Luke 9:30
in Luke 9Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And behold, there talked with him two men, who were Moses and Elijah;
KJV
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
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This verse in Luke 9
Commentary
15 notes on this verseOr else, according to your capacity is the word either lessened or increased to you, and unless you ascend the summit of a higher wisdom, you behold not what glory there is in the word of God. Now the garments of the Word, are the discourses of the Scriptures, and certain clothings of the Divine mind; and as His raiment shone white, so in the eyes of your understanding, the sense of the divine words becomes clear. Hence after Moses, Elias; that is, the Law and the Prophets in the Word.
This site's exposition
he took Peter and John and James
on Luke 9:28-31
About an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray, prayer again the doorway into a chapter-turning event, as at the baptism and before choosing the twelve. As he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering, and there talked with him two men, Moses and Elias, the law and the prophets both present at once. They appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem, the Greek word for departure standing in Luke's own text, the cross named here as a mission accomplished rather than an accident suffered.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Besides, Moses and Elijah stood at Jesus' side and spoke with one another about his departure that he was about, it says, to accomplish at Jerusalem. This meant the mystery of the dispensation in the flesh and of his precious suffering upon the cross. It is also true that the law of Moses and the word of the holy prophets foreshadowed the mystery of Christ. The law of Moses foreshadowed it by types and shadows, painting it as in a picture.
After that, Pentecost is a most joyous space for conferring baptisms; wherein, too, the resurrection of the Lord was repeatedly proved among the disciples, and the hope of the advent of the Lord indirectly pointed to, in that, at that time, when He had been received back into the heavens, the angels told the apostles that "He would so come, as He had withal ascended into the heavens; " at Pentecost, of course.
A commentator
Apostolic ConstitutionsConstitutions of the Holy Apostles Book 6 · Written before 380.
proposed
For He nowhere has dissolved the law, as Simon pretends, but fulfilled it; for He says: "One iota, or one tittle, shall not pass from the law until all be fulfilled." For says He, "I come not to dissolve the law, but to fulfil it." For Moses himself, who was at once the lawgiver, and the high priest, and the prophet, and the king, and Elijah, the zealous follower of the prophets, were present at our Lord's transfiguration in the mountain, and witnesses of His incarnation and of His sufferings, as the intimate friends of Christ, but not as enemies and strangers. Whence it is demonstrated that the law is good and holy, as also the prophets.
The mystery, namely, of His incarnation, also the life-giving Passion accomplished on the sacred cross.
What strange thing do we announce when we say that God became man and when you say that Abraham received the Lord as a guest? What strange thing do we announce when Jacob says, "I have seen a heavenly being face to face, yet my life has been spared"? The same Lord who ate with Abraham also ate with us. What strange thing do we announce? We present two witnesses who stood before the Lord on Mount Sinai: Moses was "in the hollow of the rock," and Elijah was once in the hollow of the rock. Being present at his transfiguration on Mount Tabor, they spoke to his disciples "of his death that he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem."
8 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
Moses and Elijah appeared beside him so that they might know that he was Lord of the prophets. He transformed his face on the mountain before he died, so that they would not be in doubt concerning the transformation of his face after his death. …
The Medieval Church4 voices
Luke writes more clearly of how they appeared and what they spoke about with him. Luke says that Moses and Elijah were seen in majesty, and they spoke of his passing away which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. Moses and Elijah, who talked …
And behold, two men were speaking with him. They were Moses and Elias, of whom we read that one died, and the other was taken up into heaven. Unless this signifies the future glory of all the saints with the Lord in majesty, who at …
Third, regarding the honor of his retinue, he adds: And behold, two men were speaking with him. For it was not fitting that the Lord of glory should be seen alone, but that he should have an honorable retinue; therefore regarding this he adds: And …
(ut sup. 13.) But while these things were so, that it might be shown there was but one Lord of the new and old covenant, and the mouths of heretics might be shut, and men might believe on the resurrection, and He also, who was transfigured, be believed to be the Lord of the living and the dead, Moses and Elias, as servants, stand by their Lord in His glory; hence it follows, And behold there talked with him two men. For it became men, seeing the glory and confidence of their fellow servants, to admire indeed the merciful condescension of the Lord, but to emulate those who had laboured before them, and looking to the pleasantness of future blessings, to be the more strengthened for conflicts. For he who has known the reward of his labours, will the more easily endure them.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And behold there talked with him two men,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The event described in these verses, commonly called "the transfiguration" — is one of the most remarkable events in the history of our Lord's earthly ministry. It is one of those passages which we should always read with particular thankfulness. It lifts a corner of the veil which hangs over the world to come — and throws light on some of the deepest truths of our religion. In the first place — this passage shows us something of the glory which Christ will have at His second coming.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The event described in these verses, commonly called "the transfiguration" — is one of the most remarkable events in the history of our Lord's earthly ministry. It is one of those passages which we should always read with particular thankfulness. It lifts a corner of the veil which hangs over the world to come — and throws light on some of the deepest truths of our religion. In the first place — this passage shows us something of the glory which Christ will have at His second coming. We read that, "As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white!" — and that the disciples who were with Him "saw His glory." We need not doubt that this marvelous vision was meant to encourage and strengthen our Lord's disciples. They had just been hearing of His cross and death — and the self-denial and sufferings to which they must submit themselves, if they would be saved. They were now cheered by a glimpse of the "glory that would follow," and the reward which all faithful servants of their Master would one day receive. They had seen their Master's day of weakness. They now saw, for a few minutes — a pattern and specimen of His future power and glory. Let us take comfort in the thought, that there are good things laid up in store for all true Christians — which shall make ample amends for the afflictions of this present time. Now is the season for carrying the cross, and sharing in our Savior's humiliation. The crown, the kingdom, the glory — are all yet to come! Christ and His people are now, like David in the cave of Adullam — despised, and lightly esteemed by the world. There seems no form or loveliness in Him, or in His service. But the hour is coming, and will soon be here — when Christ shall take to Himself His great power and reign, and put down every enemy under His feet!
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἰδοὺ | idou | behold | G2400 → | 200 times |
| ἄνδρες | andres | men | G435 → | 216 times |
| δύο | duo | two | G1417 → | 133 times |
| συνελάλουν | sunelaloun | were talking | G4814 → | 6 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | with Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| οἵτινες | oitines | who | G3748 → | 144 times |
| ἦσαν | esan | were | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| Μωϋσῆς | mouses | Moses | G3475 → | 78 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Ἠλίας· | elias | Elijah; | G2243 → | 29 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἰδοὺbehold
idouG2400 →200 times
ἄνδρεςmen
andresG435 →216 times
δύοtwo
duoG1417 →133 times
συνελάλουνwere talking
sunelalounG4814 →6 times
αὐτῷwith Him
autoG846 →5565 times
οἵτινεςwho
oitinesG3748 →144 times
ἦσανwere
esanG1510 →2333 times
ΜωϋσῆςMoses
mousesG3475 →78 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
Ἠλίας·Elijah;
eliasG2243 →29 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 1:17And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to…
it leads to
- Malachi 4:5–6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- Malachi 4:5–6
Through
Luke 24:44Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,…
it leads to
- Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They…
- Luke 24:26–27
Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”
- Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of…
- Acts 13:33
He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’
- Psalms 110:1–7
The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
- Zechariah 12:10
Through
John 1:17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
it leads to
- John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
- John 14:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About Luke
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Luke; Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Apostolic Constitutions, Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book 6; Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 1.24; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 9; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 51; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 12:16; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 14.8; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Damascene, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Tertullian, On Baptism.