Luke 9:35
in Luke 9And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my chosen: hear ye him.
KJV
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
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This verse in Luke 9
Commentary
15 notes on this verseNow observe, that the cloud was not black from the darkness of condensed air, and such as to overcast the sky with a horrible gloom, but a shining cloud, from which we were not moistened with rain, but as the voice of Almighty God came forth the dew of faith was shed upon the hearts of men. For it follows, And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear ye him. Elias was not His Son. Moses was not. But this is the Son whom you see alone.
This site's exposition
a cloud appeared and enveloped them
on Luke 9:34-36
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, the cloud of glory that once filled the tabernacle and the temple, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. The Father's voice, This is My Son, whom I have chosen, recalls the baptism, and Listen to Him answers Peter's shelters with the prophet like Moses of Deuteronomy 18. Then only Jesus was present with them, the Law and the Prophets yielding Him the last word, and the three kept silent.
This site's exposition
This is My Son, whom I have chosen
The voice names One as the Son, and Theophylact says it was so that no one would take the words as spoken of Moses or Elijah. Ambrose describes the cloud as shining. The command Listen to Him ends the scene.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
"While he spoke, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them." That is the overshadowing of the divine Spirit, who is not dark with the emotions of humankind but unveils secrets. This is also revealed in another place when an angel says, "And the power of the Most High shall overshadow you." The effect of this is shown when the voice of God is heard, saying, "This is my beloved Son; hear him." Elijah is not the Son, and Moses is not the Son.
Well, but the admonition, says Marcion, of our God from heaven has commanded us not to hear Moses and the prophets, but Christ; Hear Him is the command. This is true enough. For the apostles had by that time sufficiently heard Moses and the prophets, for they had followed Christ, being persuaded by Moses and the prophets.
How then should men suppose Him who is really the Son to be made or created, when God the Father thundered from above, This is my beloved Son! as if He said, Not one of My sons, but He who is truly and by nature My Son, according to whose example the others are adopted, He ordered them then to obey Him, when He added, Hear ye him. And to obey Him more than Moses and Elias, for Christ is the end of the Law and the Prophets. Hence the Evangelist adds significantly, And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone.
This, to be sure, was what he wished to be understood as the meaning of that voice from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, hear Him" -Him, that is, not Moses or Elias any longer.
The Medieval Church1 voice
And they were afraid as they entered into the cloud, and a voice came from the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, hear him. Human fragility cannot bear the sight of greater glory, and trembling with the whole mind and body, it falls to …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
Lest in truth any one should suppose that these words, This is my beloved Son, were uttered about Moses or Elias.
The Father's voice did not forbid them to listen to Moses and Elijah (that is, to the Law and the Prophets). It rather suggested to all of them that listening to his Son was to take precedence since he came to fulfill the Law and …
Second, as regards the revelation of credible truth, it is added: And as they entered into the cloud, namely, the cloud arousing them to reverence, according to what is said in Exodus 24: "Moses, entering into the midst of the cloud, ascended the mountain," where …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And there came, a voice out of the cloud,.... See Gill on Mat 17:5.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
This is my beloved Son - Instead of ὁ αγαπητος, the beloved one, some MSS. and versions have εκλεκτος, the chosen one: and the Ethiopic translator, as in several other cases, to be sure of the true reading, retains both. In whom I am well pleased, or have delighted - is added by some very ancient MSS. Perhaps this addition is taken from Mat 17:5.
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
16 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 |
| φωνὴ | phone | a voice | G5456 → | 139 times |
| ἐγένετο | egeneto | came | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νεφέλης | nepheles | cloud | G3507 → | 25 times |
| λέγουσα· | legousa | saying; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| οὗτός | houtos | This | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| υἱός | huios | Son | G5207 → | 377 times |
| μου | mou | of Mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκλελεγμένος, | eklelegmenos | chosen, | G1586 → | 22 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | to Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀκούετε.¶ | akouete | do listen. | G191 → | 425 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
φωνὴa voice
phoneG5456 →139 times
ἐγένετοcame
egenetoG1096 →667 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
νεφέληςcloud
nephelesG3507 →25 times
λέγουσα·saying;
legousaG3004 →1325 times
οὗτόςThis
houtosG3778 →1381 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
υἱόςSon
huiosG5207 →377 times
μουof Mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἐκλελεγμένος,chosen,
eklelegmenosG1586 →22 times
αὐτοῦto Him
autouG846 →5565 times
ἀκούετε.¶do listen.
akoueteG191 →425 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
Matthew 3:17And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
it leads to
- Isaiah 42:1
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
- Matthew 12:18
“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
- Isaiah 42:1
Through
Luke 3:22and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
it leads to
- Psalms 2:7
I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Peter 1:17–18
For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- John 1:32
Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
- Luke 9:34–35
While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
- Psalms 2:7
Through
Hebrews 3:15As it has been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.”
it leads to
- Hebrews 3:7–8
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice,
- Hebrews 3:7–8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About Luke

This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Luke; Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Ambrose of Milan, Commentary on Luke; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 1.24; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 9; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Tertullian, Against Marcion Book IV and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.
