Matthew 17:4

 

Matthew 17:4

(KJV) Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

(1611 KJV) Then answered Peter, and saide vnto Iesus, Lord, it is good for vs to be here: If thou wilt, let vs make here three tabernacles: one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

(1587 Geneva Bible) Then answered Peter, and saide to Iesus, Master, it is good for vs to be here: if thou wilt, let vs make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

(1526 Tyndale) Then answered Peter and sayde to Iesus: master here is good beinge for vs. If thou wylt leet vs make here .iii. tabernacles one for the and one for Moses and one for Helyas.

 

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB) Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. I will set up three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

(NIV) 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."

(NASV) Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

(THE MESSAGE) Peter broke in, "Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?"

(AMP) Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good and delightful that we are here; if You approve, I will put up three booths here--one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.

(NLT) Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

(ESV) And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."

(NCV) Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, I will put up three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

(1901 ASV) And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

(HCSB) Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it's good for us to be here! If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

(NIRV) Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

(RSV) And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah."

(NAB-Roman Catholic) Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witneses) Responsively Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, it is fine for us to be here. If you wish, I will erect three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for E·li´jah.”

 

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text

apokriqeiV de o petroV eipen tw ihsou kurie kalon estin hmaV wde einai ei qeleiV poihswmen wde treiV skhnaV soi mian kai mwsh mian kai mian hlia

 

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text

apokriqeiV de o petroV eipen tw ihsou kurie kalon estin hmaV wde einai ei qeleiV poihsw wde treiV skhnaV soi mian kai mwusei mian kai hlia mian

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century

C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century (original)

 

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century (corrected)

D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century

K 017 - Ninth century

L 019 - Seventh century

W 032 - Fourth/fifth century

Gamma 036 - Ninth or Tenth century

Delta 037 - Ninth century

Theta 038 - Ninth century

13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Reads “I will make” instead of “let us make”

Lachmann, Karl - 1842

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

 

Affected Teaching

Here is a case of the plural “let us” being changed to singular “I” for no reason at all. Peter, James, and John were on the Mount of Transfiguration and Peter wanted to prolong this tremendous experience as I am sure that he wanted to pose many questions to Moses and Elijah. However, there were bigger things in view here than Peter’s desire to stay on the Mount. While he was speaking, the cloud overshadowed them and God the Father had spoken stating that they were to hear His Son. This took the focus off of Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John. (Heb 1:1-2 KJV) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, {2} Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; In these last days, which commenced at the cross, we are to hear from Jesus and not the Apostles or the Prophets. Hebrews 1:1 states that we heard from the Prophets in times past, which means that time is over and now we hear from the Lord Jesus, not audibly, but through the Scriptures. There is no reason for the Scripture to be changed from plural to singular. I am sure if they would have built tabernacles, all three would have built them for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. This change may have been an attempt to focus on the Roman Catholic belief that Peter was the first Pope and that he was the one who would have built the tabernacle being the Vicar of Christ on earth. The tabernacle would have represented the church of Rome which they claim is the true church. This might have been another effort to make Peter the central figure, AKA the first Pope.

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