The Transfiguration

17 After six days(A) Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.(B) He was transformed[a] in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light.(C) Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here! If You want, I will make[b] three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”(D)

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered[c] them, and a voice from the cloud said:

This is My beloved Son.
I take delight in Him.
Listen to Him!(E)

When the disciples(F) heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified.

Then Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.”(G) When they looked up they saw no one except Him[d]—Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them,(H) “Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised[e] from the dead.”

10 So the disciples questioned Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”(I)

11 “Elijah is coming[f] and will restore everything,” He replied.[g](J) 12 “But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”[h](K) 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:2 Or transfigured
  2. Matthew 17:4 Other mss read wish, let’s make
  3. Matthew 17:5 Or enveloped; Ex 40:34-35
  4. Matthew 17:8 Other mss omit Him
  5. Matthew 17:9 Other mss read Man has risen
  6. Matthew 17:11 Other mss add first
  7. Matthew 17:11 Other mss read Jesus said to them
  8. Matthew 17:12 Lit suffer by them

Jesus’ transformation

17 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain. He was transformed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.

Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I’ll make three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, look, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!” Hearing this, the disciples fell on their faces, filled with awe.

But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anybody about the vision until the Human One[a] is raised from the dead.”

10 The disciples asked, “Then why do the legal experts say that Elijah must first come?”

11 Jesus responded, “Elijah does come first and will restore all things. 12 In fact, I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they didn’t know him. But they did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way the Human One[b] is also going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples realized he was telling them about John the Baptist.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:9 Or Son of Man
  2. Matthew 17:12 Or Son of Man