And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
And {G2532} this {G5026} voice {G5456} which came {G5342} from {G1537} heaven {G3772} we {G2249} heard {G191}, when we were {G5607} with {G4862} him {G846} in {G1722} the holy {G40} mount {G3735}.
We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.
-
Matthew 17:6
And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. -
Exodus 3:5
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground. -
Joshua 5:15
And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy. And Joshua did so. -
Isaiah 11:9
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. -
Genesis 28:16
¶ And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew [it] not. -
Genesis 28:17
And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful [is] this place! this [is] none other but the house of God, and this [is] the gate of heaven. -
Zechariah 8:3
Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
Context
In 2 Peter 1:18, the Apostle Peter strongly asserts the truth and reliability of his message regarding the power and coming of Jesus Christ. He explicitly states that he is not following "cunningly devised fables" (2 Peter 1:16), but rather sharing an eyewitness account of Jesus' divine majesty. This verse specifically refers to the pivotal event known as the Transfiguration of Jesus, where Peter, James, and John were privileged witnesses to Christ's glory on what Peter calls "the holy mount." This personal experience serves as a powerful foundation for Peter's exhortations to Christian living and his warnings against false teachers.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "holy mount" (Greek: oros to hagion, ὄρος τὸ ἅγιον) highlights the sacredness of the location where this profound divine encounter took place. It was sanctified by God's manifest presence and the revelation of Christ's glory. The "voice" (Greek: phonē, φωνή) signifies a clear, audible sound, emphasizing the objective and undeniable reality of God's communication from heaven, not a subjective internal impression.
Practical Application
For believers today, 2 Peter 1:18 offers several significant applications: