Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, April 11th, 2026
Saturday in Easter Week
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Matthew 17:13

Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   John;   Prophecy;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Elijah;   Malachi;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Elijah;   John the baptist;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - John the Baptist;   Type, Typology;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Heaven;   Hutchinsonians;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Devil, Satan, Evil, Demonic;   Devil;   John;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Son of Man;   Transfiguration, the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Text of the New Testament;   Transfiguration;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Dates (2);   Discourse;   Friendship;   Mount Mountain ;   Old Testament (I. Christ as Fulfilment of);   Old Testament (Ii. Christ as Student and Interpreter of).;   Transfiguration (2);   Transmigration;   Understanding;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Transfiguration;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Elijah;   Transfiguration;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Transfiguration, the;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Elijah;   Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Micah (1);   Moses;   Transfiguration;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Christianity in Its Relation to Judaism;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 3;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
King James Version (1611)
Then the Disciples vnderstood that he spake vnto them of Iohn the Baptist.
King James Version
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
English Standard Version
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
New American Standard Bible
Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
New Century Version
Then the followers understood that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.
Amplified Bible
Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the disciples perceiued that he spake vnto them of Iohn Baptist.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
Berean Standard Bible
Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Contemporary English Version
Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then the talmidim understood that he was talking to them about Yochanan the Immerser.
Darby Translation
Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the baptist.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then the followers understood that when Jesus said Elijah, he was really talking about John the Baptizer.
George Lamsa Translation
Then the disciples understood that what he had told them was about John the Baptist.
Lexham English Bible
Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
Literal Translation
Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.
American Standard Version
Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Bible in Basic English
Then the disciples saw that he was talking to them of John the Baptist.
Hebrew Names Version
Then the talmidim understood that he spoke to them of Yochanan the immerser.
International Standard Version
Then the disciples understood that he had been speaking to them about John the Baptist.Matthew 11:14;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Then understood the disciples that concerning Juchanon the Baptizer he spake to them.
Murdock Translation
Then the disciples understood, that he spake to them of John the Baptizer.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Lykewyse, shall also the sonne of man suffer of them. Then the disciples vnderstode, that he spake vnto them of Iohn Baptist.
English Revised Version
Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
World English Bible
Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So shall also the Son of man suffer from them. Then the disciples understood, that he spoke to them of John the Baptist.
Weymouth's New Testament
Then it dawned upon the disciples that it was John the Baptist about whom He had spoken to them.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thanne the disciplis vndurstoden, that he seide to hem of Joon Baptist.
Update Bible Version
Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them concerning John the Baptist.
New English Translation
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
New King James Version
Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
New Living Translation
Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.
New Life Bible
Then the followers understood He was talking about John the Baptist.
New Revised Standard
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then, perceived the disciples, that, concerning John the Immerser, he spake to them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then the disciples understood, that he had spoken to them of John the Baptist.
Revised Standard Version
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then ye disciples perceaved that he spake vnto them of Ihon baptist.
Young's Literal Translation
Then understood the disciples that concerning John the Baptist he spake to them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then the disciples perceaued, that he spake vnto them of Ihon the baptist.
Mace New Testament (1729)
then the disciples perceiv'd, that what he said was meant of John the Baptist.
Simplified Cowboy Version
The cowboys realized Jesus was talkin' about his buddy John the Baptist.

Contextual Overview

1 Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and the brothers James and John and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. 2 As they looked on, a change came over Jesus: his face was shining like the sun, and his clothes were dazzling white. 3 Then the three disciples saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. 4 So Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, "Lord, how good it is that we are here! If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was talking, a shining cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased—listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard the voice, they were so terrified that they threw themselves face downward on the ground. 7 Jesus came to them and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid!" 8 So they looked up and saw no one there but Jesus. 9 As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Don't tell anyone about this vision you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from death." 10 Then the disciples asked Jesus, "Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the disciples: Matthew 11:14

Reciprocal: Matthew 3:1 - John Matthew 11:9 - A prophet Matthew 21:25 - baptism Mark 9:13 - Elias

