MAT 17:4 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Then Peter spoke up and said to Yeshua, “Master, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I could make three shelters here: one for you and one for Mosheh and one for Eliyah.”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And answering, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will make[fn] here three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Instead of I will make, some manuscripts read let us make.

UST Peter responded by saying to Jesus, “My Lord, it is appropriate for all of us to be here. If you want me to, I will build three shelters. You, Moses, and Elijah can each use one.”

BLB And Peter answering said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will make here three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

AICNT Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, {I will}[fn] make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

17:4, I will: Later manuscripts read “let us.”

OEB ‘Master,’ exclaimed Peter, interposing, ‘it is good to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’

WEBBE Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

WMBB Peter answered and said to Yeshua, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

NET So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

LSV And Peter answering said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good to us to be here; if You will, we may make three shelters here: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

FBV Peter spoke up, saying to Jesus, “Lord, it's really good to be here. If you want I'll make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

TCNT So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If yoʋ want, [fn]we will make three shelters here, one for yoʋ, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

17:4 we ¦ I CT

T4T Peter saw them and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here! If you want me to, I will make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

LEB So Peter answered and[fn] said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here! If you want, I will make here three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

17:4 *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb

BBE And Peter made answer and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if you will let me, I will make here three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

Moff So Peter addressed Jesus and said, "Lord, it is a good thing we are here; pray let me put up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Wymth Then Peter said to Jesus, "Master, we are thankful to you that we are here. If you approve, I will put up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

ASV And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

DRA And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

YLT And Peter answering said to Jesus, 'Sir, it is good to us to be here; if thou wilt, we may make here three booths — for thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elijah.'

Drby And Peter answering said to Jesus, Lord, it is good we should be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles: for thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elias.

RV And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
(And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou/you wilt/will, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee/you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. )

SLT And Peter, having answered, said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: let us make here three tents; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Wbstr Then answered Peter, and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

KJB-1769 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou/you wilt/will, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee/you, and one for Moses, and one for Elias/Elijah. )

KJB-1611 Then answered Peter, and saide vnto Iesus, Lord, it is good for vs to be here: If thou wilt, let vs make here three tabernacles: one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Then aunswered Peter, and sayde vnto Iesus: Lorde, it is good for vs to be here. If thou wylt, let vs make here three tabernacles: one for thee, and one for Moyses, and one for Elias.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Gnva Then answered Peter, and saide to Iesus, Master, it is good for vs to be here: if thou wilt, let vs make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(Then answered Peter, and said to Yesus/Yeshua, Master, it is good for us to be here: if thou/you wilt/will, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee/you, and one for Moses, and one for Elias/Elijah. )

Cvdl Then answered Peter, and sayde vnto Iesus: LORDE, here is good beynge for us. Yf thou wilt, let us make here thre tabernacles: one for the, one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(Then answered Peter, and said unto Yesus/Yeshua: LORD, here is good being for us. If thou/you wilt/will, let us make here three tabernacles: one for them, one for Moses, and one for Elias/Elijah.)

TNT Then answered Peter and sayde to Iesus: master here is good beinge for vs. If thou wylt leet vs make here .iii. tabernacles one for the and one for Moses and one for Helyas.
(Then answered Peter and said to Yesus/Yeshua: master here is good being for us. If thou/you wilt/will leet us make here 3 tabernacles one for the and one for Moses and one for Elias/Elijah. )

Wycl And Petre answeride, and seide to Jhesu, Lord, it is good vs to be here. If thou wolt, make we here thre tabernaclis; to thee oon, to Moises oon, and oon to Elye. Yit the while he spak, lo!
(And Peter answered, and said to Yhesu, Lord, it is good us to be here. If thou/you wilt/will, make we here three tabernacles/tents; to thee/you one, to Moses one, and one to Elye. Yet the while he spoke, lo!)

Luth Petrus aber antwortete und sprach zu JEsu: HErr, hier ist gut sein; willst du, so wollen wir hier drei Hütten machen, dir eine, Mose eine und Elia eine.
(Peter but replied and spoke to/for Yesu: LORD, here is good be; want you(sg), so want we/us here three huts make, you/to_you(sg) a/one, Moses a/one and Elia a/one.)

