Matthew 17 · Verse 4

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.

Matthew 17:4, King James Version

Matthew 17:4 in other translations

BSB	Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
WEB	Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
ASV	And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
YLT	And Peter answering said to Jesus, ‘Sir, it is good to us to be here; if thou wilt, we may make here three booths--for thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elijah.'
DARBY	And Peter answering said to Jesus, Lord, it is good we should be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles: for thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elias.
BBE	And Peter made answer and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if you will let me, I will make here three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
Webster	Then answered Peter, and said to 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 Elijah.

What does Matthew 17:4 mean?

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. Let us make here three tabernacles. A tabernacle is a tent. It was made commonly by fixing posts into the ground, and stretching on them cloth, fastened by cords. Isa 33:20. In some instances, they were made of branches of trees;--a temporary shelter from the sun and rain, not a permanent dwelling. Peter was rejoiced at the vision, and desirous of continuing it. He proposed, therefore, that they should prolong this interview, and dwell there. Mark adds, that they knew not what they said in proposing this. They were frightened, amazed, and rejoiced; and, in the ecstasy of the moment, they proposed to remain there.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 Peter said - let us make, etc. - That is, when he saw Moses and Elijah ready to depart from the mount, Luk 9:33, he wished to detain them, that he might always enjoy their company with that of his Lord and Master, still supposing that Christ would set up a temporal kingdom upon earth.

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 17:4 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.

ἈποκριθεὶςApokritheisAnsweringG611

δὲdenowG1161

ὁho<the>G3588

ΠέτροςPetrosPeterG4074

εἶπενeipensaidG2036

τῷtō<the>G3588

Ἰησοῦ·Iēsouto Jesus;G2424

κύριε,kurieLord,G2962

καλόνkalongoodG2570

ἐστινestinit isG1510

ἡμᾶςhēmasfor usG3165

ὧδεhōdehereG5602

εἶναι.einaito be.G1511

εἰeiIfG1487

θέλεις,theleisYou wish,G2309

ποιήσωpoiēsōI will makeG4160

ὧδεhōdehereG5602

τρεῖςtreisthreeG5140

σκηνάς,skēnastabernacles,G4633

σοὶsoifor YouG4771

μίανmianoneG1520

καὶkaiandG2532

ΜωϋσεῖMōuseifor MosesG3475

μίανmianoneG1520

καὶkaiandG2532

ἨλίᾳĒliafor ElijahG2243

μίαν.¶mianone.G1520

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

Cross references for Matthew 17:4

Mark 9:5-6
And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Luke 9:33
And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
Revelation 22:3-5
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
John 14:8-9
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Psalms 63:1-5
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. …
John 17:24
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Exodus 33:18-19
And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Isaiah 33:17
Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Psalms 4:6
There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Psalms 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

answered.
Mr 9:5,6; Lu 9:33
it is.
Ex 33:18,19; Ps 4:6; 16:11; 63:1-5; Isa 33:17; Zec 9:17; Joh 14:8,9
Joh 17:24; Php 1:23; 1Jo 3:2; Re 21:23; 22:3-5

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

Context

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.
Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Read all of Matthew 17

Matthew 17:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y respondiendo Pedro, dijo á Jesús: Señor, bien es que nos quedemos aquí: si quieres, hagamos aquí tres pabellones: para ti uno, y para Moisés otro, y otro para Elías.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et Pierre, répondant, dit à Jésus: Seigneur, il est bon que nous soyons ici; si tu le veux, faisons ici trois tentes: une pour toi, et une pour Moïse, et une pour Élie.
German Elberfelder 1871	Petrus aber hob an und sprach zu Jesu: Herr, es ist gut, daß wir hier sind. Wenn du willst, laß uns hier drei Hütten machen, dir eine und Moses eine und Elias eine.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Respondens autem Petrus, dixit ad Jesum: Domine, bonum est nos hic esse: si vis, faciamus tria tabernacula, tibi unum, Moysi unum, et Eliæ unum.