The Transfiguration
Life of Jesus · Draft · BSB
Content revision: 0fd587b23914f541 · No editorial review date recorded
Date: Ministry in Galilee. A guided comparison of Gospel accounts, not a measured calendar or a claim that every parallel follows the same sequence.
On an unnamed mountain, Peter, James and John see Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah. A voice from the cloud identifies the Son and calls them to listen; afterward they discuss the vision and Elijah’s coming.
Matthew and Mark say after six days; Luke says about eight and describes the conversation concerning Jesus’s departure at Jerusalem. The accounts name no mountain, so the former Mount Hermon pin has been removed.
Primary Scripture
17:1 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
17:2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
17:3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
17:4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
17:5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.
17:7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.”
17:8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
17:10 The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
17:11 Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.
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.”
17:13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
9:2 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.
9:3 His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.
9:4 And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
9:5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
9:6 For they were all so terrified that Peter did not know what else to say.
9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
9:8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them except Jesus.
9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
9:10 So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead.
9:11 And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
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?
9:13 But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.”
9:28 About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray.
9:29 And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white.
9:30 Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus.
9:31 They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
9:32 Meanwhile Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him.
9:33 As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
9:34 While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
9:35 And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”
9:36 After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.
Related Scripture
Deuteronomy 18:15–19 · teaching
The call to hear the prophet like Moses provides a direct Deuteronomy connection.
Location evidence
The mountain is unnamed in all three accounts. Mount Hermon and other identifications are proposals; this card removes the imported Hermon pin rather than displaying it as established.
No event map marker is assigned. Do not infer an exact venue from related places.
For the class
What is the significance of the command to listen to the Son?
Interpretation and reuse
Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review.
Record source: theographic (406)
Record source: editorial
Events and places adapted from Theographic Bible Metadata (github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata), CC BY-SA 4.0. This adapted data is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Place coordinates from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0.
Teaching stops, summaries and regional extents are original editorial content of this atlas.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm