17:3 kjv
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Matthew 17:3 nkjv
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Matthew 17:3 niv
Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Matthew 17:3 esv
And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
Matthew 17:3 nlt
Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
Matthew 17 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 9:4 | And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses... | Parallel account of the Transfiguration. |
| Lk 9:30-31 | And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. | Parallel account; specifies "departure" (exodus). |
| Deut 18:15 | The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you... | Moses prophesying a greater prophet, Jesus. |
| Mal 4:5-6 | Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. | Prophecy of Elijah's return before the Messiah. |
| 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' mission to fulfill Old Testament revelation. |
| Lk 24:44 | These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. | Jesus fulfilling all OT Scripture. |
| Ex 33:11 | Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face... | Moses' unique direct encounter with God. |
| Ex 34:29-35 | When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand... the skin of his face shone... | Moses experiencing divine glory after encounter. |
| 1 Kgs 18:36-40 | Elijah on Mount Carmel demonstrating God's power. | Elijah's zeal and prophetic authority. |
| 2 Kgs 2:11-12 | As they were going along and talking, 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 ascent, not experiencing death. |
| Jn 1:17 | For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. | Jesus superseding Moses, bringing ultimate reality. |
| Acts 3:22-23 | Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers... | Peter's sermon citing Moses' prophecy of Christ. |
| 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... | God's ultimate revelation through Jesus. |
| Heb 8:6 | But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better... | New Covenant through Christ surpassing the Old. |
| 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... | Old Testament testifies to Jesus. |
| Isa 42:1 | Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights... | Foreshadowing divine approval for Jesus. |
| Isa 40:5 | And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed... | Prophecy of God's revealed glory. |
| Psa 110:1-4 | The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” | Christ's exalted status over the Old Covenant priesthood. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name... | Christ's ultimate authority and supremacy. |
| 2 Pet 1:16-18 | For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty... | Peter's personal witness of the Transfiguration. |
| 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 predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. | Prophets foretold Christ's sufferings and glory. |
| Lk 16:29-31 | They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead. | Moses and the Prophets as sufficient testimony. |
Matthew 17 verses
Matthew 17 3 Meaning
Matthew 17:3 describes the supernatural appearance of two towering figures of Old Testament history, Moses and Elijah, to Peter, James, and John, on a high mountain alongside Jesus during His transfiguration. Their visible manifestation and conversation with Jesus affirm His divine identity as the Son of God and validate His impending suffering and death, which were divinely ordained and prophetically foretold. It signifies the ultimate unity of the Law and the Prophets in the person and mission of Jesus, showing Him as the culmination of God's redemptive plan.
Matthew 17 3 Context
Matthew 17:3 occurs as a central event within the Gospel of Matthew, directly following Jesus' first clear prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection (Mt 16:21) and His teaching on costly discipleship (Mt 16:24-28). The Transfiguration serves as a divine affirmation of Jesus' identity and mission precisely when the path ahead becomes clear, revealing a suffering Messiah. Taking place on a "high mountain," it intentionally evokes parallels to Old Testament revelations given on mountains, particularly to Moses at Sinai and Elijah on Mount Carmel and Horeb, but it underscores Jesus' supreme authority and preeminence. It is a foretaste of His coming glory and validates His trajectory towards the cross as God's intended path.
Matthew 17 3 Word analysis
- And behold (καὶ ἰδοὺ, kai idou): An exclamation, meaning "Look!" or "Lo!" This phrase serves as an immediate attention-grabber, introducing a sudden, unexpected, and significant event. In Matthew, it frequently precedes moments of divine revelation or extraordinary occurrence, signaling something momentous is about to be observed by the reader or audience.
- Moses (Μωϋσῆς, Mōysēs): The pivotal figure representing the Law (Torah) in Israel. He was the great liberator, mediator of the Old Covenant at Mount Sinai, and the prophet through whom God revealed His commandments. His presence here signifies the entire Old Covenant legal system testifying to Jesus. He also prefigured Christ as a deliverer and prophet.
- and Elijah (καὶ Ἠλίας, kai Ēlias): The foremost prophet, zealot for Yahweh, and one who did not experience death but was taken into heaven. He represents the Prophets (Nevi'im) of the Old Testament. His appearance here ties into the Jewish expectation of his return before the Messiah (Mal 4:5-6), confirming Jesus' messianic identity. He prefigures Christ's authority over life and death.
- appeared (ὤφθησαν, ōphthēsan): The passive voice of horaō, "to see," meaning "they were seen" or "they manifested." This indicates a divine act, not merely an illusion or dream, but a visible, real, supernatural manifestation of these figures. It emphasizes that this event was caused by God for the disciples to witness.
- to them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Refers specifically to Peter, James, and John. This highlights the selective nature of this revelation, meant to strengthen the faith of the three key disciples who would play foundational roles in the early church and had witnessed Peter's recent rebuke of Jesus (Mt 16:22-23).
- talking (συλλαλοῦντες, syllalountes): From syllaleo, "to speak together with," indicating a deliberate conversation, not just a static appearance. Luke 9:31 clarifies the subject of their discussion: Jesus' "departure" or exodus, specifically referring to His death, resurrection, and ascension, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. This affirms that Jesus' suffering was part of a divine plan.
- with Him (μετ' αὐτοῦ, met' autou): Points directly to Jesus. This confirms Jesus as the central figure and primary subject of the conversation. Moses and Elijah are not just appearing but engaging with Jesus, validating His mission and authority. Their presence with Him underscores His ultimate supremacy and their affirmation of His fulfillment of God's eternal purposes.
Matthew 17 3 Bonus section
The choice of Moses and Elijah as witnesses is replete with theological symbolism. Both figures experienced extraordinary encounters with God on mountains: Moses on Sinai (receiving the Law), and Elijah on Horeb (hearing God's "still small voice") and Carmel (confronting false prophets). Their appearance with Jesus on the mount signifies that Jesus transcends and fulfills these earlier divine revelations. Furthermore, both Moses and Elijah were deliverers, the former leading Israel out of Egyptian bondage, and the latter delivering Israel from idolatry. Their discussion with Jesus about His exodus (Lk 9:31) connects His redemptive work to their past salvific acts, yet portraying His "exodus" (His sacrificial death and ascension) as the ultimate and final liberation for all humanity from sin and death. This also offered reassurance to the disciples that Jesus was indeed the awaited one, sanctioned by heaven, despite the impending cross that seemed like a failure to human eyes. This event serves as an anticipatory glimpse of the coming Kingdom, when saints of all ages will commune with their Glorious Lord.
Matthew 17 3 Commentary
Matthew 17:3 captures a profoundly significant moment in redemptive history, illustrating Jesus' ultimate authority and His fulfillment of the entire Old Testament. The presence of Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets respectively, serves as a divine witness to Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Their discussion with Him concerning His "departure" in Jerusalem reveals that even the greatest figures of Israel's past acknowledge and affirm the necessity and significance of His redemptive work on the cross. This event transforms the disciples' perception of Jesus, solidifying their understanding of His divine sonship and confirming that the path to glory for the Son of Man involves suffering, validating the very thing Peter had just resisted. It is a moment of both glory and theological affirmation, bridging the old covenant with the new, and underscoring Jesus' preeminence.