New Living Translation
Matthew 17:4
4Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Matthew 17:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
- New International Version (NIV)Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Context of Matthew 17:4
2As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
Read all of Matthew 17Matthew 17:4 word by word
Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ· κύριε, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι. εἰ θέλεις, ποιήσω ὧδε τρεῖς σκηνάς, σοὶ μίαν καὶ Μωϋσεῖ μίαν καὶ Ἠλίᾳ μίαν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenδέde · thenG1161
- answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- Peterὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
- and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
- for usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- hereὧδεhōde · hereG5602
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- thou wiltθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- let us makeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
- tabernaclesσκηνήskēnē · tentG4633
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- for theeσύsu · youG4771
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- for MosesΜωϋσῆς, ΜωσῆςMōseus Mōsēs Mōusēs · MosesG3475
- for EliasἩλίαςHēlias · ElijahG2243
Cross-references for Matthew 17:4
- Mark 9:5Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
- Luke 9:33As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
- Exodus 33:18Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”
- Psalms 4:6Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord.
- Psalms 16:11You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
- Psalms 63:1O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
- Isaiah 33:17Your eyes will see the king in all his splendor, and you will see a land that stretches into the distance.
- Zechariah 9:17How wonderful and beautiful they will be! The young men will thrive on abundant grain, and the young women will flourish on new wine.
- John 14:8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
- John 17:24Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
- Philippians 1:23I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.
- 1 John 3:2Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
- Revelation 21:23And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
- Revelation 22:3No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.
Commentaries on Matthew 17:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Peter said - let us make, etc. - That is, when he saw Moses and Elijah ready to depart from the mount, Luke 9:33, he wished to detain them, that he might always enjoy their company with that of his Lord and Master, still supposing that Christ would set up a temporal kingdom upon earth.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Let us make here three tabernacles - A tabernacle is a tent. It was made, commonly, by fixing posts into the ground, and stretching on them cloth fastened by cords. See the notes at Isaiah 33:20. In some instances they were made of branches of trees a temporary shelter from the sun and rain, not a permanent dwelling. Peter was rejoiced at the vision and desirous of continuing it. He proposed, therefore, that they should prolong this interview and dwell…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Three shelters (Or three tabernacles): Peter probably thought the kingdom of heaven was about to arrive in full glory (compare Acts 1:6). He wanted to remember the moment by building shelters.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 17:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries