Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. New Living Translation Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead. English Standard Version by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Berean Standard Bible others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen. Berean Literal Bible and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that a prophet of the ancients had arisen. King James Bible And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. New King James Version and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. New American Standard Bible and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. NASB 1995 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. NASB 1977 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others, that one of the prophets of old had risen again. Legacy Standard Bible and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. Amplified Bible and by others that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the [other] prophets of old had been resurrected. Christian Standard Bible some that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the ancient prophets had risen. Holman Christian Standard Bible some that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the ancient prophets had risen.” American Standard Version and by some, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. Contemporary English Version Others were saying Elijah had come or one of the prophets from long ago had come back to life. English Revised Version and by some, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. GOD'S WORD® Translation Others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others said that one of the prophets from long ago had come back to life. Good News Translation Others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. International Standard Version by others that Elijah had appeared, and by still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. NET Bible while others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. New Heart English Bible and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. Webster's Bible Translation And by some, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that one of the ancient prophets had risen again. Weymouth New Testament by others that Elijah had appeared, and by others that some one of the ancient Prophets had come back to life. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleothers that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen. World English Bible and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand by some that Elijah appeared, and by others, that a prophet, one of the ancients, was risen; Berean Literal Bible and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that a prophet of the ancients had arisen. Young's Literal Translation and by certain, that Elijah did appear, and by others, that a prophet, one of the ancients, was risen; Smith's Literal Translation And by certain, that Elias has appeared; and by others, that a prophet, one of the ancients, was risen. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBy some, that John was risen from the dead: but by other some, that Elias had appeared; and by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. Catholic Public Domain Version by some, “For John has risen from the dead,” yet truly, by others, “For Elijah has appeared,” and by still others, “For one of the prophets from of old has risen again.” New American Bible others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” New Revised Standard Version by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut others, that Elijah has appeared; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”, and others, “A Prophet among the ancient Prophets has risen.” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand by some, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that a prophet of ancient times had risen again. Godbey New Testament and by some that Elijah has appeared; and by others that one of the old prophets is arisen. Haweis New Testament and of some that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the ancient prophets was risen again. Mace New Testament and others, that one of the old prophets was come to life again. Weymouth New Testament by others that Elijah had appeared, and by others that some one of the ancient Prophets had come back to life. Worrell New Testament and by some that Elijah appeared; and, by others, that a certain ancient prophet arose. Worsley New Testament and by some that Elias had appeared; and by others, that one of the ancient prophets was risen again. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Herod Desires to See Jesus7When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead, 8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen. 9“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this man I hear such things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.… Cross References Matthew 14:1-2 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus / and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Mark 6:14-16 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” / Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” / But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!” Matthew 16:14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Mark 8:28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” John 1:21 “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” John 1:25 asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” Matthew 17:10-13 The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” / Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. / But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” ... Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. 2 Kings 2:11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. 2 Kings 2:15 When the sons of the prophets who were watching him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. 1 Kings 18:36-39 At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. / Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” / Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench. ... 1 Kings 19:10 “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.” 1 Kings 19:14 “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.” 1 Kings 19:19-21 So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. / So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” / So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah. Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Treasury of Scripture And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. Luke 9:19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. Matthew 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? Mark 6:15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. Jump to Previous Ago Ancient Ancients Appear Appeared Elias Elijah Eli'jah Life Others Prophet Prophets RisenJump to Next Ago Ancient Ancients Appear Appeared Elias Elijah Eli'jah Life Others Prophet Prophets RisenLuke 9 1. Jesus sends his apostles to work miracles, and to preach.7. Herod desires to see Jesus. 10. The apostles return. 12. Jesus feeds five thousand; 18. inquires what opinion the world had of him; foretells his passion; 23. proposes to all the pattern of his patience. 28. The transfiguration. 37. He heals the lunatic; 43. again forewarns his disciples of his passion; 46. commends humility; 51. bids them to show mildness toward all, without desire of revenge. 57. Many would follow him, but upon conditions. others that Elijah had appeared In Jewish tradition, Elijah is a significant prophetic figure who did not experience death but was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). This led to the belief that Elijah would return to prepare the way for the Messiah, as prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6. The expectation of Elijah's return was prevalent during the time of Jesus, and many Jews were looking for signs of his appearance. This belief is reflected in the New Testament, where John the Baptist is identified with the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). The mention of Elijah here indicates the people's anticipation of messianic fulfillment and their attempt to understand Jesus' identity in light of their expectations. and still others that a prophet of old had arisen Persons / Places / Events 1. ElijahA major prophet in the Old Testament known for his miraculous works and his confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Elijah's return was prophesied in Malachi 4:5, leading some to believe he would appear before the coming of the Messiah. 2. Prophets of Old Refers to the prophets from the Old Testament who were known for delivering God's messages to the people of Israel. This includes figures like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others who were seen as God's mouthpieces. 3. Herod's Court The context of this verse is Herod's court, where there was much speculation about Jesus' identity. Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, was perplexed by the reports about Jesus and sought to understand who He was. Teaching Points Understanding Jesus' IdentityThe confusion about Jesus' identity highlights the importance of understanding who Jesus truly is. He is not merely a prophet or a reincarnation of Elijah but the Son of God. Prophetic Fulfillment The mention of Elijah and the prophets underscores the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament. Recognizing these connections strengthens our faith in the continuity and reliability of Scripture. Spiritual Perception Just as people in Jesus' time misunderstood His identity, we must be careful to perceive spiritual truths correctly. This requires diligent study of Scripture and openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance. Role of Prophets The role of prophets in the Bible was to point people to God and prepare the way for His plans. In our lives, we should be attentive to those who guide us toward God's truth. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Luke 9:8?2. How does Luke 9:8 reflect confusion about Jesus' identity among the people? 3. What Old Testament figures are mentioned in Luke 9:8, and why? 4. How can we discern truth amidst conflicting beliefs about Jesus today? 5. How does understanding Luke 9:8 deepen our faith in Jesus' true identity? 6. What steps can we take to share the true identity of Jesus with others? 7. How does Luke 9:8 relate to the identity of Jesus as perceived by different groups? 8. Why did some people think John the Baptist had risen from the dead in Luke 9:8? 9. What does Luke 9:8 reveal about the expectations of a messianic figure in Jesus' time? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 9? 11. What does the Bible say about divine healing? 12. Did Herod think that Jesus was John the Baptist? Yes (Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:16) No (Luke 9:9) 13. Luke 9:7-9: Why does Herod's confusion about Jesus remain unresolved if these events truly occurred, and where is the historical evidence? 14. Does God still perform miracles today? What Does Luke 9:8 Mean Background of Luke 9:8Luke records, “others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen” (Luke 9:8). Herod Antipas has just heard astonishing reports about Jesus’ miracles (Luke 9:7). Unable to reconcile what he hears with what he knows—he executed John—Herod listens to the swirling opinions of the people. Others thought Elijah had appeared • Malachi 4:5-6 promised Elijah would return “before the great and dreadful day of the LORD,” so many Jews expected a literal re-appearance of Elijah prior to Messiah’s arrival. • Elijah never died but was taken to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11); the nation therefore believed he could re-enter history at any time. • Jesus’ miracles—raising the dead (Luke 7:14-15) and calling for repentance—mirrored aspects of Elijah’s ministry (1 Kings 17:21-24; 18:37-39), fueling the rumor. • Luke later clarifies that John the Baptist fulfilled the Elijah role “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), yet the crowds missed that nuance. Still others believed a prophet of old had arisen • Deuteronomy 18:15-18 foretold God would raise up “a Prophet like me from among your brothers.” Generations wondered which ancient prophet might return to fulfill that word. • Prophets such as Moses, Elisha, and Isaiah all prefigured elements of Christ’s mission—miracles, authoritative teaching, compassion for the poor (cf. 2 Kings 4:42-44; Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-21). • When Jesus raised the widow’s son at Nain, the onlookers exclaimed, “A great prophet has appeared among us” (Luke 7:16). That headline followed Him into Herod’s court. • The idea of a resurrected prophet aligned with 1 Kings 17, 2 Kings 4, and Ezekiel 37, where God demonstrated power over death through prophetic ministry. What these speculations reveal • Both rumors show the people recognized something divine was happening; their categories just weren’t large enough yet. • Their expectations were shaped by Scripture, yet they stopped short of confessing Jesus as Messiah (compare Matthew 16:13-14 with Luke 9:20). • Herod’s anxiety (Luke 9:9) reminds us that acknowledging miracles without submitting to Christ leaves the heart restless. The true identity of Jesus • Peter soon answers, “You are the Christ of God” (Luke 9:20)—the fulfillment of all prophetic hope, not merely Elijah or one of the prophets. • Hebrews 1:1-2 underscores that God “has spoken to us by His Son,” surpassing every previous prophetic voice. • John 1:21 records people asking John the Baptist if he was Elijah or “the Prophet”; he denied both, pointing to Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). • Jesus embodies all Old Testament expectation: the messenger of God, the suffering Servant (Isaiah 53), and the victorious King (Psalm 2). Summary Luke 9:8 captures the crowd’s best guesses about Jesus—Elijah returned or an ancient prophet resurrected. These views spring from genuine Scriptural hopes, yet they fall short. Jesus does not merely echo past prophets; He is the long-awaited Christ, the culmination of every promise. Recognizing Him as more than a miracle-worker or prophet of old is essential; He is the divine Son who fulfills, completes, and surpasses all earlier revelations. Verse 8. - One of the old prophets. Jeremiah and also Isaiah, though to a lesser degree than Elijah, were looked for as heralds of the coming Messiah (see 2 Esdr. 2:10, 18, and 2 Macc. 2:4-8 2Macc. 15:13-16). It was expected that Jeremiah would reveal the hiding-place of the long-lost ark and of the Urim.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek othersτινων (tinōn) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object. that ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. Elijah Ἠλίας (Ēlias) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2243: Elijah, the prophet. Of Hebrew origin; Helias, an Israelite. had appeared, ἐφάνη (ephanē) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 5316: Prolongation for the base of phos; to lighten, i.e. Show. and still δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. others ἄλλων (allōn) Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 243: Other, another (of more than two), different. A primary word; 'else, ' i.e. Different. that ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. a τις (tis) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object. prophet προφήτης (prophētēs) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet. of τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. old ἀρχαίων (archaiōn) Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 744: Original, primitive, ancient. From arche; original or primeval. had arisen. ἀνέστη (anestē) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 450: To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up. 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