They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
Parallel Translations
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They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
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And they axed him sayinge: why then saye the scribe that Helyas muste fyrste come?
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Also they asked him, saying, Why say the Scribes, that Elias must first come?
Cross-references (5)
Passages linked to Mark 9:11 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
- Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of Armies.
- Matthew 11:14 If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.
- Matthew 17:10-11 His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things,
- Mark 9:4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (10 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain The foolish opinion of the Rabbis is here repelled…
The foolish opinion of the Rabbis is here repelled touching Elijah’s coming, which was that either Elijah should rise again from the dead, or that his soul should enter into some other body.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the…
11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Ver. 11. {See Trapp on "Mat 17:10"}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Christ had been telling his disciples that he should…
Christ had been telling his disciples that he should suffer. The Jews had a prophecy, not only that the Messias should come, but that he should be cut off, but not for himself, Dan 9:26. Only this hindered the certainty of their persuasion that Christ was he, because Elias was not yet come, whom they did expect, Mal 4:5; for they expected the coming of Elias in person, whereas the prophecy was to be understood of one in the spirit and power of Elias, as the angel expounded it, Luk 1:17. They also expected that Elias, when he came, should make a great change in their world, and bring all things again into order; but still their eye was upon a secular change, and a restoring of them to that liberty of their country which they formerly enjoyed, whereas the prophecy, Mal 4:6, is expounded by the angel, Luk 1:16,17, And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. —to turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. The disciples, being Jews, were under the prejudices of these notions about Elias, so commonly received by the doctors of their church and the generality of their people. To this our Saviour answers, The thing was true, Elias (that is, one in the spirit and power of Elias) was, according to the prophecy of Malachi, to come before the Messias; but they had overlooked him, for indeed this Elias was come, Mat 11:14, and by his preaching the doctrine of repentance for the remission of sins had endeavoured to restore all things, that is, to make a great change in the hearts and lives of the Jews, but they had put him to death. He further telleth them, that John had told them of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. He did indeed tell them so, when he pointed to him passing by, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away (or taketh up or beareth) the sins of the world, Joh 1:29. So that this was no just prejudice to their believing that he was the true Messiah.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And they asked him, saying,.... Being put in mind…
And they asked him, saying,.... Being put in mind of it, by seeing Elias on the mount, or else by what Christ had said concerning his resurrection, or both:
why say the Scribes, the Vulgate Latin adds, "and Pharisees",
Read full note →
that Elias must first come? before the Messiah comes, or before the setting up his kingdom in greater glory; See Gill on Mat 17:10.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Why say the scribes ... - See the notes…
Why say the scribes ... - See the notes at Mat 17:10-13.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 11. first come] that is before the Messiah (Mal_4:5).…
11. first come] that is before the Messiah (Mal_4:5). The Pharisees and Scribes may have urged as a capital objection against the Messiah-ship of their Master that no Elias went before Him. “It would be an infinite task,” says Lightfoot, “to produce all the passages out of the Jewish writings which one might concerning the expected coming of Elias.” He was to restore to the Jews the pot of manna and the rod of Aaron, to cry to the mountains, “Peace and blessing come into the world, peace and blessing come into the world!” “Salvation cometh, Salvation cometh, to gather all the scattered sons of Jacob, and restore all things to Israel as in ancient times.”
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain See, Mal 4:5; Mal 4:6 (See Scofield "Mat 17:10")
Elias
See, Mal 4:5; Mal 4:6 (See Scofield "Mat 17:10")
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain A question of the disciples:
A question of the disciples:
v. 11. And they asked Him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Read full note →
v. 12. And He answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be set at naught.
v. 13. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
Peter, James, and John were still busy straightening out matters in their own understanding. They had seen Elijah on the mountain, there was no doubt about that. But now the scribes, on the basis of Mal 4:5, were teaching that Elijah was to come before the appearance of the Messiah and restore things to the proper state for the coming of the great Lord. They wanted this apparent contradiction explained. Jesus gladly furnishes them the necessary information. Their statement is right: Elijah, coming in advance, was to prepare the way. Their mistake consisted in applying the prophecy to the wrong person. It was not Elijah, the ancient prophet, in his own person, that would reappear on earth, but his antitype. And that antitype, John, had appeared and done his work. But Jesus immediately adds a few words of instruction concerning the question that had bothered them. How is it written about the Son of Man? He asks. They should remember the Scripture-passages which dealt of His person and work, and make the right application. He Himself gives the answer: That He must suffer much and be utterly despised. Those prophecies would be fulfilled in Him. As for those concerning Elijah, they had been fulfilled. John had come, and they, the Jews and especially Herod and Herodias, had worked their spite against him and put him to death. The disciples were familiar with the fate of the precursor, and they could and should expect nothing else for Him, since the Scripture must be fulfilled. It was the obligation which He had taken upon Himself; it was the work which He would carry out to the end for the redemption of the world.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
Though Peter, James, and John wondered what Jesus might mean by "rising from the dead," they asked him instead about Elijah's coming.
Read full note →
They asked him
The word "they" refers to Peter, James, and John.
Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?
Prophecy foretold that Elijah would come again from heaven. Then the Messiah, who is the Son of Man, would come to rule and reign. The disciples are confused about how the Son of Man could die and rise again. AT: "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first before the Messiah comes?" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Elijah does come first to restore all things
By saying this, Jesus affirms that Elijah would come first.
Why then is it written ... be despised?
Jesus uses this question to remind his disciples that the scriptures also teach that the Son of Man must suffer and be despised. This may be expressed as a statement. AT: "But I also want you to consider what is written about the Son of Man. The scriptures say that he must suffer many things and be hated." (See: Rhetorical Question)
be despised
This may be stated in active form. AT: "people would hate him" (See: Active or Passive)
they did whatever they wanted to him
It may be helpful to state what people did to Elijah. AT: "our leaders treated him very badly, just as they wanted to do" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
translationWords
scribe
Elijah
restore
written
Son of Man
word of God
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 9:11 The disciples wanted to understand the prediction that…
9:11 The disciples wanted to understand the prediction that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes (see Mal 4:5-6). How did this prediction fit with Jesus’ proclamation of God’s Kingdom and his prediction of his own death, resurrection, and return (Mark 8:31, 38; 9:9)?
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.