and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen.
Parallel translations
- WEB and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.
- KJV And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
- BSB others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen.
- NKJV and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.
- NLT Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other 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
Others speculate that Elijah or an ancient prophet has appeared. People grasp for explanations of Jesus without recognizing who He truly is.
Overview
Various rumors circulate, linking Jesus to Elijah or a risen prophet, reflecting Old Testament expectations. These guesses, though sincere, fall short of His true identity as the Christ. The confusion underscores the question that will soon be put plainly to the disciples: who is Jesus?
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Luke 9:19They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.”
- John 1:21They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
- Matt 17:10His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- Mark 8:28They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets.”
- Mark 6:15But others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 9:8 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.