“We ourselves” (Good News Translation) accurately translates the Greek, where we is emphatic. The point here is not “we heard it and others didn’t” but “we heard it and therefore our witness is reliable.” However, where exclusive pronoun forms exist, they must be used, as this is referring to Peter and his two fellow disciples James and John. Furthermore, in some languages that have a special expression referring to three people (for example, “we three”), this expression should be used.

The declaration from heaven is “this voice borne from heaven” (Good News Translation “coming from heaven”). Heaven can be interpreted as another euphemism avoiding the name of God (as in the expression “kingdom of heaven,” which means “kingdom of God”). Here again the name of God can be included in the translation; for example, “this voice from God,” “this voice from God in heaven,” or even “God’s voice from heaven,” or “God’s voice speaking from heaven.” It has been noted also by some commentaries that a voice from heaven is a standard feature of apocalyptic visions, that is, visions that are revelations of God’s future plans and actions (see Dan 4.31; Rev 10.4, 8; 11.12; 14.13; and other passages). This means that the Transfiguration has been understood in some circles of the early church as a revelation of this type.

In the Gospel accounts the Transfiguration occurred on a high mountain (see Matt 17.1). Here this high mountain is described as the holy mountain, that is, a particular place considered sacred and set apart for the worship of God. It is not very likely that during the time of the writing of The Second Letter from Peter a special site for the Transfiguration had been identified and set aside by the Christian community. It is therefore very possible that this is a deliberate reference to Mount Zion, through a hint taken from Psa 2.6, where Zion is identified as a holy hill. It is not that the Transfiguration site is identified with Mount Zion, but that the significance of the Transfiguration is explained in the light of the prophecy of Psalm 2. In languages that have a word similar in meaning to the English word “sacred,” the translator should use that word in this context. Otherwise, if the only word available is one that means basically “pure” or “clean,” then the translator should say instead, for example, “God’s mountain.” See further discussion on holy at Jude 14.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Second Letter from Peter. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .