Section 9:28–36
Three disciples saw Jesus’ glory
In 9:26 Jesus spoke about the time when he would return to earth and people would see his glory. Then in 9:28–36 God caused Jesus to be glorified for a short time. Peter, James, and John saw this. During that time, Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus. Peter suggested building shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. God showed these disciples that Jesus was greater than the great prophets Moses and Elijah because Jesus was God’s Son.
Some other examples of headings for this section are:
Jesus Talks with Moses and Elijah (New Century Version)
-or-
God showed three disciples who Jesus really was
There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 17:1–12 and Mark 9:2–13.
Paragraph 9:28–33
9:28a
About eight days after Jesus had said these things: This clause indicates that about eight days passed after Jesus spoke the words in 9:27. Then the events of this paragraph began. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this as the Good News Translation has done:
About a week after he had said these things, Jesus…
9:28b
He took with Him Peter, John, and James: In this context, the clause took…with Him implies that Jesus asked Peter, John, and James to go with him. They went willingly with Jesus. In some languages, it may be more natural to say:
Jesus told/asked Peter, John, and James to accompany him
The verb took is closely connected to the verb phrase “went up” in 9:28c. In some languages it may be more natural to combine these ideas here. For example:
took Peter, John, and James up (New Living Translation (2004))
The words with Him may not be necessary in some languages. For example:
he took Peter, John, and James (New Century Version)
9:28c
and went up on a mountain to pray: Jesus went up a mountain because he wanted to pray to God there.
mountain: Some scholars believe that this mountain was Mount Hermon (9320 feet or 2814 meters in altitude). Mark calls this a “high” mountain (Mark 9:2). Use a term that would be appropriate in your language.
pray: The same verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pray here also occurs in the form “praying” in 9:18a.
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