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Matthew 17:3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/17.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/17.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/17.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/17.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/17.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/17.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/17.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/17.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/17.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/17.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/17.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/17.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/17.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/17.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/17.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/17.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/17.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />All at once Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/17.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/17.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them and were talking with Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/17.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then the three disciples saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/17.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/17.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/17.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/17.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And look, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/17.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/17.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/17.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/17.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking together with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/17.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/17.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and lo, appear to them did Moses and Elijah, talking together with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/17.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And, behold, Moses and Elias were seen to them, conversing with him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/17.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/17.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, speaking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/17.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/17.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/17.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, as they were talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/17.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />And Moses and Elijah appeared to them as they were speaking with him.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/17.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/17.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared unto them, talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/17.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />And behold, there appeared to them, Moses and Elias talking with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/17.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />and presently they saw Moses and Elias conversing with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/17.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/17.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />And, behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/17.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />And they saw Moses and Elias talking with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/17-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=4820" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/17.htm">The Transfiguration</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: Kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">Suddenly</a> <a href="/greek/2400.htm" title="2400: idou (V-AMA-2S) -- See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!"></a> <a href="/greek/3475.htm" title="3475: Mōusēs (N-NMS) -- Or Moses, or Mouses of Hebrew origin; Moseus, Moses, or Mouses, the Hebrew lawgiver.">Moses</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/2243.htm" title="2243: Ēlias (N-NMS) -- Elijah, the prophet. Of Hebrew origin; Helias, an Israelite.">Elijah</a> <a href="/greek/3708.htm" title="3708: ōphthē (V-AIP-3S) -- Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.">appeared</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autois (PPro-DM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">before them,</a> <a href="/greek/4814.htm" title="4814: syllalountes (V-PPA-NMP) -- To talk with, discuss. From sun and laleo; to talk together, i.e. Converse.">talking</a> <a href="/greek/3326.htm" title="3326: met’ (Prep) -- (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives. ">with</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Jesus.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">4</span>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.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/24-15.htm">Exodus 24:15-18</a></span><br />When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, / and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. / And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/34-29.htm">Exodus 34:29-35</a></span><br />And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was unaware that his face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD. / Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses, and behold, his face was radiant. And they were afraid to approach him. / But Moses called out to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke to them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/19-8.htm">1 Kings 19:8-18</a></span><br />So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. / There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” / “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/4-4.htm">Malachi 4:4-6</a></span><br />“Remember the law of My servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him for all Israel at Horeb. / Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. / And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/9-30.htm">Luke 9:30-31</a></span><br />Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus. / They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/9-4.htm">Mark 9:4</a></span><br />And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/1-16.htm">2 Peter 1:16-18</a></span><br />For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. / For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” / And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-23.htm">Hebrews 11:23-29</a></span><br />By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict. / By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. / He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-15.htm">Deuteronomy 18:15-19</a></span><br />The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him. / This is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, so that we will not die!” / Then the LORD said to me, “They have spoken well. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a></span><br />The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-17.htm">John 1:17</a></span><br />For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-21.htm">Romans 3:21-22</a></span><br />But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. / And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/3-22.htm">Acts 3:22-23</a></span><br />For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you. / Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-30.htm">Acts 7:30-38</a></span><br />After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. / When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him: / ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/11-3.htm">Revelation 11:3-6</a></span><br />And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” / These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. / If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And, behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.</p><p class="hdg">behold.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/9-4.htm">Mark 9:4</a></b></br> And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/9-30.htm">Luke 9:30,31</a></b></br> And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: … </p><p class="hdg">Moses.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/11-13.htm">Matthew 11:13,14</a></b></br> For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/18-18.htm">Deuteronomy 18:18</a></b></br> 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/34-5.htm">Deuteronomy 34:5,6,10</a></b></br> So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD… </p><p class="hdg">Elias.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/17-10.htm">Matthew 17:10-13</a></b></br> And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/17-1.htm">1 Kings 17:1</a></b></br> And Elijah the Tishbite, <i>who was</i> of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, <i>As</i> the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/18-36.htm">1 Kings 18:36-40</a></b></br> And it came to pass at <i>the time of</i> the offering of the <i>evening</i> 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 <i>art</i> God in Israel, and <i>that</i> I <i>am</i> thy servant, and <i>that</i> I have done all these things at thy word… </p><p class="hdg">Elijah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/1-17.htm">Luke 1:17</a></b></br> 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/9-33.htm">Luke 9:33</a></b></br> 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/16-16.htm">Luke 16:16</a></b></br> The law and the prophets <i>were</i> until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/10-17.htm">Appear</a> <a href="/matthew/13-26.htm">Appeared</a> <a href="/acts/24-26.htm">Conversing</a> <a href="/matthew/16-14.htm">Elias</a> <a href="/matthew/16-14.htm">Elijah</a> <a href="/matthew/16-14.htm">Eli'jah</a> <a href="/matthew/14-5.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/matthew/17-1.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/matthew/8-4.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/matthew/8-24.htm">Suddenly</a> <a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/matthew/15-38.htm">Together</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/23-27.htm">Appear</a> <a href="/matthew/27-53.htm">Appeared</a> <a href="/mark/9-4.htm">Conversing</a> <a href="/matthew/17-4.htm">Elias</a> <a href="/matthew/17-4.htm">Elijah</a> <a href="/matthew/17-10.htm">Eli'jah</a> <a href="/matthew/17-8.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/matthew/17-4.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/matthew/17-4.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/matthew/28-9.htm">Suddenly</a> <a href="/matthew/17-5.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/matthew/17-22.htm">Together</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 17</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/17-1.htm">The transfiguration of Jesus.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/17-14.htm">He heals the boy with a demon,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/17-22.htm">foretells his own passion,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/17-24.htm">and pays tribute.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/17.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/17.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Suddenly</b><br>The sudden appearance emphasizes the miraculous nature of the event. It underscores the divine intervention and the supernatural aspect of the Transfiguration. This moment is unexpected and highlights the immediacy of God's revelation.<p><b>Moses and Elijah</b><br>Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the Prophets, symbolizing the entirety of the Old Testament. Their presence signifies the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus. Moses, the great lawgiver, and Elijah, the prominent prophet, both had significant encounters with God on mountains (Sinai and Carmel, respectively), which parallels the setting of the Transfiguration.<p><b>appeared before them</b><br>This indicates a visible, tangible presence, affirming the reality of the event to the disciples. It also suggests the continuity of life after death, as both figures are alive and recognizable. The appearance before the disciples serves as a witness to Jesus' divine authority and the continuity of God's plan.<p><b>talking with Jesus</b><br>The conversation signifies the unity and continuity of God's redemptive plan through Jesus. It suggests a discussion of Jesus' impending death and resurrection, as indicated in <a href="/luke/9-31.htm">Luke 9:31</a>, where they speak of His "departure." This dialogue highlights Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, and the central figure in God's salvation history.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>A central figure in the Old Testament, Moses is the lawgiver who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. His appearance here symbolizes the Law.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/e/elijah.htm">Elijah</a></b><br>A major prophet in the Old Testament, Elijah is known for his zealous defense of the worship of Yahweh against Baal worship. His presence represents the Prophets.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a></b><br>The central figure of the New Testament, Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God. In this event, He is transfigured, revealing His divine glory.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_transfiguration.htm">The Transfiguration</a></b><br>This event occurs on a high mountain, traditionally identified as Mount Tabor. It is a pivotal moment where Jesus' divine nature is revealed to His closest disciples.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/peter,_james,_and_john.htm">Peter, James, and John</a></b><br>These three disciples are witnesses to the Transfiguration, representing the inner circle of Jesus' followers.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_fulfillment_of_the_law_and_the_prophets.htm">The Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets</a></b><br>Jesus' conversation with Moses and Elijah signifies the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Him. This teaches us that all Scripture points to Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_glory_of_christ.htm">The Glory of Christ</a></b><br>The Transfiguration reveals Jesus' divine glory, encouraging believers to recognize and worship Him as the Son of God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_witness.htm">The Importance of Witness</a></b><br>Peter, James, and John's presence highlights the importance of witnessing and testifying to the truth of Jesus' divine nature.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_suffering.htm">Preparation for Suffering</a></b><br>The Transfiguration prepares the disciples for the upcoming suffering and crucifixion of Jesus, reminding us that glory often follows suffering.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_continuity_of_god's_plan.htm">The Continuity of God's Plan</a></b><br>The presence of Moses and Elijah underscores the continuity and unity of God's redemptive plan throughout history.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_17.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 17</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_moses_and_elijah_with_jesus.htm">Matthew 17:3 describes Moses and Elijah appearing alongside Jesus. What historical or archaeological evidence supports or contradicts such an extraordinary event? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_spiritual_darkness.htm">What occurred at the Mount of Transfiguration?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/has_anyone_ever_ascended_to_heaven.htm">Has anyone ever ascended to heaven?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_ghosts.htm">What does the Bible say about ghosts and hauntings?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/17.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">Moses and Elias.</span>--The identification of the forms which the disciples saw was, we may well believe, intuitive. If we accept the narrative as a whole, it is legitimate to assume that, in the state of consciousness to which they had been raised, they were capable of a spiritual illumination which would reveal to them who they were who were thus recognising their Master's work and doing homage to His majesty. There was, it is obvious, a singular fitness in each case. One was the great representative of the Law, which was a "school master" or "servant-tutor" (see Note on <a href="/galatians/3-24.htm" title="Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.">Galatians 3:24</a>) leading men to Christ, the other of the whole goodly fellowship of the prophets. Of one it had been said that a "Prophet like unto him" should come in the latter days (<a href="/deuteronomy/18-18.htm" title="I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like to you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.">Deuteronomy 18:18</a>), to whom men should hearken; of the other, that he should come again to "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children" (<a href="/malachi/4-5.htm" title="Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:">Malachi 4:5</a>). The close of the ministry of each was not after the "common death of all men." No man knew of the sepulchre of Moses (<a href="/deuteronomy/34-6.htm" title="And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knows of his sepulcher to this day.">Deuteronomy 34:6</a>), and Elijah had passed away in the chariots and horses of fire (<a href="/2_kings/2-11.htm" title="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.">2Kings 2:11</a>). Both were associated in men's minds with the glory of the kingdom of the Christ. The Jerusalem Targum on Exodus 12 connects the coming of Moses with that of the Messiah. Another Jewish tradition predicts his appearance with that of Elijah. Their presence now was an attestation that their work was over, and that the Christ had come.<p><span class= "bld">Talking with him.</span>--St. Luke (<a href="/luke/9-31.htm" title="Who appeared in glory, and spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.">Luke 9:31</a>) adds the subject of their communing: "They spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem." So far as the disciples then entered into the meaning of what they heard, or afterwards recalled it, it was a witness that the spirits of the lawgiver and the prophet accepted the sufferings and the death which had shaken the faith of the disciples as the necessary conditions of the Messianic kingdom. It is significant that the word for "decease" (<span class= "ital">exodos</span>) reappears in this sense once only in the New Testament, and then in close connection with a reference to the Transfiguration (<a href="/2_peter/1-15.htm" title="Moreover I will endeavor that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.">2Peter 1:15</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/17.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And, behold.</span> The exclamation, thrice repeated (ver. 5), marks the suddenness and unexpectedness of the occurrence. They who now appeared were no delusive, imaginary figures, but real personages, objectively presented to the spectators, in such bodies as appertained to their condition. <span class="cmt_word">Moses and Elias.</span> St. Luke adds, "who appeared in glory," radiant with the light which always accompanies heavenly visitors. Why these two saints were chosen to be present on this momentous occasion may be explained by various considerations. Both these worthies experienced something unparalleled in their departure from this life. Elijah was taken up to heaven without dying; Moses died, indeed, but he was buried by God in an unknown grave, and his body was under the especial care of Michael the archangel (see <a href="/jude/1-9.htm">Jude 1:9</a>), and we know not that it saw corruption. From the unseen world these were brought to do homage to the Messiah - Moses, a type of those blessed spirits who in Paradise await the final consummation, Elijah, a type of the saints who, after the resurrection, perfect in soul and body, shall enter into glory. Here were the representatives of the Law and the prophets, the principal supporters of the old covenant, honouring him who was introducing the new covenant, which was to fulfil and supersede the previous one. Spurious, degraded Judaism rejected Christ's claims; real, orthodox Judaism acknowledged him and reverenced him as the Christ foretold and fort, shadowed, "of whom Moses and the prophets did write" (<a href="/john/1-45.htm">John 1:45</a>). Now, too, it was made manifest that Jesus was not Elias or one of the prophets, as some erroneously had supposed, but different from and superior to all; that he had power over life and death, and could bring whom he would from the unseen World; that the cross and Passion were not degrading, or proofs of weakness, but glorious and triumphant accomplishments of the will or God. The question is asked - How did Peter and the rest recognize the two heavenly visitants? There may have been something conventional in their garb or appearance, which at once identified them; or the apostles may have known them by spiritual intuition or special revelation; or they may have gathered their knowledge from the conversation which they overheard. Anyhow, it was necessary that the two should be recognized, otherwise their appearance would have lost its significance, and the confirmation which they were intended to afford would fail to be given. Is there here an intimation that in heaven the blessed will know each other, though they never met in the flesh - shall know even as they have been known? <span class="cmt_word">Talking with him.</span> St. Luke tells us the subject of this mysterious dialogue - they "spoke of his decease (<span class="greek">ἔξοδον</span>, <span class="accented">exodus, departure</span>) which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." They conversed, not of the glory which was his before the world began, nor of the kingdom which he came to establish, but of his coming suffering and death, with their tremendous issues. At the very moment of this revelation of Divinity, the discourse is of humiliation and the cross. The apostles had been slow to understand the future that awaited their Master; here the great saints of the covenant bore their testimony to Christ's fulfilment of what had been prophesied and shadowed aforehand, how by the sufferings of his sacred humanity eternal glory should be won. So might the apostles be strengthened to look forward without apprehension or weak shrinking; for through the grave and gate of death lay the road to a joyful resurrection and celestial happiness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/17-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">Suddenly</span><br /><span class="grk">Καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(Kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">Moses</span><br /><span class="grk">Μωϋσῆς</span> <span class="translit">(Mōusēs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3475.htm">Strong's 3475: </a> </span><span class="str2">Or Moses, or Mouses of Hebrew origin; Moseus, Moses, or Mouses, the Hebrew lawgiver.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">Elijah</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἠλίας</span> <span class="translit">(Ēlias)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2243.htm">Strong's 2243: </a> </span><span class="str2">Elijah, the prophet. Of Hebrew origin; Helias, an Israelite.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">appeared</span><br /><span class="grk">ὤφθη</span> <span class="translit">(ōphthē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3708.htm">Strong's 3708: </a> </span><span class="str2">Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before them,</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοῖς</span> <span class="translit">(autois)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">talking</span><br /><span class="grk">συλλαλοῦντες</span> <span class="translit">(syllalountes)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4814.htm">Strong's 4814: </a> </span><span class="str2">To talk with, discuss. From sun and laleo; to talk together, i.e. Converse.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with</span><br /><span class="grk">μετ’</span> <span class="translit">(met’)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3326.htm">Strong's 3326: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">[Jesus].</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(autou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/17-3.htm">Matthew 17:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/17-3.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 17:3 Behold Moses and Elijah appeared to them (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/17-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 17:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 17:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/17-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 17:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 17:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>