It is good for us(excl) ⌊disciples⌋ to be here

You should translate ambiguously if your language allows you to do so. If you need to choose an exclusive or inclusive “us,” you may choose either one. Be sure to consider carefully the implications of either choice for speakers of your language. You should also consider whether a major language translation in your area has followed one interpretation or the other.

9:33c–d

Let us put up: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Let us put up expresses a suggestion. It is not a request for permission.

Some other ways to translate this are:

We shall make
-or-
I would like for us to make

us: In this context the pronoun us refers to only Peter, James, and John. Peter did not expect Jesus (or Moses or Elijah) to help them make the shelters.

put up: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as put up is literally “make.” Peter was suggesting that he, James, and John build shelters from materials that were there on the mountain.

Some other ways to translate this are:

build
-or-
make (New Jerusalem Bible)

three shelters: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shelters:

(1) It refers to temporary shelters made from branches, leaves, and other things that were easy to find. They were used for shade or to block the wind. For example:

three shelters (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It refers to tents. Tents are made of cloth or animal skins. They were used to block the rain or the wind. God’s worship tent in the Old Testament was made of skins. For example:

three tents (New Century Version)

(Good News Translation, God’s Word, New Century Version, English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Leafy branches were available on the mountain to use in making a shelter, booth, or hut. Animal skins, used for making tents, would not have been available.

9:33e

(He did not know what he was saying.): The clause He did not know what he was saying means that Peter did not realize what his words meant or implied. He did not think carefully before he spoke. Three men in their heavenly bodies would not need any earthly shelter.

In the Greek text, this clause is connected to the previous sentence. It explains why Peter said what he did. The Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation indicate that this is an explanation by using parentheses. Another approach is to use a dash. For example:

—not knowing what he said (Revised Standard Version)

You could also introduce this clause with a word that would imply that Peter had spoken inappropriately. For example:

But Peter did not know what he was talking about. (Contemporary English Version)

In some languages, it may be clearer to introduce this clause by referring again to what Peter said in 9:33b–c. For example:

⌊He said this because⌋ he did not know what to say.

General Comment on 9:33a–e

In some languages, it may be more natural to place 9:33e before what Peter said. For example:

33aAs Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, 33enot even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, 33b“Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here!…” (New Living Translation (2004))

Arrange these verse parts in a way that is natural in your language.

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