Matthew 17 5

Matthew 17:5 kjv

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Matthew 17:5 nkjv

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

Matthew 17:5 niv

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Matthew 17:5 esv

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

Matthew 17:5 nlt

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him."

Matthew 17 verses

Matthew 17 5 Meaning

While Peter was speaking on the mountain, a brilliant, luminous cloud enveloped Peter, James, and John. From within this cloud, which symbolized God's immediate presence, the voice of God the Father declared Jesus' divine identity, affirming Him as His uniquely beloved Son in whom He found complete delight and approval. The Father then issued a clear and definitive command to "Listen to Him!" This authoritative pronouncement from Heaven unequivocally confirmed Jesus' Sonship and preeminent authority, establishing Him as the ultimate Prophet and Messiah whose words must be heeded above all others, including the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah), who were also present.

Matthew 17 5 Context

Matthew 17:5 occurs during the pivotal event of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Just before this, Jesus had begun to explicitly foretell His suffering, death, and resurrection (Matt 16:21) and had called His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him (Matt 16:24-28). The Transfiguration serves as a dramatic revelation of Jesus' divine glory and future resurrection glory, strengthening the faith of Peter, James, and John in the face of the unsettling predictions of His suffering. It positions Jesus as superior to the Law (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by Elijah), fulfilling Old Testament promises and foreshadowing the Kingdom. The voice from the cloud solidifies Jesus' unique status and underscores the Father's full approval of His mission. Historically, a "bright cloud" was a recurring motif in Old Testament theophanies, symbolizing the tangible presence and glory of Yahweh, familiar to a Jewish audience from events like the Exodus and the giving of the Law at Sinai. The declaration counters any contemporary Jewish expectation of a purely political Messiah by affirming Jesus' divine, rather than just human, Sonship and emphasizing spiritual authority.

Matthew 17 5 Word analysis

• While he was still speaking (Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος, Eti autou lalountos): Peter was suggesting building three shelters (tabernacles) for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, equating them. This phrase highlights the interruption of Peter's words, implying Peter’s earthly, misguided understanding, contrasting it sharply with the divine revelation about to occur. It immediately shifts focus from human initiative to divine intervention.
• A bright cloud (νεφέλη φωτεινὴ, nefelē phōteinē):
  • Cloud (νεφέλη, nefelē): In the Old Testament, the cloud often symbolized God's manifest presence (Shekinah glory), often associated with theophany (divine appearance) and revelation (e.g., Exod 13:21, 19:9; Num 9:15-22; 1 Kgs 8:10-11). It connected directly to the Exodus wilderness wanderings and God's dwelling in the Tabernacle. This element points to divine approval and sacred revelation.
  • Bright (φωτεινὴ, phōteinē): This intensifies the symbolism, signifying God's unapproachable holiness and overwhelming glory. It also distinguishes it from an ordinary cloud, making it clearly supernatural.
• Enveloped them (ἐπεσκίασεν αὐτοὺς, epeskiasen autous): The verb epeskiazen means "overshadowed," or "cast a shade upon." It suggests covering or engulfing in a powerful, awe-inspiring way, conveying divine protection, consecration, or overpowering presence, similar to the overshadowing of Mary by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). It denotes divine action and concealment in the presence of overwhelming glory.
• And behold, a voice (καὶ ἰδοὺ φωνὴ, kai idou phōnē):
  • And behold (καὶ ἰδοὺ, kai idou): This interjection serves to draw immediate attention, signifying the importance and suddenness of the divine utterance. It is a frequent literary device in Matthew, signaling significant divine action or revelation.
  • Voice (φωνὴ, phōnē): This refers to an audible, direct declaration from God the Father. It signifies authoritative divine speech, similar to the voice heard at Jesus' baptism.
• From the cloud (ἐκ τῆς νεφέλης, ek tēs nefelēs): This indicates the voice is not human but emanates from the symbol of God's presence, lending undeniable divine authority to the pronouncement. It is God Himself speaking.
• This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased (Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα, Houtos estin ho Huios mou ho agapētos, en hō eudokēsa):
  • This is My Son (Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Υἱός μου, Houtos estin ho Huios mou): This directly proclaims Jesus' unique divine identity. "My Son" in this context points not to adoptive sonship but to unique, essential divine Sonship, directly affirming His deity. It echoes Ps 2:7, a messianic Psalm.
  • Whom I love / My Beloved One (ὁ ἀγαπητός, ho agapētos): Agapetos emphasizes special, singular love. It evokes the binding of Isaac in Gen 22:2 (Isaac as "your beloved son"), suggesting sacrifice, but also carries connotations from Isa 42:1 (God's chosen servant) emphasizing His unique position and the Father’s deep affection and intimate relationship with Him.
  • With Him I am well pleased / in whom I delight (ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα, en hō eudokēsa): Eudokēsa signifies God's complete and eternal good pleasure, approval, and satisfaction with Jesus’ being and redemptive work. This is the Father’s endorsement of Jesus’ mission, suffering, and saving purpose. It resonates with Isa 42:1 regarding God's chosen servant.
• Listen to Him! (Ἀκούετε αὐτοῦ, Akouete autou):
  • This imperative command is paramount. It shifts focus entirely from Moses and Elijah to Jesus, placing His authority above the Law and Prophets.
  • It echoes Deut 18:15 and 18, where Moses prophesied about a "prophet like him" whom the people must listen to. This definitively identifies Jesus as that ultimate Prophet.
  • It implies obedience and submission to Jesus’ teachings and commandments. To "listen" implies not just hearing but obeying and accepting Jesus’ divine authority and teaching, as the disciples were grappling with His foretelling of suffering and death. This phrase becomes the foundational command for all discipleship.

