Devine Scripture

Luke 9:30

What does Luke 9:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 9:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 9:30 means

Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared talking with Jesus. Their presence links the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) to Jesus, showing continuity and fulfillment: the coming Messiah fulfills and is attested by Israel’s greatest representatives. Their conversation with Jesus underscores that his impending death in Jerusalem is the key event in God’s redemptive history. Their appearance in glory confirms Jesus’ mission as uniting and fulfilling God’s covenant and prophetic promises, giving the disciples a divine endorsement of what is to come.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And behold, there talked with him two men, who were Moses and Elijah;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And behold, there talked with him two men, who were Moses and Elijah;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with him;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And lo, two men were speaking together with him, who were Moses and Elijah,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And behold two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elias,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And lo, two men talked with him, who were Moses and Elias,

Context

This verse continues the transfiguration (v.29) and provides theological significance: Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets, testifying to Jesus’ fulfillment of Scripture. They discuss his imminent “decease” (v.31), linking mountaintop glory to the forthcoming passion. The scene reassures the disciples that suffering leads to fulfillment, and it precedes the disciples’ sleepy reaction (v.32), Peter’s impulse (v.33), and God’s voice from the cloud (v.35).

v.29And as he was praying, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and dazzling.

v.30This passage

v.31who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 9:19

    And they answering said, John the Baptist; but others say, Elijah; and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

  • James 5:17

    Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.

  • Luke 1:17

    And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.

  • Hebrews 3:3

    For he hath been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by so much as he that built the house hath more honor than the house.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:7

    But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:

  • Mark 9:4

    And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

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