Matthew 17:12

Wesley's New Testament

But I say to you, That Elijah is come already, and they acknowledged him not, but have done to him whatever they listed.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

King James Version (1611)
But I say vnto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but haue done vnto him whatsoeuer they listed: Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

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.

English Standard Version
But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands."

New American Standard Bible
but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."

New Century Version
But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him. They did to him whatever they wanted to do. It will be the same with the Son of Man; those same people will make the Son of Man suffer."

Amplified Bible
but I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not recognize him, but did to him as they wished. The Son of Man is also going to suffer at their hands."

Geneva Bible (1587)
But I say vnto you that Elias is come alreadie, and they knewe him not, but haue done vnto him whatsoeuer they would: likewise shal also the Sonne of man suffer of them.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."

Legacy Standard Bible
but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."

Berean Standard Bible
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."

Contemporary English Version
In fact, he has already come. But the people did not recognize him and treated him just as they wanted to. They will soon make the Son of Man suffer in the same way."

Complete Jewish Bible
on the other hand, I tell you that Eliyahu has come already, and people did not recognize him but did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way, the Son of Man too is about to suffer at their hands."

Darby Translation
But I say unto you that Elias has already come, and they have not known him, but have done unto him whatever they would. Thus also the Son of man is about to suffer from them.

Easy-to-Read Version
But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was, and they treated him badly, doing whatever they wanted to do. It is the same with the Son of Man. Those same people will make the Son of Man suffer."

George Lamsa Translation
But I say to you, Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, and they did to him whatever they pleased. Thus also the Son of man is bound to suffer from them.

Good News Translation
But I tell you that Elijah has already come and people did not recognize him, but treated him just as they pleased. In the same way they will also mistreat the Son of Man."

Lexham English Bible
But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did with him whatever they wanted. In the same way also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."

Literal Translation
But I say to you, Elijah already came, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they desired. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer by them.

American Standard Version
but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.

Bible in Basic English
But I say to you that Elijah has come, and they had no knowledge of him, but did to him whatever they were pleased to do; the same will the Son of man undergo at their hands.

Hebrew Names Version
but I tell you that Eliyah has come already, and they didn't recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so will the Son of Man also suffer by them."

International Standard Version
But I tell you that Elijah has already come, yet peoplethey">[fn] did not recognize him and treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."Matthew 11:14; 16:21; Mark 9:12-13;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
but I say to you, that, behold, Elia hath come, but they knew him not, and have done to him as they would. So also is the Son of man to suffer from them.

Murdock Translation
And I say to you. That, behold, Elijah hath come, and they did not know him; and they have done to him whatever they pleased: and, in like manner, also the Son of man is to suffer from them.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But I say vnto you, that Elias is come alredy, and they knewe hym not, but haue done vnto hym, whatsoeuer they lusted.

English Revised Version
but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they listed. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.

World English Bible
but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn't recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so will the Son of Man also suffer by them."

Weymouth's New Testament
But I tell you that he has already come, and they did not recognize him, but dealt with him as they chose. And before long the Son of Man will be treated by them in a similar way."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y seie to you, that Elie is nowe comun, and thei knewen hym not, but thei diden in him what euer thingis thei wolden; and so mannus sone schal suffre of hem.

Update Bible Version
but I say to you, that Elijah has come already, and they didn't know him, but did to him whatever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.

Webster's Bible Translation
But I say to you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done to him whatever they pleased: likewise will also the Son of man suffer by them.

New English Translation
And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands."

New King James Version
But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands."

New Living Translation
But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn't recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer."

New Life Bible
But I tell you, Elijah has already come and they did not know him. They did to him whatever they wanted to do. In the same way the Son of Man will suffer from them also."

New Revised Standard
but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, I say unto you - that, Elijah, just now, came, - and they recognised him not, but did with him, whatsoever they pleased: Thus, the Son of Man also, is destined to suffer by them.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But I say to you, that Elias is already come, and they knew him not, But have done unto him whatsoever they had a mind. So also the Son of man shall suffer from them.

Revised Standard Version
but I tell you that Eli'jah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And I saye vnto you yt Helyas is come alredy and they knewe him not: but have done vnto him whatsoever they lusted. In lyke wyse shall also the sonne of man suffre of the.

Young's Literal Translation
and I say to you -- Elijah did already come, and they did not know him, but did with him whatever they would, so also the Son of Man is about to suffer by them.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But I saye vnto you: Elias is come all ready, & they knewe him not, but haue done vnto him what they wolde. Eue so shal also the sonne of man suffre of them.

Mace New Testament (1729)
but I tell you, that Elias is already come, tho' they knew him not, but treated him in an arbitrary manner; with such usage as the son of man shall likewise suffer at their hands.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But here's the thing, a cowboy like Elijah has already come and they didn't even recognize him. They treated him sorry and they will do the same to me."

