While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

MATTHEW 17:5KJV
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Matthew 17:5 (KJV)

What does Matthew 17:5 mean?

Matthew 17:5 describes how, while Jesus was still speaking, a bright cloud covered Jesus and three of his disciples, and a voice from the cloud declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” This verse shows God publicly affirming Jesus’ unique relationship to Him and instructing the disciples to listen to Jesus.

This event happens during the Transfiguration, when Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain. The “bright cloud” is a sign of God’s presence, echoing moments in the Old Testament when God appeared in a cloud. The voice is understood as God the Father, making it clear to the disciples that Jesus is His chosen Son and the one they should heed above all others.

The Greek behind Matthew 17:5

  • The word “bright” (φαεινός, phaeinos) describes the cloud as shining or radiant, not dark or threatening. This detail highlights the cloud as a sign of God’s glory and favor, not judgment.
  • The word “overshadowed” (ἐπισκιάζω, episkiazō) means to cover or envelop, often with a sense of protection or divine presence. This word connects the event to other moments in Scripture where God’s presence “overshadows” people, signaling something holy is happening.
  • The phrase “hear ye him” uses the Greek word ἀκούω (akouō), meaning to listen attentively or obey. This is not just about hearing words, but about responding and following what Jesus says.

Why Matthew 17:5 matters

  • Matthew 17:5 clarifies that Jesus is more than a prophet or teacher; God Himself calls Jesus His beloved Son and commands the disciples to listen to Him, setting Jesus apart from Moses and Elijah, who also appear in this scene.
  • This verse connects the Transfiguration to earlier moments in Jesus’ life, such as His baptism, where a similar voice from heaven affirms His identity, reinforcing that Jesus’ authority comes directly from God.
  • The command to “hear ye him” shifts the disciples’ focus from old traditions or previous leaders to Jesus as the ultimate source of God’s message, marking a turning point in how they are to understand and follow God’s will.

Where else these words appear

“bright” Greek G5460 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
  • Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
  • Luke 11:36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

“overshadowed” Greek G1982 · used in 5 verses

  • Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
  • Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
  • Luke 9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

“pleased” Greek G2106 · used in 21 verses

  • Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  • Romans 15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

“cloud” Greek G3507 · used in 22 verses

  • Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
  • Luke 12:54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
  • Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;