Luke 9:33

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(33) Master.—The same word as before, in Luke 5:5; Luke 8:24, where see Notes.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:28-36 Christ's transfiguration was a specimen of that glory in which he will come to judge the world; and was an encouragement to his disciples to suffer for him. Prayer is a transfiguring, transforming duty, which makes the face to shine. Our Lord Jesus, even in his transfiguration, was willing to speak concerning his death and sufferings. In our greatest glories on earth, let us remember that in this world we have no continuing city. What need we have to pray to God for quickening grace, to make us lively! Yet that the disciples might be witnesses of this sign from heaven, after awhile they became awake, so that they were able to give a full account of what passed. But those know not what they say, that talk of making tabernacles on earth for glorified saints in heaven.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Heavy with sleep - Borne down with sleep - oppressed, overcome with sleep. It may seem remarkable that they should fall asleep on such an occasion; but we are to bear in mind that this may have been in the night, and that they were weary with the toils of the day. Besides, they did not "fall asleep" while the transfiguration lasted. While Jesus was praying, or perhaps after he closed, they fell asleep. "While" they were sleeping his countenance was changed, and Moses and Elias appeared. The first that "they" saw of it was after they awoke, having been probably awakened by the shining of the light around them.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

33. they departed—Ah! bright manifestations in this vale of tears are always "departing" manifestations.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Ver. 33. See Poole on "Luke 9:28"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And it came to pass, as they departed from him,.... That is, as Moses and Elias departed from Christ; or "when they began to depart", as the Syriac version renders it; or "would depart", as the Arabic and Persic versions; seemed desirous of going, or made some signal or other by which the disciples perceived they were about to go; for, as yet, they were not gone;

Peter said unto Jesus, master, it is good for us to be here, let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias; See Gill on Matthew 17:4.

not knowing what he said, nor "what to say", as Mark observes, being in a surprise, and not in a situation to consider and weigh things well, whether what he said was right and proper, or not; See Gill on Matthew 17:4

Geneva Study Bible

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 9:33. While the two celestials were departing Peter made his proposal, to prevent them from going.—μὴ εἰδὼς, etc., not knowing what he said; an apology for a proposal to keep the two celestials from returning to heaven.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

33. as they departed] Rather, were parting.

it is good for us to be here] The word is not agathon, but kalon; it is an excellent thing, or ‘it is best’ (cf. Matthew 17:4; Matthew 26:24).

tabernacles] like the little wattled booths (succoth), which the Israelites made for themselves at the Feast of Tabernacles. The use of skenoma in 2 Peter 1:13 (Matthew 17:4) is another sign that the mind of the writer was full of this scene.

not biowing what he said] Not knowing that the spectacle on Calvary was to be more transcendent and divine than that of Hermon, not knowing that the old was passing away and all things becoming new; not knowing that Jesus was not to die with Moses and Elijah on either side, but between two thieves.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 33. - And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias' not knowing what he said. The three evangelists who relate the Transfiguration scene, with trifling variations repeat this remark of Peter's. It is valuable to us when we remember that the tradition of the marvellous event comes from Peter, James, and John; and that they repeat the strange inconsequent words uttered by one of themselves - their acknowledged spokesman. No thought of self-glorification evidently tinged this strange memory of theirs. They simply wished to record the plain truth just as it happened, and in the course of the narrative they had to repeat their own poor, babbling, meaningless words - for the remark of Peter is nothing else. Their own remark, which immediately follows, is the best comment upon them, "not knowing what he said." There was a deep feeling that in such a company, bathed, too, in that glorious and unearthly light, it was well with them. But they saw the heavenly visitants preparing to leave them. They would stay their departure if they could, so they stammered, "Let us build some shelter; let us erect some temple, however humble, to do honour, Lord, to thee and thy companions." Luke 9:33

Vincent's Word Studies

As they were departing (ἐν τῷ διαχωρίζεσθαι ἀυτοὺς)

Lit., in their departing. The verb only here in New Testament. The whole sentence is peculiar to Luke's narrative.

Master

See on Luke 5:5.

Let us make

See on Matthew 17:4.

Tabernacles

See on Matthew 17:4. "Jesus might have smiled at the naive proposal of the eager apostle that they six should dwell forever in the little succo equals th of wattled boughs on the slopes of Hermon" (Farrar).

Not knowing what he said

Not implying any reproach to Peter, but merely as a mark of his bewilderment in his state of ecstasy.