Matthew 17:9

KJV

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} as they {G846} came down {G2597} from {G575} the mountain {G3735}, Jesus {G2424} charged {G1781} them {G846}, saying {G3004}, Tell {G2036} the vision {G3705} to no man {G3367}, until {G2193}{G3739} the Son {G5207} of man {G444} be risen again {G450} from {G1537} the dead {G3498}.

Complete Jewish Bible

As they came down the mountain, Yeshua ordered them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Berean Standard Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 17:9 captures a pivotal moment immediately following the Transfiguration, where Jesus, descending from the mountain with Peter, James, and John, issues a strict directive to them: they are to keep silent about the glorious vision they witnessed until after the Son of Man has risen from the dead. This command underscores Jesus' strategic control over the revelation of His identity and mission, highlighting the indispensable role of His future resurrection in fully validating and clarifying the true nature of His divine glory and redemptive work.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded in the narrative immediately following the [Transfiguration account](/matthew/17-1-8 "Matthew 17:1-8 - The Transfiguration of Jesus"). Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John to a high mountain, where His appearance was dramatically transformed, His clothes became dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah appeared conversing with Him. A voice from a bright cloud, identified as God the Father, declared, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" ([Matthew 17:5](/matthew/17-5 "Matthew 17:5 - God's Declaration at the Transfiguration")). The disciples were overwhelmed with fear and awe. As they leave this profound spiritual encounter, Jesus' command in Matthew 17:9 serves as a crucial transition, linking the revelation of His divine glory to the necessity of His impending suffering and resurrection, which He had previously begun to teach them about (e.g., [Matthew 16:21](/matthew/16-21 "Matthew 16:21 - Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society was eagerly anticipating the Messiah, often with strong nationalistic and political expectations for a conquering king who would liberate Israel from Roman rule. The disciples themselves, despite witnessing Jesus' miracles and teachings, still harbored these conventional hopes for an earthly kingdom. A public declaration of Jesus' divine glory, as seen at the Transfiguration, could easily have ignited premature and misguided attempts to enthrone Him as a political king, thereby disrupting God's redemptive plan centered on the cross. Jesus' command for silence (often termed the "Messianic Secret") was a strategic measure to manage these expectations and ensure His mission culminated in the atoning sacrifice and resurrection, rather than a popular but ultimately incomplete political movement.
* **Key Themes:** The command in Matthew 17:9 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it highlights the **Messianic Secret**, a recurring motif where Jesus intentionally restricts the spread of information about His divine identity or miraculous deeds to control the timing and understanding of His true mission, particularly evident in [Mark's Gospel](/mark/1 "The Gospel of Mark"). Secondly, it underscores the **Centrality of the Resurrection** as the ultimate validation of Jesus' claims and the indispensable event for rightly understanding His glory. The Transfiguration, while a magnificent display of His deity, could only be fully comprehended in light of His victory over death, which would confirm His authority and the spiritual nature of His kingdom. Finally, it speaks to **Divine Timing**, demonstrating Jesus' perfect alignment with the Father's sovereign plan for revelation, where certain truths are withheld until the opportune moment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **charged (Greek, _entéllomai'_):** This word signifies a strong, authoritative command or injunction, more than a mere suggestion. It implies a binding directive given with authority, underscoring the seriousness and importance of Jesus' instruction to His disciples.
* **vision (Greek, _hórama'_):** Refers to something gazed at, a spectacle, specifically a supernatural sight or divine revelation. In this context, it clearly denotes the extraordinary and divinely orchestrated event of the Transfiguration, which was a direct manifestation of God's presence and glory.
* **risen again (Greek, _anístēmi'_):** This verb means "to stand up," "to raise up," or "to rise again." Here, it explicitly points to the resurrection from the dead, emphasizing the physical act of rising and the restoration of life. Its inclusion highlights the resurrection as the pivotal event that would transform the disciples' understanding and validate Jesus' true identity and mission.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And as they came down from the mountain":** This phrase immediately grounds the command in the physical aftermath of the Transfiguration. The descent from the high mountain symbolizes a return from a moment of divine revelation to the earthly reality, where the implications of that revelation must be processed and understood in due course.
* **"Jesus charged them, saying":** This emphasizes Jesus' authority and intentionality. The word "charged" (G1781, _entéllomai_) indicates a solemn and binding command, not a casual suggestion. It sets the tone for the gravity of the instruction that follows.
* **"Tell the vision to no man":** This is the core of the "Messianic Secret" in this context. Jesus explicitly forbids the disciples from immediately proclaiming what they had just witnessed. This silence was crucial to prevent misunderstandings about His kingship (which was spiritual, not political) and to ensure His mission culminated in the cross, not just popular acclaim.
* **"until the Son of man be risen again from the dead":** This clause provides the critical condition and timing for the revelation. The resurrection is presented as the indispensable event that would unlock the full meaning of the Transfiguration and Jesus' true identity. Only after His victory over death would the disciples (and subsequently, the world) be able to properly comprehend His divine glory, His atoning work, and the nature of His kingdom.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 17:9 employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is the **Messianic Secret**, a recurring motif in the Gospels, particularly Mark, where Jesus deliberately conceals or restricts the revelation of His identity as the Messiah. This serves to manage public expectations, prevent a premature political uprising, and ensure His mission culminates in the cross and resurrection. The phrase "until the Son of man be risen again from the dead" functions as powerful **Foreshadowing**, pointing directly to the central event of Christian faith—the resurrection—as the ultimate validation and interpretive key for understanding Jesus' glory and authority. The "mountain" itself carries **Symbolism**, often representing a place of divine encounter and revelation in biblical narratives (e.g., Mount Sinai). Here, it signifies the sacred space where Jesus' divine nature was momentarily unveiled.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The command in Matthew 17:9 profoundly connects the revelation of Jesus' divine glory at the Transfiguration to the necessity and ultimate triumph of His resurrection. It teaches that the full understanding of Christ's identity and the nature of His kingdom could only be grasped through the lens of His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. Without the resurrection, the Transfiguration would remain a mere spectacle, lacking its ultimate redemptive significance. It underscores God's perfect timing in revealing truth, ensuring that the foundational elements of the Gospel—Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—are established before the full scope of His glory is proclaimed. This divine strategy prevented a premature, worldly understanding of the Messiah and ensured the focus remained on spiritual redemption rather than temporal power.

* [Mark 9:9](/mark/9-9 "Parallel Account of Jesus' Command")
* [Daniel 7:13-14](/daniel/7-13-14 "Prophecy of the Son of Man")
* [1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "The Gospel's Core: Christ's Death and Resurrection")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 17:9 offers profound insights for contemporary believers, reminding us that spiritual experiences, no matter how glorious, must always be interpreted and understood in light of the full truth of Christ's redemptive work, culminating in His resurrection. Just as the disciples needed to await the resurrection to fully grasp the Transfiguration, we too must ground our faith and understanding not merely in supernatural encounters, but in the historical and theological reality of Jesus' victory over sin and death. This verse challenges us to trust God's sovereign timing in our lives, recognizing that there are seasons for silence and processing, and seasons for proclamation. It encourages humility in sharing our spiritual journeys, ensuring that our testimonies are mature, Christ-centered, and aligned with the complete revelation of God's Word. Ultimately, it calls us to continually re-center our faith on the resurrection, which provides meaning, power, and hope to every aspect of our Christian walk.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the timing of Jesus' command to keep silent until His resurrection inform our understanding of God's timing in revealing truth in our own lives?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted to prematurely share or misinterpret spiritual experiences without the full context of Christ's work?**
* **How does the centrality of the resurrection, as highlighted in this verse, impact your daily walk of faith and your understanding of Jesus' identity?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus command the disciples to keep the Transfiguration a secret?**

Answer: Jesus commanded silence primarily for two strategic reasons, often referred to as the "Messianic Secret." First, to prevent premature and misguided political uprisings. The Jewish people expected a conquering Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule, and a public display of Jesus' divine glory could have easily fueled these expectations, leading to an attempt to make Him an earthly king (cf. [John 6:15](/john/6-15 "Jesus Withdraws from the Crowd")). Such a movement would have diverted from God's true redemptive plan, which centered on Jesus' suffering and death. Second, the full meaning of the Transfiguration—a glimpse of Jesus' divine glory—could only be properly understood in light of His resurrection. Without the context of His victory over sin and death, the vision might have seemed incomplete or even confusing. The resurrection would validate His claims, clarify the nature of His spiritual kingdom, and provide the ultimate proof of His divine authority, allowing for a complete and accurate proclamation of who He truly is.

**What is the significance of the title "Son of Man" in this verse?**

Answer: "Son of Man" is Jesus' most frequent self-designation throughout the Gospels, and it carries profound theological weight. It emphasizes both His true humanity and His unique, divinely appointed role as prophesied in [Daniel 7:13-14](/daniel/7-13-14 "The Son of Man Coming with Clouds"). In Daniel's vision, the "Son of Man" is a heavenly, authoritative figure who receives everlasting dominion and glory. By using this title, Jesus subtly connects His earthly ministry and impending suffering with His ultimate heavenly authority, future judgment, and glorious return. In Matthew 17:9, the phrase "until the Son of man be risen again from the dead" powerfully links His human experience of death with His divine power to conquer it, affirming His identity as the one who fulfills both human and divine aspects of the Messiah.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 17:9, with its command to keep the Transfiguration a secret "until the Son of man be risen again from the dead," profoundly points to Christ's ultimate fulfillment in His resurrection. The Transfiguration was a momentary unveiling of Jesus' inherent divine glory, a glimpse of His pre-existent majesty and future reign, yet it was incomplete without the cross and empty tomb. The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal event that validates every claim He made, every miracle He performed, and every prophecy He fulfilled. It is the definitive proof that He is indeed the [Son of God](/romans/1-4 "Declared Son of God by Resurrection") and the victorious [Son of Man](/acts/7-56 "Stephen Sees the Son of Man at God's Right Hand") who has conquered sin and death. Only after His triumph over the grave could the disciples truly comprehend the spiritual nature of His kingdom and the redemptive purpose of His suffering. His resurrection transformed their fear into faith, their confusion into conviction, empowering them to boldly proclaim the Gospel to all nations ([Matthew 28:18-20](/matthew/28-18-20 "The Great Commission")). Thus, the Transfiguration, viewed through the lens of the resurrection, becomes a powerful foretaste of the glory that is now accessible to all who believe in the resurrected Christ, who is the [firstfruits of those who sleep](/1_corinthians/15-20 "Christ, the Firstfruits").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 8:30

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

Matthew 17:23

And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Matthew 16:20

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Matthew 16:21

¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Luke 24:46

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Luke 24:47

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Matthew 8:20

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.