Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.
- KJV Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
- BSB Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
- NASB Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
- NLT Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.
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 grasp that Jesus was speaking of John the Baptist as the promised Elijah. Understanding dawns about how prophecy is being fulfilled in their own time.
Overview
Matthew notes the disciples' moment of comprehension: the Elijah who must come is John, not a literal return of the prophet. This confirms Jesus' authority to interpret Scripture and shows that the long-awaited preparatory ministry has already occurred. It situates Jesus firmly as the Messiah whose way John had prepared.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Matt 11:14If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.
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
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 17:13 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.