Mark 9:11

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

American Standard Version (1901)

And they asked him, saying, How is it that the scribes say that Elijah must first come?

Bible in Basic English

And they put a question to him, saying, Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?

Free Bible Version

“Why do the religious teachers state that Elijah has to come first?” they asked him.

Geneva Bible 1599

Also they asked him, saying, Why say the Scribes, that Elias must first come?

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

One Unity Resource Bible

They asked him, saying, “Why do the Torah-Teachers say that Elijah [My God Yah] must come first?”

Plain English Version

Then they asked Jesus about the Jewish law teachers. They said, “Those law teachers say that first of all Elijah has to come back, God’s man that lived a long time ago. He has to come back, and after that, God will send his special man.”

Translation for Translators

The three disciples had just seen Elijah, but Elijah had not done anything to prepare people to accept Jesus. So they asked Jesus, “The men who teach the Jewish laws say that Elijah must come back to the earth before the Messiah comes to earth. But you have been here a long time and Elijah came just today. So is what they are teaching wrong?”

Unlocked Literal Bible

They asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Noah Webster Bible

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elijah must first come?

World English Bible

They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Young's Literal Translation

And they were questioning him, saying, that the scribes say that Elijah it behoveth to come first.

Context

The Transfiguration

¹⁰So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead.¹¹And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Summary

In Mark 9:11, the disciples question Jesus about the prophecy of Elijah coming before the Messiah. This verse reflects the confusion and lack of understanding among the disciples regarding the identity and mission of Jesus. It also highlights the importance of recognizing and accepting Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, including the role of Elijah. Ultimately, this verse points to the need for faith and discernment in recognizing Jesus as the promised Savior and understanding His divine purpose.

Commentary

John Gill
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

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", 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.

Mark 9:11

The Transfiguration

¹⁰So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead.¹¹And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”