17:10a
The disciples asked Him: Here the phrase The disciples refers to the same three disciples (Peter, James and John) who were on the mountain with Jesus.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Then the disciples asked Jesus (Good News Translation)
-or-
And his disciples asked him (King James Version)
17:10b–c
Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?: This is a real question. It is not a rebuke. The disciples asked this question because they were confused. They knew that Jesus was the Christ, and they had just seen Elijah on the mountain. This reminded them about the prophecy that Elijah would come back to preach before the Christ came. So here the disciples asked Jesus why they had not seen the public ministry of Elijah before he, Jesus, came.
Here are some other ways to translate this question:
Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
So why do the scribes say that it is necessary that Elijah return ⌊to the earth⌋ before the Christ comes?
17:10b
the scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scribes refers to men who studied, interpreted, and taught the law of Moses. These men were called scribes because their original work was to copy the laws of Moses by hand. In New Testament times, this was no longer their main task.
Here are some other ways to translate this term:
teachers of the Law of Moses (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
teachers of the law (New International Version)
-or-
experts in the law
Translate this term in the same way as you did in 15:1a and 16:21c.
17:10c
Elijah must come first: These words mean that the prophet Elijah must return to earth before the Messiah comes.
Here are some other ways to translate these words:
Elijah must come before the Messiah does (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Elijah must return before the Messiah comes (New Living Translation (2004))
must: In Greek, the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as must is often used to indicate something that is required because it is God’s will. The Scripture said that Elijah would come first. Therefore, it was necessary for him to come.
Here are some other ways to translate this whole clause:
it is necessary for Elijah to come first
-or-
it is required that Elijah come before ⌊the Messiah⌋
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