Luke 9:35

And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And {G2532} there came {G1096} a voice {G5456} out of {G1537} the cloud {G3507}, saying {G3004}, This {G3778} is {G2076} my {G3450} beloved {G27} Son {G5207}: hear {G191} him {G846}.

and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!”

And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my chosen: hear ye him.

Luke 9:35 is a pivotal verse in the New Testament, capturing a profound moment of divine revelation during the Transfiguration of Jesus. This event, witnessed by only three of Jesus’s disciples, serves as a powerful affirmation of His unique identity and authority.

Context

This verse occurs immediately after Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray. While praying, Jesus's appearance is dramatically altered, His face shining and His clothing becoming dazzling white. Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, appear and converse with Him about His impending departure (His death in Jerusalem). As Peter, overwhelmed, suggests building three tents, a bright cloud overshadows them, and from it, the voice of God the Father speaks, identifying Jesus as His Son and commanding the disciples to "hear him." This event follows Jesus's first prediction of His suffering and Peter's confession of Him as the Christ, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of His mission.

Key Themes

  • Divine Affirmation of Jesus's Sonship: The voice from the cloud unmistakably declares, "This is my beloved Son." This echoes the declaration at Jesus's baptism (Luke 3:22) and definitively establishes Jesus's unique relationship with God the Father. It is a direct endorsement of His identity as the Messiah and the Son of God, not merely a prophet or a teacher.
  • Jesus's Supreme Authority: The command "hear him" is crucial. In the presence of Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets), God's voice directs the disciples to listen to Jesus above all others. This elevates Jesus's teachings and commands above even the foundational figures of Israelite faith, signifying His ultimate authority as the new covenant's mediator and the ultimate revealer of God's will. This points to Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophet like Moses, whom Israel was commanded to hear (Deuteronomy 18:15).
  • The Glory of God: The cloud from which the voice emanates often signifies the presence of God's glory (the Shekinah glory) in the Old Testament, as seen with the tabernacle or in prophetic visions. Its appearance here signifies the divine presence and validation of the event.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "my beloved Son" in Greek is ho huios mou ho agapetos (ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός). The term agapetos (beloved) signifies a unique, cherished, and only-begotten Son. This emphasizes not just biological sonship but a deep, intimate, and exclusive relationship between the Father and the Son.

The command "hear him" comes from the Greek word akouete autou (ἀκούετε αὐτοῦ). This is more than just hearing with the ears; it implies attentive listening, understanding, and obedience. It's a directive to heed His words, to follow His teachings, and to trust His guidance as the ultimate truth.

Related Scriptures

  • The Transfiguration account is also recorded in Matthew 17:5 and Mark 9:7, with similar declarations from the Father.
  • The divine voice at Jesus's baptism in Luke 3:22 also declares, "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."
  • The importance of listening to Jesus's words and abiding in them is a recurring theme throughout the Gospels, emphasizing His role as the ultimate teacher and source of eternal life.

Practical Application

For believers today, Luke 9:35 serves as a timeless reminder of Jesus's unmatched authority and divine nature. Just as the disciples were commanded to "hear him," so too are we called to attentively listen to and obey Jesus's teachings. This involves:

  1. Prioritizing Jesus's Word: In a world filled with competing voices and philosophies, God's command to "hear him" directs us to make Jesus's words the foundation of our lives and decisions.
  2. Trusting His Authority: Recognizing Jesus as the beloved Son of God means trusting His wisdom, His plan for salvation, and His guidance for daily living.
  3. Obedience as Worship: Our obedience to Christ's commands is an act of worship and a demonstration of our faith in His unique Sonship and authority. It means living out the principles He taught, such as love, forgiveness, and selfless service.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 3:22

    And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

  • Matthew 3:17

    And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

  • Acts 3:22

    For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

  • Acts 3:23

    And it shall come to pass, [that] every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

  • Hebrews 5:9

    And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

  • Deuteronomy 18:18

    I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

  • Deuteronomy 18:19

    And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require [it] of him.

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