“And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?”
King James Version (KJV)
17:10 Why then say the scribes, that Elijah must come first - Before the Messiah? If no man is to know of his coming? Should we not rather tell every man, that he is come, and that we have seen him, witnessing to thee as the Messiah?
Mt 17:10 Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? They knew that the scribes, in their capacity as interpreters of prophecy, were wont to say that Elijah must come before the Messiah could appear. They said this on the strength of Mal 3:1 4:5. If Peter, James and John were of those who asked this question, they were probably seeking to ascertain if the vision they had seen was the coming of Elijah and why he did not remain.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come?
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
And His disciples asked Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
- New American Standard Version (1995)
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?
- American Standard Version (1901)
And his disciples, questioning him, said, Why then do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?
- Basic English Bible
And [his] disciples demanded of him saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first have come?
- Darby Bible
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes, that Elijah must first come?
- Webster's Bible
Why then, asked the disciples, "do the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?"
- Weymouth Bible
His disciples asked him, saying, "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
- World English Bible
And his disciplis axiden hym, and seiden, What thanne seien the scribis, that it bihoueth that Elie come first?
- Wycliffe Bible
And his disciples questioned him, saying, `Why then do the scribes say that Elijah it behoveth to come first?'
- Youngs Literal Bible