Bible Strands
Matthew 17:12
But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples immediately following His statement that Elijah will come to restore all things. He speaks at this moment to clarify the fulfillment of the Elijah prophecy through a rejected forerunner and to prepare them for His own impending suffering.
The words — The Greek ἤδη (ēdē) means “already,” and ἦλθεν (ēlthen) means “has come,” marking the completed arrival of the prophesied figure. Jesus anchors the declaration with λέγω (legō), “I say,” to establish His authoritative pronouncement.
The thread — The verse connects Elijah’s mistreatment to the suffering of the Son of Man, paralleling Matthew 16:21’s prediction of Jesus’ suffering at human hands and Isaiah 53:3’s description of a despised, rejected figure. It also frames John the Baptist’s ministry within Acts 13:24’s account of his preparatory baptism of repentance.
Why it lands — The text states that the prophesied forerunner arrived and was unrecognized and mistreated, just as the Son of Man will be. It requires the reader to acknowledge God’s hidden fulfillment in rejected figures and to accept suffering as the necessary path of the Messiah’s work.
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
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
- Acts 13:24 Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
- Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
- Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
- Mark 9:12 He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected?
- John 5:32 There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that His testimony about Me is valid.
- Acts 3:14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
- Acts 4:10 then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
- Matthew 11:2 Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples
- Matthew 11:9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.