Matthew 17:1-3

The Transfiguration

17:1 Six days later ¹  Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, ²  and led them privately up a high mountain. 17:2 And he was transfigured before them. ³  His ⁴  face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 17:3 Then Moses ⁵  and Elijah ⁶  also appeared before them, talking with him.

[17:1]  ¹ tn Grk “And after six days.”

[17:1]  ² tn Grk “John his brother” with “his” referring to James.

[17:2]  ³ sn In 1st century Judaism and in the NT, there was the belief that the righteous get new, glorified bodies in order to enter heaven (1 Cor 15:42-49; 2 Cor 5:1-10). This transformation means the righteous will share the glory of God. One recalls the way Moses shared the Lord’s glory after his visit to the mountain in Exod 34. So the disciples saw Jesus transfigured, and they were getting a sneak preview of the great glory that Jesus would have (only his glory is more inherent to him as one who shares in the rule of the kingdom).

[17:2]  ⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[17:3]  ⁵ tn Grk “And behold, Moses.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[17:3]  ⁶ sn Commentators and scholars discuss why Moses and Elijah are present. The most likely explanation is that Moses represents the prophetic office (Acts 3:18-22) and Elijah pictures the presence of the last days (Mal 4:5-6), the prophet of the eschaton (the end times).