ClVg Respondens autem Petrus, dixit ad Jesum: Domine, bonum est nos hic esse: si vis, faciamus tria tabernacula, tibi unum, Moysi unum, et Eliæ unum.
(Respondens however Peter, he/she_said to Yesus: Master, good it_is us this/here to_be: when/but_if you_want, let's_do_it three shelters/tents, to_you one, of_Moses one, and Eliyah one. )

UGNT ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ, ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ, Κύριε, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι. εἰ θέλεις, ποιήσω ὧδε τρεῖς σκηνάς, σοὶ μίαν, καὶ Μωϋσεῖ μίαν, καὶ Ἠλείᾳ μίαν.
(apokritheis de, ho Petros eipen tōi Yaʸsou, Kurie, kalon estin haʸmas hōde einai. ei theleis, poiaʸsō hōde treis skaʸnas, soi mian, kai Mōusei mian, kai Aʸleia mian.)

SBL-GNT ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ· Κύριε, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι· εἰ θέλεις, ⸀ποιήσω ὧδε τρεῖς σκηνάς, σοὶ μίαν καὶ Μωϋσεῖ μίαν καὶ ⸂Ἠλίᾳ μίαν⸃.
(apokritheis de ho Petros eipen tōi Yaʸsou; Kurie, kalon estin haʸmas hōde einai; ei theleis, ⸀poiaʸsō hōde treis skaʸnas, soi mian kai Mōusei mian kai ⸂Aʸlia mian⸃.)

RP-GNT Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ, Κύριε, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι· εἰ θέλεις, ποιήσωμεν ὧδε τρεῖς σκηνάς, σοὶ μίαν, καὶ Μωσῇ μίαν, καὶ μίαν Ἠλίᾳ.
(Apokritheis de ho Petros eipen tōi Yaʸsou, Kurie, kalon estin haʸmas hōde einai; ei theleis, poiaʸsōmen hōde treis skaʸnas, soi mian, kai Mōsaʸ mian, kai mian Aʸlia.)

TC-GNT Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπε τῷ Ἰησοῦ, Κύριε, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι· εἰ θέλεις, [fn]ποιήσωμεν ὧδε τρεῖς σκηνάς, σοὶ μίαν, καὶ [fn]Μωσῇ μίαν, καὶ [fn]μίαν Ἠλίᾳ.
(Apokritheis de ho Petros eipe tōi Yaʸsou, Kurie, kalon estin haʸmas hōde einai; ei theleis, poiaʸsōmen hōde treis skaʸnas, soi mian, kai Mōsaʸ mian, kai mian Aʸlia. )

17:4 ποιησωμεν ¦ ποιησω CT

17:4 μωση ¦ μωσει ANT PCK ¦ μωυσει CT

17:4 μιαν ηλια ¦ ηλια μιαν NA SBL TH ¦ ηλεια μιαν WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 17:1–13: Three disciples saw Jesus’ glory

In this section, Jesus changed his appearance. He made his face and his clothes shine very brightly. He did this in front of Peter, James and John. At the same time, the disciples saw Moses and Elijah. Then they heard the voice of God. When the disciples saw and heard all this, they understood that Jesus was not an ordinary teacher. They better understood that he really was the Messiah.

This section immediately follow 16:28 which says, “Truly, I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” This section begins to fulfill that verse.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The disciples saw Jesus’ appearance change

Jesus’ glory was revealed on the mountain

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 9:2–12 and Luke 9:28–36.

17:4a

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us^(excl) to be here.
Then Peter said to Jesus, “Sir, we^(excl) are happy/privileged to be here!

Peter said to Jesus: In Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that sometimes indicates a change of participants. Here the change is from the prophets to Peter. Some English versions translate this conjunction as “And.” The BSB and many other English versions do not translate this conjunction.

Verse 17:4 is the next event in the story. So here are some other ways to begin this verse:

Then Peter said to Jesus (NRSV)

So Peter said to Jesus (NET)

Lord: For help in translating the term Lord, see the note at 15:22c.

it is good for us to be here: There are at least three ways to interpret Peter’s words:

Peter meant that he and the other disciples were happy to be there. They were happy to see the glory of Jesus. They were also happy to see the prophets Moses and Elijah. It was a privilege for them to be there.One commentator who follow this interpretation is Nolland who writes on page 702, “Peter expresses on behalf of the disciple group present a sense of the privilege of witnessing the scene before them.” The NLT probably follows this interpretation. It says:
it’s wonderful for us to be here
Peter meant that it was good that he and the other disciples were there so that they could help Jesus and the prophets.One commentator who follows this interpretation is France who writes on page 649, “‘It is good that we are here’ in context means not so much ‘we are glad/privileged to be here’ but rather ‘it is a good thing that we are here because we are available to do what needs to be done.’” The NCV probably follow this interpretation. It says:
it is good that we are here
Peter meant that it was wonderful for all six men to be there together.One commentator who follows this interpretation of Blomberg who writes on page 262, “‘It is good for us to be here’ will then mean not that it is good that Peter, James, and John can help put up the tents but that it is good that all of the participants can preserve this moment for some length of time.”

Many English versions are ambiguous and it is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Peter naturally thought about himself first and what he was experiencing. He first talked about what he thought and felt based on what he saw in front of him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

we^(excl) are happy to be here

it is a privilege for us^(excl) to be here

us to be here: The pronoun us probably refers to Peter and the other two disciples. In other words, it probably excludes Jesus, Moses and Elijah. If your language has inclusive and exclusive pronouns, you should use the exclusive us here.

17:4b

If You wish, I will put up three shelters—

If you want/desire, I will build three shelters.
If you want me to, I will put up three temporary shelters.

17:4c

one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

One will be for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
I will put up one for you, another one for the prophet Moses and another for the prophet Elijah.”

17:4b–c

If You wish: The Greek word that the BSB translates as wish could also be translated “want” or “desire.” Peter used this phrase to offer his services to Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

If you want (NCV)

If you desire

I will put up three shelters: The Greek word that the BSB translates as shelters refers to temporary shelters. These shelters were often made of cloth or animal skins. They were held up by poles and tied down with ropes. These shelters were traditionally used by herders. They could put them up and take them down quickly as they followed their wandering herds. They could sleep in them at night or use them for shade during the day.

These shelters could also be made from sticks and branches. This must have been what Peter meant since he would not have had cloth or skins with him on the mountain.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I will make three tents here (ESV)

I will erect three shelters/huts

put up: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as put up is a general verb used to refer to building or constructing something. You should a verb in your language that goes with building/making temporary shelters.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

build

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀποκριθεὶς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκριθείς Δέ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ Κύριε καλόν ἐστίν ἡμάς ὧδε εἶναι Εἰ θέλεις ποιήσω ὧδε τρεῖς σκηνάς σοί μίαν καί Μωϋσεῖ μίαν καί Ἠλίᾳ μίαν)

Here, the word answering indicates that Peter was responding to what he saw. He was not answering a question. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [in response to seeing those things]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμᾶς

By we, Peter could mean: (1) everyone who was there, including himself, the other two disciples, Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Alternate translation: [for us all] (2) just himself and the other two disciples. Alternate translation: [for us disciples]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

θέλεις & σοὶ

˱you˲_˓are˒_wanting & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκριθείς Δέ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ Κύριε καλόν ἐστίν ἡμάς ὧδε εἶναι Εἰ θέλεις ποιήσω ὧδε τρεῖς σκηνάς σοί μίαν καί Μωϋσεῖ μίαν καί Ἠλίᾳ μίαν)

Since Peter is talking to Jesus, the word you is singular throughout this verse.

Note 4 topic: translate-textvariants

ποιήσω

˱I˲_˓will_be˒_making

Many ancient manuscripts read I will make. The ULT follows that reading. Other ancient manuscripts read “let us make.” If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

σκηνάς

tents

The term tents means simple, temporary places in which to sit or sleep. Peter probably had in mind that he would build them from the materials available on the mountain such as tree branches. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to this kind of temporary shelter. Alternate translation: [booths]

Parallel MAT 17:4

Section 17:1–13: Three disciples saw Jesus’ glory

17:4a

17:4b

17:4c

17:4b–c