Mark 9:2-13

Expanded Bible

The Transfiguration on the Mountain^(A)

² Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John [^Land led them] up on a high mountain by themselves. ·While they watched [In their presence; In front of them], Jesus’ appearance was ·changed [transformed; ^Ttransfigured]. ³ His clothes became shining white, whiter than any ·person [launderer on earth] could ·make them [bleach them]. ⁴ Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them, talking with Jesus. [^CGod had given the Law through Moses, and Elijah was an important prophet (see 6:1); together they signify that Jesus fulfills the OT.]

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “·Teacher [^LRabbi], it is good that we are here. Let us make three ·tents [shelters; shrines; tabernacles; Lev. 23:42]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [^CPerhaps Peter wanted to prolong their stay or to commemorate their visit.] ⁶ Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened.

⁷ Then a cloud came and ·covered [overshadowed; Ex. 24:15] them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my ·Son, whom I love [dearly loved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2; Mark 1:11]. Listen to him [Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22]!”

⁸ Suddenly Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ·commanded [instructed] them not to tell anyone about what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

¹⁰ So they ·obeyed Jesus [kept this statement/matter to themselves], but they discussed what he meant about rising from the dead.

¹¹ Then they asked Jesus, “Why do the ·teachers of the law [scribes] say that Elijah must come first [Mal. 3:1; 4:5]?”

¹² Jesus answered, “·They are right to say that Elijah must come first and [^LElijah is indeed coming, and he will] ·make everything the way it should be [restore/prepare everything]. But why does the Scripture say that the Son of Man will suffer much and ·that people will treat him as if he were nothing [be despised; be treated with contempt; be rejected; Is. 52:13—53:12]? ¹³ [^LBut] I tell you that Elijah has already come. And ·people [^Lthey] did to him whatever they wanted to do, just as ·the Scriptures said it would happen [it is written about him].”