Mark 9:6

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:1-13 Here is a prediction of the near approach Christ's kingdom. A glimpse of that kingdom was given in the transfiguration of Christ. It is good to be away from the world, and alone with Christ: and how good to be with Christ glorified in heaven with all the saints! But when it is well with us, we are apt not to care for others, and in the fulness of our enjoyments, we forget the many wants of our brethren. God owns Jesus, and accepts him as his beloved Son, and is ready to accept us in him. Therefore we must own and accept him as our beloved Saviour, and must give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Christ does not leave the soul, when joys and comforts leave it. Jesus explained to the disciples the prophecy about Elias. This was very suitable to the ill usage of John Baptist.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He wist not - He "knew not." He was desirous of saying something, and he knew not what would be proper.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 9

Mr 9:1-13. Jesus Is Transfigured—Conversation about Elias. ( = Mt 16:28-17:13; Lu 9:27-36).

See on [1462]Lu 9:27-36.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 9:2"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For he wist not what to say,.... He did not know what he should say, or what was proper to be said by him, at such a time, in such circumstances, and before such persons;

for they were sore afraid. The Persic version reads, "he was": and so the Latin translation of the Syriac, though that itself is, "they were"; for all three were filled with consternation at what they saw and heard; so that they were scarcely themselves, and knew not well what they said or did.

Geneva Study Bible

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore {c} afraid.

(c) They were beside themselves with fear.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 9:6. τί ἀποκριθῇ, what he should answer—to the vision; he did not know what else to make of it than that Moses and Elijah had come to stay. This is probably an apologetic remark added by the evangelist to the original narrative. Lk. reproduces it in a somewhat altered form.—ἔκφοβοι: they were frightened out of their wits (again in Hebrews 12:21); explains the stupidity of Peter. The fear created by the sudden preternatural sight made him talk nonsense. Mt. makes the fear follow the Divine voice.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. he wist not] “Soþli he wiste not what he schulde seie.” Wyclif. This word also occurs Exodus 16:15, and = he knew not. Wist is the past tense of A. S. witan = to know. Compare wit = knowledge (Psalm 107:27), and wit = to know (Genesis 24:21), “And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not;” Exodus 2:4, “And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him;” 2 Corinthians 8:1, “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit (= cause you to know) of the grace of God.” Witan = to know, Du. weten, G. wissen; the pr. t. in A. S. ic wát, Mœso-Goth. ik wait, E. I wot; the pt. t. in A. S. ic wiste, Mœso-Goth. ik wissa, E. I wist.

sore afraid] The original word only occurs here and in Hebrews 12:21, “Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake;” comp. Deuteronomy 9:19. Wyclif’s rendering is very striking, “forsoþe þei weren agast by drede.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 9:6. Τὶ λαλῆσαι) So the LXX., γινώσκοντες τί ποιῆσαι Ἰσραήλ, 1 Chronicles 12:32, where also some have made a subjunctive of the optative.—ἔκφοβοι) stricken with fear, and that a mild kind of fear; for otherwise Peter would not have wished to remain there.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - They became sore afraid. There is a slight change of reading here. Instead of ῆσαν γὰρ ἔκφοβοι the best authorities give ἔκφοβοι γὰρ ἐγένοντο. A sense of great awe and terror overpowered the bliss and brightness of the scene. All the revelations of the other world strike terror, even though abated as this manifestation was by the presence of their dear Lord and Savior. Mark 9:6