# Matthew 17

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**Matthew 17** is the seventeenth [chapter](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) in the [Gospel of Matthew](/source/Gospel_of_Matthew) in the [New Testament](/source/New_Testament) section of the [Christian Bible](/source/Bible#Christian_Bibles). [Jesus](/source/Jesus_in_Christianity) continues his final journey to [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem_in_Christianity) [ministering](/source/Ministry_of_Jesus) through [Galilee](/source/Galilee). [William Robertson Nicoll](/source/William_Robertson_Nicoll) identifies "three impressive tableaux" in this chapter: the transfiguration, the epileptic boy and the temple tribute.[1]

## Locations

The chapter opens six days after the events of the [previous chapter](/source/Matthew_16), which take place in the region of [Caesarea Philippi](/source/Caesarea_Philippi), near the southwestern base of [Mount Hermon](/source/Mount_Hermon). [Matthew](/source/Matthew_the_Apostle) in verse states that Jesus must go to [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem), but this journey does not properly begin until . With [Peter](/source/Saint_Peter), [James](/source/James,_son_of_Zebedee) and [John](/source/John_the_Apostle), he goes to a high mountain, traditionally understood and commemorated as [Mount Tabor](/source/Mount_Tabor),[2] where he is [transfigured](/source/Transfiguration_of_Jesus). Mount Tabor is in the south of Galilee.[3] By verse 14 they have returned to a location where the crowd is gathered, verse 22 notes that they are still in Galilee, and in verse 24 they have returned to [Capernaum](/source/Capernaum) at the northern end of the [Sea of Galilee](/source/Sea_of_Galilee).

[James Burton Coffman](/source/James_Burton_Coffman) suggests that the location of the transfiguration would have been either Mount Hermon, closer to Caesarea Philippi, "or one of its adjacent peaks": "Mount Tabor, in the days of Christ and the apostles was populated and had a fortress on top of it; and Christ's taking his apostles there would not have been taking them 'apart', as Matthew said" ([Matthew 17:1](#Verse_1) in the [King James Version](/source/King_James_Version)), nor was Mount Tabor a particularly "high" mountain.[4]

## Text

The original text was written in [Koine Greek](/source/Koine_Greek). [This chapter is divided into](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) 27 verses.

### Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

- [Codex Vaticanus](/source/Codex_Vaticanus) (AD 325–350; no verse 21)
- [Codex Sinaiticus](/source/Codex_Sinaiticus) (330–360; no verse 21)
- [Codex Bezae](/source/Codex_Bezae) (c. 400; complete)
- [Codex Washingtonianus](/source/Codex_Washingtonianus) (c. 400; complete)
- [Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus](/source/Codex_Ephraemi_Rescriptus) (c. 450; extant verses 1–25)
- [Codex Purpureus Rossanensis](/source/Codex_Purpureus_Rossanensis) (6th century)
- [Codex Sinopensis](/source/Codex_Sinopensis) (6th century; extant verses 2–24)
- [Papyrus 44](/source/Papyrus_44) (6th/7th century; extant verses 1–3, 6–7)

## Chapter organisation

The [New King James Version](/source/New_King_James_Version) organises this chapter as follows:

- Jesus [transfigured on the Mount](/source/Transfiguration_of_Jesus) ()
- A [Boy is Healed](/source/Exorcising_a_boy_possessed_by_a_demon) ()
- [Jesus Again Predicts His Death](/source/Jesus_predicts_his_death) and Resurrection ()
- Peter and His Master Pay Their [Taxes](/source/Temple_tax) ()

## Transfiguration of Jesus (verses 1–8)

Main article: [Transfiguration of Jesus](/source/Transfiguration_of_Jesus)

The first eight verses of this chapter record the account of the **[Transfiguration of Jesus](/source/Transfiguration_of_Jesus)**, an event where [Jesus](/source/Jesus_in_Christianity) is [transfigured](/source/Transfiguration_(religion)) and becomes radiant in [glory](/source/Glory_(religion)) on top of a mountain.[5][6] The passage has parallels in other [Synoptic Gospels](/source/Synoptic_Gospels)— and —and the event is referred to in the [Second Epistle of Peter](/source/Second_Epistle_of_Peter) () as well as possibly alluded in the [first chapter](/source/John_1) of the [Gospel of John](/source/Gospel_of_John) ([John 1:14](/source/John_1:14)).[7]

### Verse 1

- *Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves.*[8]

In [Luke's gospel](/source/Luke's_gospel), the account of the transfiguration of Jesus comes about *eight* days after the previous events. Protestant theologian [Heinrich Meyer](/source/Heinrich_August_Wilhelm_Meyer) notes, in accordance with the observations of "[Chrysostom](/source/Chrysostom), [Jerome](/source/Jerome), Theophylact, [Erasmus](/source/Erasmus_of_Rotterdam), and many others ... that [Luke](/source/Luke_the_Evangelist) has included the *dies a quo* and *ad quem*" (i.e. inclusive of the days at the start and end of the interval).[9]

### Verse 2

- *And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light*.[10]

Some versions state "white as snow" rather than "white as the light".[11][12] The [Jerusalem Bible](/source/Jerusalem_Bible) notes that the angel of the resurrection in [Matthew 28:3](/source/Matthew_28:3) wore a robe which was "white as snow".[13]

### Verse 3

- *Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.*[14]

