As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said.
Parallel translations
- KJV And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
- BSB As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
- NKJV Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
- NASB And as these two men were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; and let’s make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying.
- NLT As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
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
Peter offers to build three tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, not knowing what he is saying. His well-meaning suggestion wrongly levels Jesus with the prophets.
Overview
Peter wants to prolong the glorious moment, but his proposal mistakenly places Jesus on the same footing as Moses and Elijah. Luke notes Peter did not understand what he was saying, signaling the error. The Father's voice will soon correct this by singling out Jesus as the beloved Son to be heard.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Mark 9:5–6Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
- Mark 10:38But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
- 2 Cor 4:6seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
- Ps 4:6–7Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.
- Ps 27:4One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life, to see Yahweh’s beauty, and to inquire in his temple.
- Ps 73:28But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
- John 14:8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
- Luke 5:5Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.”
- Ps 63:2–5So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory.
- Matt 17:14When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, and saying,
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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.
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Original language
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