Section 85
Transfiguration of Jesus
High mountain, perhaps Mount Hermon
| Matthew 17:1-8 | Mark 9:2-8 | Luke 9:28-36a |
|---|---|---|
| 1And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. | 2And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 3And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. | 28And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. |
| 4Then 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. 5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. | 5And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 6For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. 7And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. | 33And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. |
| 8And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. | 8And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. | 36aWhen the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. |
Notes
Hermon
The vista of snow capped Mount Hermon in the distance is a delight to the eyes and heart. With its fields of green grass, ponds of water, and its hills in a profusion of red, pink, white, and yellow wild flowers, Mount Hermon is a sight you will never forget. This lofty mountain, stretching for a distance of 30 miles, has several peaks; from a distance, it can almost look like a mountain range rather than a single mountain. The highest of the three peaks is on the southwest, the one most visible as you come from the Sea of Galilee. It rises to a height of 9,000 feet.
Lofty Mount Hermon, towering nearly ten thousand feet above sea level, is beautiful with its year-round snowcapped peaks. Without Mount Hermon, however, all Israel would be a desert wasteland. Essentially all the water in the country comes from this mountain: moisture blowing in from the Mediterranean Sea forms clouds around this towering peak, causing rain and snow to fall upon northern Israel. The resulting precipitation, as well as runoff from the mountain itself, is the sole source of water for the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River.