They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.”
Parallel translations
- KJV They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
- BSB They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that a prophet of old has arisen.”
- NKJV So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”
- NASB They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.”
- NLT “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The disciples report popular opinions: John the Baptist, Elijah, or a risen prophet. People rightly sensed Jesus was sent from God but fell short of the truth.
Overview
These answers reflect genuine respect, placing Jesus among the great prophetic figures of Israel. Yet each falls short, treating Him as merely a forerunner or returned prophet rather than the promised Messiah. Popular admiration, however high, is not the same as saving recognition of who Christ truly is.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Luke 9:7–8Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,
- John 1:21They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
- Matt 14:2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”
- Mark 6:15But others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
- Mal 4:5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
- John 1:25They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
- John 9:17Therefore they asked the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
- John 7:40Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.”
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 9:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.