Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Matthew 17:10

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

KJV

Καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ λέγοντες· τί οὖν οἱ γραμματεῖς λέγουσιν ὅτι Ἡλείαν δεῖ ἐλθεῖν πρῶτον;

Greek NT

Et interrogaverunt eum discipuli, dicentes : Quid ergo scribæ dicunt, quod Eliam oporteat primum venire ?

Vulgate

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?

ASV

And his disciples asked him, saying: Why then do the scribes say that Elias must come first?

Douay-Rheims

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In this verse

People Elijah

In the original Greek

14 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
γραμματεύς
grammateus
noun · 64×
δεῖ
dei
verb · 103×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
λέγω
lego
verb · 2256×
μαθητής
mathetes
noun · 261×
οὖν
oun
conjunction · 489×
πρῶτον
proton
adverb · 57×
τίς
tis
interrogative_pronoun · 533×
ἐπερωτάω
eperotao
verb · 56×
ἔρχομαι
erchomai
verb · 627×
Ἡλίας
elias
noun · 29×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὅτι
oti
conjunction · 1299×

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

notable
SBLGNT: μαθηταὶ | WH/Treg/NIV: μαθηταὶ | RP: + αὐτοῦ
  • μαθηταὶ — SBLGNT
  • μαθηταὶ — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • + αὐτοῦ — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Historic Christian voices

7 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§718John is "Elijah (who) must come."92 The fire of the Spirit dwells in him and makes him the forerunner of the coming Lord. In John, the precursor, the Holy Spirit completes the work of "[making] ready a people prepared for the Lord."93
Homilies on Matthew · 2 passages
2. And not for this only does He call him Elias everywhere, but to signify His perfect agreement with the Old Testament, and that this advent too is according to prophecy. Wherefore also He adds again, He came, and they knew him not, but have done unto him all things whatsoever they listed. Matthew 17:12 What means, all things whatsoever they listed? They cast him into prison, …
2. What then says Peter? "He says, Yea:" and to these indeed he said, that He pays, but to Him he said it not, blushing perhaps to speak to Him of these things. Wherefore that gentle one, well knowing as He did all things, prevented him,"saying, What do you think, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own sons, or of strangers;" and when he s…
1. A dreadful thing is envy, beloved, a dreadful thing and a pernicious, to the enviers, not to the envied. For it harms and wastes them first, like some mortal venom deeply seated in their souls; and if by chance it injure its objects, the harm it does is small and trifling, and such as brings greater gain than loss. Indeed not in the case of envy only, but in every other, it …
1. Concerning Those Who Asked Him to Show Them a Sign from Heaven. And the Sadducees and Pharisees came, and tempting Him kept asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. Matthew 16:1 The Sadducees and Pharisees who disagreed with each other in regard to the most essential truths, — for the Pharisees champion the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, hoping that there will …
1. Relation of the Baptist to Elijah. The Theory of Transmigration Considered. The disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? Matthew 17:10 The disciples indeed who went up with Jesus remembered the traditions of the scribes concerning Elijah, that before the advent of Christ, Elijah would come and prepare for Him the souls of those who w…

Cross-references

  • John 1:21 — And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
  • John 1:21 — And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
  • Mal 3:1 — Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold,
  • Mal 4:5 — Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
  • Mal 4:5 — Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
  • Mark 9:11 — And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
  • Mark 9:11 — And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
  • Matt 11:14 — And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
  • Matt 11:14 — And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
  • Rev 20:4 — And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worship