9:9a
As they were coming down the mountain: This clause links this paragraph to the previous paragraph (9:5–8). It also indicates that Jesus, Peter, James, and John were part way down the mountain when they had the following conversation.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
On their way down the mountain (God’s Word)
-or-
While they descended the mountain
-or-
As Jesus and his disciples were coming down the mountain (Contemporary English Version)
they: The pronoun they refers to Jesus, Peter, James, and John.
mountain: The word mountain refers to the same mountain as in 9:2b. See how you translated this word in 9:2b.
9:9b–c
9:9b–c has an indirect quote. See the General Comment on 9:9b–c at the end of 9:9c for examples of how to translate this as a direct quotation.
9:9b
Jesus admonished them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as admonished means “commanded” or “ordered.” Jesus said something to the disciples and expected them to obey. For example:
Jesus commanded them (New Century Version)
-or-
Jesus ordered them (Good News Bible)
-or-
he warned them (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
not to tell anyone: In some languages it might be more natural to use a positive expression here. For example:
to be silent about
what they had seen: The phrase what they had seen refers to what the disciples had seen when Jesus was transfigured (9:2–8).
Another way to translate this is:
the miraculous/marvelous things that they had just seen on the mountain
9:9c
until: The word until indicates that after Jesus died and had risen from the dead, the disciples could tell what they had seen.
In some languages, it may be more natural to begin a new sentence here. For example, the God’s Word says:
They were to wait until the Son of Man had come back to life.
the Son of Man: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Son of Man is literally “the Son of the human/person.” Jesus used this title to imply that:
(a) he was a true human being, and he represented all people.
(b) he came from God and had authority from God.
Try to use an expression that implies both meanings.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
the Man whom God Sent
-or-
the True Man from God/Heaven
-or-
the Representative of Mankind
-or-
The Older Brother of All People
In some cases, an unusual title may correctly suggest a deeper meaning. For example:
the Child of a Person
-or-
the One who was Born as a Human
Translators have also used expressions that are more literal. These more literal expressions may be appropriate where readers are familiar with a literal title in another version.
In some languages it may be necessary to use an appropriate form to indicate that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:
He told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until he, the Son of Man, had been raised from death.
-or-
“Do not tell anyone what you have seen until I, the Son of Man, have risen from death.”
had risen from the dead: The phrase had risen from the dead refers to a future event when God would cause Jesus to live again. This phrase implies that Jesus would die first.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
until the Son of Man came back to life
-or-
until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead (New Revised Standard Version)
General Comment on 9:9b–c
The Berean Standard Bible has translated 9:9b–c as an indirect quotation. In some languages it may be more natural to use a direct quote here. For example, the Good News Bible says:
Jesus ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has risen from death.”
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