[Moses](/source/Moses) and [Elijah](/source/Elijah) are the only figures in the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) who speak with God on [Mount Sinai](/source/Mount_Sinai): see [Exodus 33](/source/Exodus_33):11 and [1 Kings 19:8–18](/source/1_Kings_19#Elijah's_meeting_with_God_on_Horeb_(19:9–18)). Dale Allison comments that "their presence together makes us think of that mountain".[15]

### Verse 4

- *And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."*[16]

The "tents" refer to the "booths" or "tabernacles" familiar to Jesus and his disciples from the [Jewish feast](/source/Sukkot) which they celebrated each year. Verna Holyhead suggests that Peter is grasping for something familiar to hold onto in the face of this otherwise unfamiliar experience.[17]

## Verses 14–21

Main article: [Exorcising a boy possessed by a demon](/source/Exorcising_a_boy_possessed_by_a_demon)

## Coin in the fish's mouth (verses 24–27)

Main article: [Coin in the fish's mouth](/source/Coin_in_the_fish's_mouth)

The **coin in the fish's mouth** is one of the [miracles of Jesus](/source/Miracles_of_Jesus), told in .[18][19][20]

The [four-drachma](/source/Tetradrachm) (or shekel) coin would be exactly enough to pay the [temple tax](/source/Temple_tax) (a two-drachma coin) for two people.[21] It is usually thought to be a [Tyrian shekel](/source/Tyrian_shekel).[22][23]

## See also

- [Elijah](/source/Elijah)
- [Moses](/source/Moses)
- [Parable of Jesus](/source/Parable_of_Jesus)
- [Simon Peter](/source/Simon_Peter)
- [Tetradrachm](/source/Tetradrachm)
- [Tilapia](/source/Tilapia)
- Related [Bible](/source/Bible) parts: [Exodus 30](/source/Exodus_30), [Exodus 38](/source/Exodus_38), [Mark 9](/source/Mark_9), [Luke 9](/source/Luke_9)

## References

1. Nicoll, W. R. (1897ff), [The Expositor's Greek Testament](https://biblehub.com/commentaries/egt/matthew/17.htm) on Matthew 17, accessed 6 December 2022

1. [Catholic Encyclopedia: Location of the Transfiguration](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15019a.htm), accessed 27 January 2017

1. Benson, J. (1857), [Benson Commentary: Matthew 17](https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/matthew/17.htm), accessed 7 March 2021

1. Coffman, J. B. (1992), [Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible: 2 Peter 1](https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bcc.html?book=2pe&chapter=001), accessed 7 March 2021

1. Lee 2004, pp. 21–33.

1. Lockyer 1988, p. 213.

1. Lee 2004, p. 103.

1. : NKJV

1. Meyer, H. A. W., [Meyer's NT Commentary](https://biblehub.com/commentaries/meyer/matthew/17.htm) on Matthew 17, accessed 19 September 2019

1. : NKJV

1. : [Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition](/source/Douay-Rheims_1899_American_Edition)

1. [The Holy Bible – Knox Translation](http://catholicbible.online/knox/NT/Mat/ch_17), Matthew 17, accessed 6 December 2022

1. Jerusalem Bible (1966), footnote b at Matthew 17:2

1. : [New Revised Standard Version](/source/New_Revised_Standard_Version)

1. Allison, D., *56. Matthew*, in [Barton, J.](/source/John_Barton_(theologian)) and [Muddiman, J.](/source/John_Muddiman) (2001), [The Oxford Bible Commentary](https://b-ok.org/dl/946961/8f5f43) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171122193211/http://b-ok.org/dl/946961/8f5f43) 2017-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, p. 866.

1. : [English Standard Version](/source/English_Standard_Version)

1. Holyhead, V. (2007), [Welcoming the Word in Year A: Building on Rock](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Verna-Holyhead-Welcoming-Word-Year/dp/B00NBJUDQS), p. 33, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota

1. Daniel J. Scholz (2009), *Introducing the New Testament*, ISBN 0-88489-955-1, p. 86.

1. Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2007 Harmony of the Gospels, ISBN 0-8054-9444-8, p. 349.

1. [Herbert Lockyer](/source/Herbert_Lockyer), *All the Miracles of the Bible* (Zondervan, 1988), p. 219.

1. [Keener, Craig S.](/source/Craig_S._Keener), 2009, *The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary*, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, ISBN 0-8028-6498-8, p. [445](https://books.google.com/books?id=8C2Y_HaL5W0C&pg=PA445).

1. Hendin, David. ["The coin in the fish's mouth"](http://www.coinsweekly.com/en/Archive/The-coin-in-the-fishs-mouth/8?&id=136&type=a). Coins Weekly. Retrieved 19 February 2016.

1. Lewis, Peter E. & Bolden, Ron (2002). [*The Pocket Guide to Saint Paul: Coins Encountered by the Apostle on His Travels*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Qa3Rj6rnjOIC&pg=PA21). [Wakefield Press](/source/Wakefield_Press_(Australia)). p. 21. ISBN 9781862545625. Retrieved 19 February 2016.

## Sources

- Lee, Dorothy (2004). [*Transfiguration*](https://books.google.com/books?id=31vUAwAAQBAJ). Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-8264-7595-4.
- Lockyer, Herbert (1988). [*All the Miracles of the Bible*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wZwTh2-WIb0C). Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-310-28101-6.

## External links

- King James Bible - Wikisource
- [English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate](http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=1&b=1&c=17)
- [*Online Bible* at GospelHall.org](http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Matthew+17) (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, [Bible in Basic English](/source/Bible_in_Basic_English))
- [Multiple bible versions at *Bible Gateway*](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=17) (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Matthew 17](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_17) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_17?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.