Matthew 17 6

Matthew 17:6 kjv

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

Matthew 17:6 nkjv

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.

Matthew 17:6 niv

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

Matthew 17:6 esv

When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

Matthew 17:6 nlt

The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

Matthew 17 verses

Matthew 17 6 Meaning

Matthew 17:6 describes the immediate and intense reaction of the three disciples (Peter, James, and John) to the majestic appearance of God the Father during the Transfiguration. Upon hearing God's voice directly, which affirmed Jesus as His beloved Son and commanded them to "listen to Him," they were overwhelmed by the divine presence. Their response was one of profound awe, humility, and fear, causing them to prostrate themselves completely to the ground. This physical manifestation indicated their utter submission and terror in the face of absolute holiness and power.

Matthew 17 6 Context

Matthew chapter 17 opens with the momentous event of the Transfiguration (verses 1-8). Six days after Jesus' prophecy of His suffering and resurrection, He took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. There, His appearance was transformed: His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light. Moses and Elijah also appeared, conversing with Him. Peter, in awe but perhaps not fully grasping the divine majesty, suggested building three tents for them. It was at this point, as Peter was speaking, that a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud declared, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" Matthew 17:6 is the direct consequence of hearing this divine declaration, depicting the disciples' immediate, overwhelming reaction of profound fear and worshipful prostration. The historical context reflects a Jewish expectation that a direct encounter with God or His unmediated voice would be overwhelmingly powerful, potentially even lethal, and hence evoke a response of terror and worship.

Matthew 17 6 Word analysis

• When: Greek: kai (καί), "and" or "then." Signals an immediate sequential reaction.
• the disciples: Greek: hoi mathētai (οἱ μαθηταὶ). Refers to Peter, James, and John, the inner circle witnessing the Transfiguration.
• heard: Greek: akousantes (ἀκούσαντες), aorist active participle of akouō (ἀκούω), "to hear." Emphasizes that it was the act of hearing the voice that triggered their response. This was no mere sound, but a divine utterance they clearly perceived.
• this: Referring specifically to the voice of God the Father speaking from the cloud.
• they fell: Greek: epesan (ἔπεσαν), aorist active indicative of piptō (πίπτω), "to fall." Denotes a sudden, complete, and irreversible act. It wasn't a casual lowering.
• face down: Greek: epi prosōpon (ἐπὶ πρόσωπον), literally "upon face." This is the classic posture of extreme prostration, signifying the deepest humility, submission, awe, and often dread in the presence of overwhelming authority or holiness. It indicates a state of utter abasement.
• to the ground: Implied by "face down." Their entire bodies were completely lowered to the earth.
• terrified: Greek: ephobēthēsan (ἐφοβήθησαν), aorist passive indicative of phobeō (φοβέω), "to be put to flight," "to be afraid," "to fear." This refers to a profound, overwhelming fear, not merely simple fright. It's a "holy fear" or reverence mixed with dread in the face of divine power.
• greatly: Greek: sphodra (σφόδρα), an adverb meaning "exceedingly," "very much," "exceedingly." Intensifies the degree of terror. Their fear was not mild but utterly overwhelming.

Words-group analysis:

• "When the disciples heard this": Highlights that their reaction was a direct and immediate response to divine revelation—the specific command from the Father to listen to Jesus. This hearing implies understanding and impact, not just noise.
• "they fell face down to the ground": This phrase captures the extreme act of reverence and submission. It’s an act of profound humility and awe, consistent with Old Testament figures reacting to God's presence, signifying total self-abasement and recognition of God's unapproachable holiness and power.
• "terrified greatly": This conveys the overwhelming sense of holy dread that accompanies an encounter with the divine. It's more than common fear; it's a fear that stems from perceiving unblemished holiness and recognizing one's own sinfulness and smallness in comparison. The intensity (sphodra) emphasizes the powerful, visceral impact of God's voice and presence on mortal beings.

Matthew 17 6 Bonus section

The disciples' extreme reaction serves as a powerful biblical type. Their fear and prostration align with responses seen in Old Testament figures who encountered God (e.g., Jacob at Bethel, Gideon at the angel's appearance). This immediate and overwhelming fear demonstrates that the manifestation was undeniably divine and of unparalleled majesty. It contrasts sharply with Peter's somewhat mundane suggestion just moments before (building tents), underscoring that the Father's voice firmly reoriented the focus back to Christ's divine identity and authority. This event and the disciples' reaction ultimately prepare them for Jesus' post-resurrection appearances and the subsequent work of the Gospel, emphasizing the unique, authoritative nature of Christ as God's Beloved Son, to whom all must listen.

Matthew 17 6 Commentary

Matthew 17:6 concisely captures the disciples' instinctive human reaction to a direct, overwhelming encounter with the divine. Following the astonishing sight of the Transfiguration and the explicit voice of God the Father, the disciples were plunged into an experience of unapproachable holiness. Their immediate response—falling face down to the ground, utterly terrified—was not one of disobedience but of profound awe, humility, and submission. This profound prostration signified their unworthiness and smallness before infinite majesty. The "greatly terrified" aspect points to the holy fear, a blend of reverence and dread, that biblical figures often experienced when brought face-to-face with God's glory (e.g., Moses at the burning bush, Isaiah in the temple, Ezekiel seeing the divine chariots, John on Patmos). This holy fear compels profound worship and complete yieldedness. It teaches us that authentic encounter with God's unveiled glory is profoundly humbling and inspires an awe that is beyond ordinary human experience. For us, this verse highlights the necessity of reverent fear as an appropriate response to God's presence, leading to humility and a recognition of His ultimate authority, particularly His authority as declared in Jesus, His Son.