Matthew 17 8

Matthew 17:8 kjv

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Matthew 17:8 nkjv

When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Matthew 17:8 niv

When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

Matthew 17:8 esv

And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Matthew 17:8 nlt

And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

Matthew 17 verses

Matthew 17 8 Meaning

Matthew 17:8 signifies the decisive shift in divine revelation and focus after the Transfiguration. The sudden disappearance of Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets) and the divine command to "hear Him" (referring to Jesus) culminates in the disciples seeing "no one, save Jesus only." This reveals Jesus's unique preeminence and singular authority as the ultimate and complete revelation of God, transcending and fulfilling the Old Covenant dispensations. It demands an exclusive focus and obedience to Christ as the solitary path and truth for believers.

Matthew 17 8 Context

Matthew 17:8 occurs immediately after the profound event of the Transfiguration. Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up a high mountain where He was transfigured, His face shining like the sun and His clothes becoming intensely white. Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets respectively, appeared and conversed with Jesus, symbolizing the unity and culmination of Old Testament revelation in Christ. Overwhelmed, Peter suggested building three tabernacles. Then, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from heaven, identified as God the Father, declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him!" The disciples fell on their faces in fear. Verse 8 describes their state after Jesus comforted them and the cloud departed, as they lifted their gaze once more.

Historically, the Jewish people eagerly anticipated the return of Elijah before the coming of the Messiah (Mal 4:5-6) and held Moses, the giver of the Law, in supreme reverence (Deut 18:15). The presence of both figures with Jesus affirmed His messianic identity and connection to Israel's foundational history. However, their subsequent disappearance served a critical polemic purpose: it firmly established Jesus's authority and supremacy over the Law and the Prophets, revealing Him not as an addition to, but as the fulfillment and transcender of, the Old Covenant. The divine command to "hear Him" thus solidified Jesus as the ultimate and final authoritative voice of God.

Matthew 17 8 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A conjunction linking this new observation to the immediately preceding event of the disciples falling in fear and Jesus touching them (v. 6-7). It signals a continuous narrative flow.
• when they had lifted up (ἐπάραντες - eparantes): An aorist active participle from epairō, meaning 'to lift up.' It implies a deliberate, active raising of their gaze from their prostrate position of fear (v. 6), signaling a reorientation of their attention.
• their eyes (τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν - tous ophthalmous autōn): Refers to their physical organs of sight. This emphasizes a return to normal perception, yet it is also a moment of new spiritual understanding as their vision clarifies on Jesus alone.
• they saw (εἶδον - eidon): A simple aorist indicative verb meaning 'they saw.' It states plainly the direct outcome of their action of lifting their eyes.
• no one (οὐδένα - oudena): An emphatic negative, meaning 'not even one.' It forcefully conveys the absolute absence of anyone else. This negation is crucial, highlighting the dramatic change from the previous scene where Moses and Elijah were present.
• save (εἰ μὴ - ei mē): A common Greek idiomatic expression equivalent to 'except' or 'but only.' It functions to isolate and emphasize the sole remaining entity from what has just been negated.
• Jesus (Ἰησοῦν - Iēsoun): Refers to Christ in His human, yet now newly understood, identity. While physically back to His everyday appearance, the experience had cemented His divine authority and uniqueness in the disciples' minds.
• only (μόνον - monon): An adverb meaning 'alone' or 'only.' It strongly reinforces the exclusivity of Jesus's presence. Together with "save," it forms a powerful phrase that is central to the verse's theological message.

• "when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw": This phrase marks a significant turning point in the disciples' perception and understanding. Emerging from profound awe and fear after encountering divine glory and the voice of God, their physical act of looking up coincides with a clarification of spiritual insight. Their previous vision, including Moses and Elijah, gives way to a singular focus.
• "no one, save Jesus only": This is the theological climax of the Transfiguration's immediate aftermath. It underscores Jesus's singular preeminence and sufficiency. The departure of Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets) after God's explicit command to "hear Him" signifies that the Law and Prophets served their purpose in testifying to Christ, but now He alone is the complete and final revelation. This commands exclusive discipleship and trust in Him above all prior dispensations.

Matthew 17 8 Bonus section

The sudden shift to "Jesus only" post-Transfiguration reinforces the principle of progressive revelation. While the Law and Prophets were valid and purposeful, they were ultimately pointers to Christ. Their departure symbolizes that while they contained God's truth, the full embodiment of that truth is now in Jesus, who does not merely add to previous revelations but supersedes and completes them. The disciples were being prepared for the period of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, where reliance would be solely on Him, without the glorious but temporary aid of such a heavenly vision. This act of "seeing Jesus only" is a mandate for every believer to fix their spiritual gaze solely on Christ amidst life's distractions, challenges, or even competing "revelations." It instructs that true spiritual clarity comes from centering all things on Him, recognizing His unparalleled authority and sufficiency for all of life and salvation.

Matthew 17 8 Commentary

Matthew 17:8 marks a pivotal moment of realization for the disciples Peter, James, and John. Having been terrified by the voice of God and witnessing Jesus's transfiguration alongside Moses and Elijah, their returning perception is profoundly narrowed. The dramatic vision served its divine purpose: to authenticate Jesus as the prophesied Messiah, the ultimate Law-giver and Prophet greater than Moses or Elijah, and to establish His divine Sonship. Once this truth is affirmed by the Father's own declaration to "hear Him," the symbols of the Old Covenant recede. Their sudden disappearance leaves Jesus as the solitary figure, impressing upon the disciples a crucial spiritual truth: Jesus is the singular object of their attention, allegiance, and obedience. He embodies the full revelation of God, requiring no additional testament from past prophets or laws. This exclusive focus on "Jesus only" is foundational for discipleship, indicating that all aspects of faith, hope, and guidance are now found solely in Him. The verse encapsulates the transition from partial, fragmented revelation under the old covenant to the complete and perfect revelation embodied in Christ.