Bible Strands
Mark 9:11
And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The disciples ask Jesus this question immediately after the Transfiguration, while they privately discuss what it means to rise from the dead (Mark 9:10).
The words — The Greek ἐπηρώτων (epērōtōn) means "they were asking," and γραμματεῖς (grammateis) translates to "scribes," highlighting the disciples' appeal to Jesus regarding established Jewish teaching.
The thread — This inquiry points to Malachi 4:5, which promises Elijah's return before the Day of the Lord, and finds its New Testament explanation in Matthew 11:14.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to weigh human religious tradition against Jesus' direct authority and to accept that prophetic fulfillment operates on God's timeline, not human expectation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Cross-references
- Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
- Matthew 17:10 The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- Mark 9:4 And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.