Matthew 17 · Verse 3

Matthew 17:3

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Matthew 17:3, King James Version

Matthew 17:3 in other translations

BSBSuddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
WEBBehold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
ASVAnd behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him.
YLTand lo, appear to them did Moses and Elijah, talking together with him.
DARBYand lo, Moses and Elias appeared to them talking with him.
BBEAnd Moses and Elijah came before their eyes, talking with him.
WebsterAnd behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him.

What does Matthew 17:3 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias. Moses, a distinguished servant of God, by whom the law was given, and whose institutions typified the Messiah. It was particularly proper that he should appear, when his prophecies and types were about to be fulfilled, and his rites to be done away. Elias, or Elijah, a distinguished prophet, taken to heaven without seeing death. See 2Kgs 2:11. Elijah had been honoured eminently by being thus translated, and still more by being made the model of the forerunner of the Messiah, Mt 11:14, Lk 1:17. They appeared "in glory," Lk 9:31 i.e., as they are in heaven---- with the glory which the redeemed have there.

Talking with him. Lk 9:31 informs us that they conversed about his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. To redeemed spirits, that death was an object of intense interest. By faith in that death they had been saved; and now that the Redeemer of mankind was about to die, it is no wonder that this was the burden of his and their thoughts.

Luke adds, Lk 9:32 that Peter and they who were with him were heavy with sleep. It is not improbable that this was in the night; that Jesus was engaged in prayer; and that he had permitted his weary followers to compose themselves to rest. It was after they were awaked that they saw this vision. Probably the sudden splendour, the bright shining, aroused them from sleep.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Moses and Elias - Elijah came from heaven in the same body which he had upon earth, for he was translated, and did not see death, 2Kgs 2:11. And the body of Moses was probably raised again, as a pledge of the resurrection; and as Christ is to come to judge the quick and the dead, for we shall not all die, but all shall be changed, 1Cor 15:51, he probably gave the full representation of this in the person of Moses, who died, and was thus raised to life, (or appeared now as he shall appear when raised from the dead in the last day), and in the person of Elijah, who never tasted death. Both their bodies exhibit the same appearance, to show that the bodies of glorified saints are the same, whether the person had been translated, or whether he had died. It was a constant and prevalent tradition among the Jews, that both Moses and Elijah should appear in the times of the Messiah, and to this very tradition the disciples refer, Mat 17:10. We may conceive that the law in the person of Moses, the great Jewish legislator, and the prophets in the person of Elijah, the chief of the prophets, came now to do homage to Jesus Christ, and to render up their authority into his hands; as he was the End of the law, and the grand subject of the predictions of the prophets. This appears more particularly from what St. Luke says, Luk 9:31, that Moses and Elijah conversed with our Lord on his death, which he was about to accomplish, (πληρουν to fulfill), because in it, all the rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices of the law, as well as the predictions of the prophets, were fulfilled.

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 17:3 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
ἰδοὺidoubeholdG2400
ὤφθηōphthēit appearedG3700
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ΜωϋσῆςMōusēsMosesG3475
καὶkaiandG2532
ἨλίαςĒliasElijahG2243
συλλαλοῦντεςsullalountestalkingG4814
μετ᾽met᾽withG3326
αὐτοῦ.¶autouHim.G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 17:3

  • Malachi 4:5

    Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

  • Luke 24:44

    And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

  • Mark 9:4

    And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

  • 1 Kings 18:36-40

    And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. …

  • 2 Corinthians 3:7-11

    But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. …

  • Deuteronomy 34:10

    And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,

  • Luke 16:16

    The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

  • Deuteronomy 34:5-6

    So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth–peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

  • Luke 24:27

    And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

  • 2 Kings 2:11-14

    And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

  • Deuteronomy 18:18

    I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

  • Luke 1:17

    And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
behold.
Mr 9:4; Lu 9:30,31
Moses.
11:13,14; De 18:18; 34:5,6,10; Lu 24:27,44; Joh 1:17; 5:45-47
2Co 3:7-11; Heb 3:1-6
Elias.
10-13; 1Ki 17:1; 18:36-40; 2Ki 2:11-14; Mal 4:5
Elijah.
Lu 1:17; 9:33; 16:16

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

Context

  • Matthew 17:2

    And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

  • Matthew 17:3

    And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

  • Matthew 17:4

    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.

Read all of Matthew 17

Matthew 17:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y he aquí les aparecieron Moisés y Elías, hablando con él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et voici, Moïse et Élie leur apparurent, parlant avec lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und siehe, Moses und Elias erschienen ihnen und unterredeten sich mit ihm.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ecce apparuerunt illis Moyses et Elias cum eo loquentes.