Cross-References

Genesis 14:14
When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he called together all the fighting men in his camp, 318 in all, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan.
Genesis 15:3
You have given me no children, and one of my slaves will inherit my property."
Genesis 37:27
Let's sell him to these Ishmaelites. Then we won't have to hurt him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed,
Genesis 37:36
Meanwhile, in Egypt the Midianites had sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of the king's officers, who was the captain of the palace guard.
Genesis 39:1
Now the Ishmaelites had taken Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of the king's officers, who was the captain of the palace guard.
Exodus 12:44
but any slave that you have bought may eat it if you circumcise him first.
Exodus 21:2
If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve you for six years. In the seventh year he is to be set free without having to pay anything.
Exodus 21:4
If his master gave him a wife and she bore him sons or daughters, the woman and her children belong to the master, and the man is to leave by himself.
Exodus 21:16
"Whoever kidnaps someone, either to sell him or to keep him as a slave, is to be put to death.
Nehemiah 5:5
We are of the same race as the other Jews. Aren't our children just as good as theirs? But we have to make slaves of our children. Some of our daughters have already been sold as slaves. We are helpless because our fields and vineyards have been taken away from us."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then the disciples understood,.... By his saying that Elias was come, and by the account he gave of his ill usage, it was clear to them,

that he spake unto them of John the Baptist; and that he was the Elias that was to come, and was come: so that this observation, that according to prophecy Elias was to come before the Messiah, was no objection to Jesus being the Messiah; but on the contrary, since he that was intended by Elias was come, and had done his work and office, it was a confirmation of the truth of his Messiahship.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See also Mark 9:11-13.

Why then say the scribes ... - The disciples appear to have been satisfied now that he was the Messiah. The transfiguration had taken away all their doubts, but they recollected that it was a common doctrine among the Jews that Elijah would appear before the Messiah came, and they did not then recollect that he had appeared. To this difficulty the word then refers. “We are satisfied that thou art the Christ, but Elijah has not yet come, as was expected; what, then, is the meaning of the common opinions of our learned men, the scribes? Were they right or wrong in their expectation of Elijah?” See the notes at Matthew 11:14.

Matthew 17:11

Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things - He did not mean by this that Elijah was yet to come, for he tells them immediately Matthew 17:12 that he had come; but he meant to affirm that it was a true doctrine which the scribes taught, that Elijah would appear before the coming of the Messiah. To “restore” means to put into the former situation. See Matthew 12:13. Hence, it means to heal, to correct, to put in proper order. Here it means that Elijah would put things in a proper state; he would be the instrument of reforming the people, or of restoring them, in some measure, to proper notions about the Messiah and preparing them for his coming. Before the coming of John their views were erroneous, their expectations were worldly, and their conduct were exceedingly depraved. He corrected many of their notions about the Messiah (see Matthew 3:0), and he was the instrument of an extensive reformation, and thus restored them, in some degree, to correct views of their own system and of the Messiah, and to a preparation for his advent.

Matthew 17:12

Elias is come already - That is, John the Baptist has come, in the spirit and power of Elias. See Luke 1:17.

They have done unto him whatsoever they listed - The word “list” is an old English word, signifying to choose, to desire, to be inclined. See Judges 3:8. It means, here, that they had done to John as they pleased; that is, they had put him to death, Matthew 14:10.

Mark adds Mark 9:12 that Jesus told them that it was “written of the Son of man that he must suffer many things, and be set at naught.” This was written of him particularly in Isaiah 53:1-12. To be set at naught is to be esteemed as worthless or as nothing; to be cast out and despised. No prophecy was ever more strikingly fulfilled. See Luke 23:11, Luke 23:14-21. This narrative, with some additions, is found in Mark 9:14-29, and Luke 9:37-43.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 17:13. Then the disciples understood — When he spoke of the sufferings of this prophetic Elijah, and also of his own, which had been the subject of the conversation on the mount, during the transfiguration, they clearly apprehended that he spoke of John the Baptist.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile