Matthew 17 9

Matthew 17:9 kjv

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Matthew 17:9 nkjv

Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."

Matthew 17:9 niv

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Matthew 17:9 esv

And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

Matthew 17:9 nlt

As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Matthew 17 verses

Matthew 17 9 Meaning

This verse reveals Jesus' authoritative command for His closest disciples—Peter, James, and John—to maintain silence regarding the magnificent vision of the Transfiguration until a crucial future event: His resurrection from the dead. This injunction serves to control the timing of divine revelation, prevent misunderstandings of His messianic identity before His atoning death, and prepare the disciples for the suffering and ultimate vindication of the Son of Man. The vision, meant to fortify their faith, was to be fully comprehended only after His victory over death, when its deeper implications could be understood.

Matthew 17 9 Context

Matthew 17:9 is nestled immediately following the Transfiguration of Jesus. In this miraculous event, Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus' glory, seeing His face shine like the sun and His clothes become white as light. Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, appeared and spoke with Him, and God the Father audibly affirmed Jesus as His beloved Son. This vision was an unparalleled revelation of Jesus' divine Sonship and future glory. The specific command in verse 9 is given as they descend from the mountain, returning from this elevated spiritual experience to the world below. Historically, Jewish expectations for the Messiah often involved a triumphant political king who would overthrow Roman rule. A public revelation of Jesus' glory, devoid of the understanding of His suffering and death, could easily be misinterpreted and lead to a premature attempt to crown Him King, circumventing God's salvific plan. Therefore, Jesus' instruction maintains a necessary boundary until the true nature of His messiahship—that of the suffering servant who dies and rises—is undeniably confirmed through His resurrection. This command shields His mission from political exploitation and allows His followers to grasp the profound meaning of His redemptive work in its proper theological sequence.

Matthew 17 9 Word analysis

• As they were coming down (καταβαινόντων - katabainontōn): This indicates the act of descending from the mountain. It symbolizes a transition from a mountaintop experience of divine revelation back to the everyday reality and responsibilities, where the hard truths of suffering and death await.
• from the mountain (ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους - apo tou orous): While the specific mountain is not named, mountains in biblical narrative frequently serve as sites of divine encounter, revelation, and covenant, e.g., Sinai for Moses. This reinforces the sanctity and significance of the Transfiguration experience.
• Jesus commanded them (ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς - eneteilato autois ho Iēsous): The verb "commanded" (ἐντείλατο - enteilato) signifies a strong, authoritative, and direct instruction, leaving no room for misunderstanding or negotiation. Jesus here asserts His divine authority.
• 'Tell no one (μηδενὶ εἴπητε - mēdeni eipēte): This is a crucial expression of the "Messianic Secret." Jesus consistently manages the revelation of His identity to prevent a premature or incomplete understanding of His messianic role, particularly avoiding popular conceptions of a political deliverer. The injunction highlights divine timing.
• about the vision (τὸ ὅραμα - to horama): This refers specifically to the Transfiguration event. The term "vision" (ὅραμα - horama) emphasizes it was a divine manifestation, something seen and witnessed by God's direct initiative, rather than a mere dream or imagination. It implies supernatural origin.
• until (ἕως οὗ - heōs hou): This adverb introduces a critical condition, defining the duration of the secrecy. It signifies a temporary restriction that will be lifted upon the fulfillment of the stated condition.
• the Son of Man (ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - ho Huios tou anthrōpou): Jesus' favorite self-designation, deeply rooted in Dan 7:13. It speaks to both His authentic humanity and His divine, pre-existent glory, His authority to forgive sins (Mt 9:6), and His future role as judge (Mt 25:31). Crucially, here it emphasizes His identity as one who must suffer and be raised.
• has been raised from the dead (ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγερθῇ - ek nekrōn egerthē): This refers to Jesus' bodily resurrection. It is the decisive, validating act by God that proves Jesus' messianic claims, transforms the meaning of His suffering, and authenticates the power of His atonement. Only after this event could the disciples properly understand and declare His full glory and true mission.

• "Coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded": This phrase marks the transition from a private, divine revelation to the realm of human interaction and practical instruction. It underscores Jesus' role as the one in authority, setting the terms for understanding His identity.
• "Tell no one about the vision until...": This grouping reveals the purpose behind the "Messianic Secret." It's not about hiding Jesus' identity entirely, but about revealing it in the right sequence, specifically protecting His identity from misinterpretation as a purely political Messiah prior to His suffering and triumph over death. The revelation of His full glory needed to be understood in the context of His crucifixion and resurrection.
• "the Son of Man has been raised from the dead": This clause sets the essential precondition for proclaiming the Transfiguration. The resurrection is the interpretive key to the suffering and glory of Christ. Without it, the Transfiguration might simply suggest a conquering Messiah, but with it, the glory is revealed to encompass atonement and victory over sin and death, defining Jesus as the suffering Servant and triumphant Lord.

Matthew 17 9 Bonus section

• The Messianic Secret, evident here, is a theological and narrative motif primarily developed by Mark. Scholars debate its exact nature: Is it a genuine historical command by Jesus to control timing and avoid political messiahship? Or a theological construct by the early Church to explain why Jesus' divine nature wasn't universally recognized during His ministry, or to correct contemporary views of Messiahship? In Matthew, the secret is present but perhaps less emphasized than in Mark.
• The Transfiguration was not just a glimpse of future glory but a confirmation of Jesus’ identity by the Father before the three most influential disciples. It fortified them for the coming events of suffering and equipped them to bear witness later, when the time was ripe. Peter’s later writings (2 Pet 1:16-18) powerfully testify to the enduring impact of this specific event, showing that its memory became foundational for his understanding of Christ once the resurrection had clarified everything.
• The connection to Moses and Elijah further emphasized Jesus' fulfillment of all Old Testament hopes—He is the ultimate prophet like Moses, and the restorer promised before the Day of the Lord, like Elijah. The Father’s voice superseded even these revered figures, redirecting allegiance solely to Jesus.

Matthew 17 9 Commentary

Matthew 17:9 serves as a profound hinge point, linking the private glory of the Transfiguration to the impending suffering and public triumph of Jesus. The command for silence until the resurrection was paramount. Prior to His death and resurrection, the disciples, along with the broader Jewish society, struggled to reconcile messianic prophecies of suffering (e.g., Isa 53) with those of glory and kingship (e.g., Dan 7). Had the disciples broadcast the Transfiguration before the cross, it would have fueled popular expectations for an earthly king, potentially triggering a misguided rebellion against Rome and obscuring God's true redemptive plan through a suffering Messiah. Jesus’ identity as the 'Son of Man' encapsulated both His humanity and His ultimate divine authority, especially in His unique journey through death to resurrection. The resurrection fundamentally redefined "Messiah," making clear that His glory would not come through political victory but through self-sacrifice and conquest of death. It also confirmed His claims and provided the full understanding of why the Son of Man had to suffer. Post-resurrection, the disciples’ understanding of Scripture would be opened, allowing them to preach Christ crucified and risen, not just Christ transfigured.