Contextual Overview

¹ And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter and James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, ² And was transfigured before them, and his face shone as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. ³ And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him. ⁴ Then answered Peter and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tents, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. ⁵ While 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 delight: hear ye him. ⁶ And the disciples hearing it, fell on their face and were sore afraid. ⁷ And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise and be not afraid. ⁸ And lifting up their eyes, they saw no man, but Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, ⁹ Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen again from the dead. ¹⁰ And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes, That Elijah must come first?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

and they: Matthew 11:9-15, Matthew 21:23-25, Matthew 21:32, Mark 9:12, Mark 9:13, Mark 11:30-32, Luke 7:33, John 1:11, John 5:32-36, Acts 13:24-28

but: Matthew 11:2, Matthew 14:3-10, Mark 6:14-28, Luke 3:19, Luke 3:20, Acts 7:52

Likewise: Matthew 16:21, Isaiah 53:3-12, Luke 9:21-25, Acts 2:23, Acts 3:14, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:10

Reciprocal: Matthew 3:1 - John Matthew 14:10 - and beheaded Matthew 21:25 - baptism Luke 1:17 - in Luke 9:22 - General Luke 20:4 - baptism Acts 3:21 - the times

Cross-References

Luke 1:59
And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

Luke 2:21
And when eight days were fulfilled, to circumcise the child, his name was called Jesus, which was named of the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.

Acts 7:8
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

Romans 2:28
For he is not a Jew, who is one in outward shew, neither is that circumcision which is apparent in the flesh.

Philippians 3:5
of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, touching the law, a Pharisee; Touching zeal,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But I say unto you,.... A way of speaking used by Christ, when he opposes and contradicts any of the tenets of the Scribes and Pharisees; see Matthew 5:22 "that Elias is come already"; the person that was signified by, and prophesied of, under the name of Elias: for Christ refers not to the late appearance of Elias on the mount, but to the coming of a certain person some time ago; who came in the power and spirit of Elias, and was the forerunner and harbinger of him, the Messiah; as was said of him he should, "and they knew him not"; that is, the Scribes and Pharisees, who believed that Elias would come before the Messiah; and yet when he who was designed by him was come, they knew him not, they did not know him to be the Elias; they knew him under the name of John the Baptist, and seemed pleased with his ministry for a while, but afterwards rejected his doctrine and baptism, which is referred to in the next clause:

but have done unto him whatsoever they listed; they did not believe what he said, nor repent upon his preaching to them; they rejected the counsel of God he declared, not being baptized of him; they treated him with indignity and contempt, charging him with having a devil, and were well pleased when Herod put him to death; some of whom were doubtless among those that sat at meat with him; for whose sake, as well as for his oath's sake, he ordered the execrable murder to be committed:

likewise also shall the son of man suffer of them. Christ takes this opportunity to confirm what he had said in the preceding chapter, concerning his sufferings and death; and his meaning is, that as sure as John the Baptist had suffered indignities, and death itself, so sure should the son of man suffer like things; if not from the same individual persons, yet from that generation of men.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See also Mark 9:11-13.

Why then say the scribes ... - The disciples appear to have been satisfied now that he was the Messiah. The transfiguration had taken away all their doubts, but they recollected that it was a common doctrine among the Jews that Elijah would appear before the Messiah came, and they did not then recollect that he had appeared. To this difficulty the word then refers. “We are satisfied that thou art the Christ, but Elijah has not yet come, as was expected; what, then, is the meaning of the common opinions of our learned men, the scribes? Were they right or wrong in their expectation of Elijah?” See the notes at Matthew 11:14.

Matthew 17:11

Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things - He did not mean by this that Elijah was yet to come, for he tells them immediately Matthew 17:12 that he had come; but he meant to affirm that it was a true doctrine which the scribes taught, that Elijah would appear before the coming of the Messiah. To “restore” means to put into the former situation. See Matthew 12:13. Hence, it means to heal, to correct, to put in proper order. Here it means that Elijah would put things in a proper state; he would be the instrument of reforming the people, or of restoring them, in some measure, to proper notions about the Messiah and preparing them for his coming. Before the coming of John their views were erroneous, their expectations were worldly, and their conduct were exceedingly depraved. He corrected many of their notions about the Messiah (see Matthew 3:0), and he was the instrument of an extensive reformation, and thus restored them, in some degree, to correct views of their own system and of the Messiah, and to a preparation for his advent.

Matthew 17:12

Elias is come already - That is, John the Baptist has come, in the spirit and power of Elias. See Luke 1:17.

They have done unto him whatsoever they listed - The word “list” is an old English word, signifying to choose, to desire, to be inclined. See Judges 3:8. It means, here, that they had done to John as they pleased; that is, they had put him to death, Matthew 14:10.

Mark adds Mark 9:12 that Jesus told them that it was “written of the Son of man that he must suffer many things, and be set at naught.” This was written of him particularly in Isaiah 53:1-12. To be set at naught is to be esteemed as worthless or as nothing; to be cast out and despised. No prophecy was ever more strikingly fulfilled. See Luke 23:11, Luke 23:14-21. This narrative, with some additions, is found in Mark 9:14-29, and Luke 9:37-43.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 17:12. Knew him not — Or, ουκ επιγνωσαν αυτον, They have not acknowledged him. That is, the Jewish rulers have not acknowledged him, did not receive him as the forerunner of the Messiah. But it appears that all the rest acknowledged him as such; and some, from the power and demonstration of his preaching, were inclined to think he was more, even the Messiah himself: see Luke 3:15.