Matthew 17:12

NET Bible® (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.”

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, Ὅτι Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθεν, καὶ οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτόν, ἀλλʼ ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν.

Transliteration

Legō de to you, That Ēlias ēdē ēlthen, and not epegnōsan him, all' epoiēsan en him hosa ēthelēsan. Houtōs also the Huios of the anthrōpou mellei paschein hyp' them.

Grammar Details

• *Legō*: present, active, indicative, 1st singular - I say/I tell
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and
• *Ēlias*: nominative, masculine, singular - Elijah
• *ēdē*: adverb - already/now
• *ēlthen*: aorist, active, indicative, 3rd singular - came/has come
• *epegnōsan*: aorist, active, indicative, 3rd plural - recognized/knew
• *all'*: strong adversative conjunction - but
• *epoiēsan*: aorist, active, indicative, 3rd plural - did/did to
• *en*: preposition with dative - to/with/in
• *hosa*: relative pronoun, accusative, neuter, plural - whatever
• *ēthelēsan*: aorist, active, indicative, 3rd plural - they wished/they wanted
• *Houtōs*: adverb - thus/in this manner
• *Huios*: nominative, masculine, singular - Son
• *anthrōpou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of man
• *mellei*: present, active, indicative, 3rd singular - is about to
• *paschein*: present, active, infinitive - to suffer
• *hyp'*: preposition with genitive - by/from

Word Meanings

• *epegnōsan*: recognized/knew/acknowledged
• *epoiēsan*: did/did to/performed
• *hosa*: whatever/as many as/all that
• *ēthelēsan*: they wished/they wanted/they desired
• *Huios tou anthrōpou*: Son of Man/Human One
• *mellei*: is about to/is going to/intends to
• *paschein*: to suffer/to endure/to experience

Referenced Verses

• Matt 16:21 : 21 First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
• Isa 53:3-9 : 3 He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant. 4 But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. 5 He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. 6 All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the LORD caused the sin of all of us to attack him. 7 He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth. 8 He was led away after an unjust trial– but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded. 9 They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully. 10 Though the LORD desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the LORD’s purpose will be accomplished through him. 11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done.“My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins. 12 So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.”
• Acts 3:14-15 : 14 But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a man who was a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the Originator of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this fact we are witnesses!
• Acts 4:10 : 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy.
• Acts 13:24-28 : 24 Before Jesus arrived, John had proclaimed a baptism for repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 But while John was completing his mission, he said repeatedly,‘What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!’ 26 Brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us. 27 For the people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him, and they fulfilled the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning him. 28 Though they found no basis for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.
• Acts 7:52 : 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold long ago the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become!
• Matt 11:2 : 2 Jesus and John the Baptist Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question:
• Matt 11:9-9 : 9 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet! 10 This is the one about whom it is written:‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is! 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come. 15 The one who has ears had better listen!
• Matt 14:3-9 : 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had repeatedly told him,“It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. 6 But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Instructed by her mother, she said,“Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 Although it grieved the king, because of his oath and the dinner guests he commanded it to be given. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
• Matt 21:23-25 : 23 The Authority of Jesus Now after Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said,“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them,“I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” They discussed this among themselves, saying,“If we say,‘From heaven,’ he will say,‘Then why did you not believe him?’
• Matt 21:32 : 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
• Mark 6:14-28 : 14 The Death of John the Baptist Now King Herod heard this, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying,“John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said,“He is Elijah.” Others said,“He is a prophet, like one of the prophets from the past.” 16 But when Herod heard this, he said,“John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!” 17 For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had repeatedly told Herod,“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not 20 because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John. 21 But a suitable day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl,“Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 23 He swore to her,“Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 So she went out and said to her mother,“What should I ask for?” Her mother said,“The head of John the baptizer.” 25 Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request:“I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 26 Although it grieved the king deeply, he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. 27 So the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. 28 He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
• Mark 9:12-13 : 12 He said to them,“Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.”
• Mark 11:30-32 : 30 John’s baptism– was it from heaven or from people? Answer me.” 31 They discussed with one another, saying,“If we say,‘From heaven,’ he will say,‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say,‘From people–’”(they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet).
• Luke 3:19-20 : 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil deeds that he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked up John in prison.
• Luke 7:33 : 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say,‘He has a demon!’
• Luke 9:21-25 : 21 But he forcefully commanded them not to tell this to anyone, 22 saying,“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 23 A Call to Discipleship Then he said to them all,“If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. 25 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?
• John 1:11 : 11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him.
• John 5:32-36 : 32 There is another who testifies about me, and I know the testimony he testifies about me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 (I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.) 35 He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light. 36 “But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete– the deeds I am now doing– testify about me that the Father has sent me.
• Acts 2:23 : 23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.