Matthew 17: The mountain, the boy who was healed, and the coin in the fish
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain, where he is changed before them, Moses and Elijah appear, and a voice from a cloud speaks. Coming down, he tells them to keep it quiet until the Son of Man has risen, speaks about Elijah, and heals a boy his disciples could not heal. He tells them again that he will be handed over, and in Capernaum he sends Peter to find a coin in a fish's mouth for the payment collectors.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story, and the Father speaks in 1 of the 27 verses: the voice from the cloud in verse 5. Jesus speaks in verses 7, 9, 11 to 12, 17, 20 to 23 and 25 to 27. Peter speaks in verses 4, 25 and 26, the disciples in verses 10 and 19, and the boy's father in verses 15 and 16. The men who collected the didrachma speak in verse 24. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.
In plain English: Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother with him and brought them up into a high mountain, by themselves.
Good to know: also says "After six days". says "About eight days after these sayings". Each tells it in its own words.
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2He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
In plain English: He was changed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.
The Greek word: "He was changed" is metamorphoo, "to transform (literally or figuratively, 'metamorphose')". It is in 4 verses of the New Testament: here, , and .
How it is translated: The World English Bible prints "changed" in 2 of the 4 verses (this one and Mark 9:2) and "transformed" in the other 2. Mark 9:2 says "he was changed into another form in front of them".
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3Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
In plain English: Then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him.
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4Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
In plain English: Peter answered Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let's make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
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5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”God speaks
In plain English: While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them with its shadow. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."
Good to know: This is the only gold in the chapter: a voice out of the cloud, which Matthew does not name. It says "my beloved Son", and Jesus calls God "my Father" in . has nearly the same words, spoken out of the heavens: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Here the voice says "in whom I am well pleased" and adds "Listen to him". and have "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Good to know: Three Old Testament passages have words like these: ("You are my son"), ("my chosen, in whom my soul delights") and ("You shall listen to him", said of a prophet like Moses). Matthew does not say the voice is quoting any of them.
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6When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid.
In plain English: When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
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7Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.”
In plain English: Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid."
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8Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.
In plain English: When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus alone.
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9As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”
In plain English: As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one what you saw (literally: the vision) until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."
The Greek word: "What you saw" is horama, which the dictionary gives as "something gazed at, i.e. a spectacle (especially supernatural)". The word means a vision, something seen.
How it is translated: It is in 12 verses of the New Testament, and 11 of them are in Acts. This is the only one in Matthew. The World English Bible prints "vision" in 10 of the 12 verses and "what you saw" here.
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10His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
In plain English: His disciples asked him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
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11Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things;
In plain English: Jesus answered them, "Elijah does come first, and will restore all things.
Good to know: says, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes." In verse 13 Matthew says the disciples understood that Jesus spoke of John the Baptizer. has Jesus say of John, "this is Elijah, who is to come".
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12but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.”
In plain English: But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way the Son of Man is also going to suffer at their hands (literally: from them)."
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13Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.
In plain English: Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptizer.
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14When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him and saying,
In plain English: When they came to the crowd, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down to him, and said,
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15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.
In plain English: "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he is epileptic (literally: moon-struck) and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire, and often into the water.
The Greek word: "Epileptic" is selēniazomai, which the dictionary gives as "to be moon-struck". The word comes from the Greek for "moon".
How it is translated: It is in 2 verses of Matthew, this one and , and the World English Bible prints "epileptic" here and "epileptics" in 4:24.
What changes: Read as "epileptic", the father names an illness. Read as "moon-struck", he uses a word built on "moon". The father says the boy often falls into the fire and into the water, and verse 18 says Jesus rebuked the demon, it came out, and the boy was healed.
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16So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
In plain English: I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him."
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17Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me.”
In plain English: Jesus answered, "You faithless and twisted generation (or: kind of people)! How long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him here to me."
The Greek word: "Generation" is genea again, as in . It can mean the people of one time, or a kind of people.
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18Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
In plain English: Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him. The boy was healed from that hour.
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19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
In plain English: Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"
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20He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
In plain English: He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
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21But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.”
In plain English: But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
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22While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men,
In plain English: While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be handed over (or: betrayed) into the hands of people,
The Greek word: "Delivered up" is paradidomi, which the dictionary gives as "to surrender, i.e. yield up, intrust, transmit". It is the word for handing someone over.
How it is translated: It is in 31 verses of Matthew. The World English Bible prints "deliver*" in 18 of them, "betray*" in 11, and "hand*" in 5 (some verses have two of these).
What changes: Read as "handed over", Jesus says he will be given into the hands of people. Read as "betrayed", he says someone will turn him over. The plain line gives both, and the verse does not say who hands him over.
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23and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry.
In plain English: and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up." The disciples were very sorry.
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24When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?”
In plain English: When they came to Capernaum, the men who collected the didrachma (a two-drachma coin) came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the didrachma?"
The Greek word: "Didrachma" is didrachmon, "a double drachma". It is in only 1 verse of the New Testament, this one. The verse does not say what the payment was for.
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25He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?”
In plain English: Peter said, "Yes." When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children (or: sons), or from strangers?"
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26Peter said to him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt.
In plain English: Peter said to him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the children (or: sons) are free.
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27But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”
In plain English: But so that we do not cause them to stumble, go to the sea, throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. When you open its mouth, you will find a stater (a four-drachma coin). Take that and give it to them for me and you."
The Greek word: "Stater" is statēr, "a stander (standard of value), i.e. a stater or certain coin". The word-by-word meanings give it as a four-drachma coin. It is in only 1 verse of the New Testament, this one. The verse says the coin is for "me and you".
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