Matthew 17:3

Matthew 17:3

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

a. NLT: Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: And lo, appear to them did Moses and Elijah, talking together with him.  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, who kept talking with Him. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

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

a. And [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. behold [Strong: 2400 idoú, id-oo'; second person singular imperative middle voice of G1492; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see.]

c. [there] appeared [Strong: 3700 optánomai, op-tan'-om-ahee; a (middle voice) prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) ὄπτομαι óptomai op'-tom-ahee; which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternate of G3708; to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from G991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from G1492, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while G2300, and still more emphatically its intensive G2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and G4648 a watching from a distance):—appear, look, see, shew self.]

d. [unto] them [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. Moses [Strong: 3475 Mōseús, moce-yoos'; of Hebrew origin; (H4872); Moseus, Moses, or Mouses (i.e. Mosheh), the Hebrew lawgiver:—Moses.]

f. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. Elias [Strong: 2243 Hēlías, hay-lee'-as; of Hebrew origin (H452); Helias (i.e. Elijah), an Israelite:—Elias.]

h. talking [Strong: 4814 syllaléō, sool-lal-eh'-o; from G4862 and G2980; to talk together, i.e. converse:—commune (confer, talk) with, speak among.]

i. with [Strong: 3326 metá, met-ah'; a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 or G1537 and G1519 or G4314; less intimate than G1722 and less close than G4862):—after(-ward), × that he again, against, among, × and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, × and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.]

j. him [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

1). The subject of their talking is not shown in Mark but it is in Luke.

a). Mark 9:4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

b). Luke 9:30, 31 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

2). Perry Stone Hebraic Prophetic Study Bible: Christ personally invited Peter, James and John, often called his “inner circle,” to the mountain where they witnessed this event. Later, after Christ’s ascension, these men became the three main leaders in the church. The prophecies concerning the appearing of the Messiah were in the Law (Torah) and the Prophets. Moses represented the Law, whose rituals concealed God’s plan of redemption, and Elijah represented the prophets, who foresaw the Messiah and His Kingdom. Mose and Elijah discussed details concerning Christ’s death in jerusalem. It is uncertain what parts of God’s plan were unknown that these prophets revealed to Christ, but there was a necessity for them to speak to Him concerning the full revelation of His sufferings.

3). Some scholars teach that their presence here at the transfiguration indicates that Moses and Elijah will be the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3-12. The miracles that each did on earth during their ministries are similar to the miracles the two witnesses will produce. Turning water into blood and calling fire down from heaven.