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And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
Mark 9:4 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.
  • KJV And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
  • BSB And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
  • NASB And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.
  • NLT Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.

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

Elijah and Moses appear, talking with Jesus. The Law and the Prophets bear witness to him.

Overview

Moses represents the Law and Elijah the Prophets, and their presence shows that all of Scripture points to and finds fulfillment in Jesus. Luke adds that they spoke of his coming 'departure' (his death) in Jerusalem, linking this glory to the cross. Their appearance confirms that Jesus stands at the center of God's redemptive plan.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 13

  • Luke 9:30–31Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,
  • Acts 3:21–24whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
  • Matt 17:3–4Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
  • John 5:39“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
  • Luke 24:44He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”
  • Luke 24:27Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
  • Matt 11:13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
  • Luke 9:19They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.”
  • 2 Kgs 2:11–12As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
  • John 5:45–47“Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
  • 1 Pet 1:10–12Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
  • Deut 34:5–6So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to Yahweh’s word.
  • Rev 19:10I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Mark videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Mark 9:4YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MarkMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

How Mark 9:4 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.