Matthew 17 · Verse 10

Matthew 17:10

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

Matthew 17:10, King James Version

Matthew 17:10 in other translations

BSB	The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
WEB	His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
ASV	And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?
YLT	And his disciples questioned him, saying, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah it behoveth to come first?'
DARBY	And his disciples demanded of him saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first have come?
BBE	And his disciples, questioning him, said, Why then do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?
Webster	And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes, that Elijah must first come?

What does Matthew 17:10 mean?

Barnes' Notes

Verses 10-13. See also Mk 9:11-13. Why then say the Scribes, etc. The disciples appear to have been satisfied now, that he was the Messiah. The transfiguration had taken away all their doubts. But they recollected that it was a common doctrine among the Jews that Elijah should appear before the Messiah came; and they did not then recollect that he had appeared. To this difficulty the word then refers. "We are satisfied that thou art the Christ. But Elijah is not yet come, as was expected. What, 'then,' is the meaning of the common opinions of our learned men, the scribes? Were they right or wrong in their expectation of Elijah?" Mt 11:14.

(n) "Why then" Mal 4:5,6, Mt 11:14

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 10 His disciples - instead of His disciples, some MSS., with the Coptic, Armenian, Vulgate, all the Itala except two, and Origen, read simply, οι μαθηται, The disciples, i.e. those only who had been with him on the mount, Peter, James, and John. Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? - As the disciples saw that Elijah returned to heaven, knowing the tradition of the elders, and the prophecy on which the tradition was founded, Mal 4:5, Mal 4:6, Behold I send you Elijah the prophet, before the great and terrible day of the Lord shall come; and he shall turn the hearts, etc., it was natural enough for them to inquire what the meaning of the tradition, and the intention of the prophecy, were.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 17:1-13

Now the disciples beheld somewhat of Christ's glory, as of the only begotten of the Father. It was intended to support their faith, when they would have to witness his crucifixion; and would give them an idea of the glory prepared for them, when changed by his power and made like him. The apostles were overcome by the glorious sight. Peter thought that it was most desirable to continue there, and to go no more down…

Read the full comment on Matthew 17:1-13 →

Matthew 17:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532

ἐπηρώτησανepērōtēsanaskedG1905

αὐτὸνautonHimG846

οἱhoitheG3588

μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101

λέγοντες·legontessaying;G3004

τίtiWhyG5101

οὖνounthenG3767

οἱhoitheG3588

γραμματεῖςgrammateisscribesG1122

λέγουσινlegousinsayG3004

ὅτιhotithatG3754

ἨλίανĒlianElijahG2243

δεῖdeiit behoovesG1163

ἐλθεῖνeltheinto comeG2064

πρῶτον;¶prōtonfirst?G4413

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 17:10

Malachi 4:5-6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Matthew 11:14
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
John 1:21
And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
Mark 9:11
And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
John 1:25
And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
Matthew 27:47-49
Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Matthew 17:3-4
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Why.
3,4; 11:14; 27:47-49; Mal 4:5,6; Mr 9:11; Joh 1:21,25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 17:9
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 17:10
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Matthew 17:11
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Read all of Matthew 17

Matthew 17:10 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entonces sus discípulos le preguntaron, diciendo: ¿Por qué dicen pues los escribas que es menester que Elías venga primero?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et ses disciples l’interrogèrent, disant: Pourquoi donc les scribes disent-ils qu’il faut qu’Élie vienne premièrement?
German Elberfelder 1871	Und seine Jünger fragten ihn und sprachen: Was sagen denn die Schriftgelehrten, daß Elias zuerst kommen müsse?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et interrogaverunt eum discipuli, dicentes: Quid ergo scribæ dicunt, quod Eliam oporteat primum venire?