Matthew 17 5 Bonus section

The presence of Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets) on the Mount of Transfiguration alongside Jesus highlights the continuity yet supremacy of Jesus' new covenant. Moses brought the Old Covenant law, Elijah was seen as the greatest of the prophets, expected to return before the Messiah (Mal 4:5-6). God's voice, in instructing the disciples to "Listen to Him!" concerning Jesus, fundamentally indicates that while the Law and Prophets bear witness to Jesus, they now find their ultimate fulfillment and purpose in Him. Jesus is the true and complete revelation of God, beyond what Moses and Elijah conveyed. This scene essentially marks a transition from the old dispensation to the new, with Jesus as the ultimate authority and mediator. The fear and falling prostrate of the disciples further emphasize the overwhelming nature of encountering divine presence and truth, causing a profound sense of awe and reverence, highlighting that human words cease when God speaks directly.

Matthew 17 5 Commentary

Matthew 17:5 stands as a profound moment of divine revelation. Following Peter’s faltering words that incorrectly equated Jesus with Moses and Elijah, the Father's voice thunders, overriding human presumption with incontrovertible divine truth. The luminous cloud and the direct heavenly pronouncement serve to definitively establish Jesus’ supreme authority and unique Sonship. The declaration “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” validates Jesus’ divine nature and His entire messianic mission, reaffirming what was first declared at His baptism (Matt 3:17).

The concluding command, "Listen to Him!", is not merely a suggestion but an absolute divine imperative. It elevates Jesus above all past prophets and institutions, signaling a new covenant era where Christ Himself is the ultimate and final Word of God (Heb 1:1-2). The command to listen implies wholehearted acceptance and obedience to Jesus' teaching, particularly in the context of His imminent suffering and the call for disciples to embrace their own cross. It's a clear directive for all followers of Christ throughout history: God the Father calls us to pay heed, and respond in faith and obedience, to every word Jesus speaks. Practical application includes prioritizing Christ’s words in daily life, seeking His teaching in Scripture, and obeying His commands over all other voices or human traditions.