Matthew 17 · Verse 6

Matthew 17:6

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
Matthew 17:6, King James Version

Matthew 17:6 in other translations

BSBWhen the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.
WEBWhen the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid.
ASVAnd when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
YLTAnd the disciples having heard, did fall upon their face, and were exceedingly afraid,
DARBYAnd the disciples hearing it fell upon their faces, and were greatly terrified.
BBEAnd at these words the disciples went down on their faces in great fear.
WebsterAnd when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were in great fear.

What does Matthew 17:6 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. They fell on their face. They entered into the cloud; or the cloud enveloped them, Lk 9:34. They were, therefore, afraid. They were awed at the presence of God; and their fears were removed only by the voice of their beloved Master. No man can see God and live. And it is only the glory of God, as it shines in the face of Christ, (see 2Cor 4:6) that mortals can bear.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Fell on their face - Dismayed by the voice, and dazzled by the glory of the cloud. So Daniel, Dan 8:17, and Saul of Tarsus, Act 9:4.

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 17:6 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
ἀκούσαντεςakousanteshaving heard [it]G191
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
ἔπεσανepesanfellG4098
ἐπὶepiuponG1909
πρόσωπονprosōponfaceG4383
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐφοβήθησανephobēthēsanwere terrifiedG5399
σφόδρα.sphodragreatly.G4970

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

Cross references for Matthew 17:6

  • Acts 26:14

    And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

  • Judges 13:20

    For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.

  • 2 Peter 1:18

    And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

  • Daniel 8:17

    So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:16

    And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

  • Daniel 10:7-9

    And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

  • Ezekiel 3:23

    Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.

  • Leviticus 9:24

    And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

  • Ezekiel 43:3

    And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.

  • Daniel 10:16-17

    And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

  • Acts 22:7

    And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

  • Judges 13:22

    And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Le 9:24; Jud 13:20,22; 1Ch 21:16; Eze 3:23; 43:3; Da 8:17; 10:7-9
Da 10:16,17; Ac 22:7; 26:14; 2Pe 1:18

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Matthew 17:6

    And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

  • Matthew 17:7

    And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Read all of Matthew 17

Matthew 17:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y oyendo esto los discípulos, cayeron sobre sus rostros, y temieron en gran manera.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ce que les disciples ayant entendu, ils tombèrent le visage contre terre et furent saisis d’une très grande peur.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und als die Jünger es hörten, fielen sie auf ihr Angesicht und fürchteten sich sehr.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et audientes discipuli ceciderunt in faciem suam, et timuerunt valde.