9:11a–b

Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?: This is a real question. The disciples asked this question because they were confused. They had just seen Elijah on the mountain. They knew that Jesus was the Christ. They also knew about the prophecy that Elijah would come to preach before the Christ came. So they did not understand the prophecy in relation to Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this question:

Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes? (New Living Translation)
-or-
Are the teachers of the law correct in saying that it is necessary that Elijah come first before the Messiah comes? And if so, why has he not yet come?

the scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the scribes refers to men who studied, interpreted, and taught the law of Moses. They are called scribes because the original work of these men was to copy the laws of Moses by hand. In New Testament times, this was no longer their main task. Instead, it was to teach the law. Here are some other ways to translate this term:

teachers of the law of Moses (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation)
-or-
experts on the law

See how you translated this phrase in 1:22c or 8:31c. See teacher of the law in the Glossary.

Elijah must come first: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as must is literally “it is necessary.” The Scripture said that Elijah would come first. Therefore, it was necessary for him to come.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

it is necessary for Elijah to come first
-or-
it is required that Elijah come first

come: In this context, the verb come means “return to earth.” God took Elijah directly to heaven before the prophecy, but the prophecy indicates that he would come back to Israel. For example:

come to earth again
-or-
return to Israel

first: In this context, the word first means “before the Christ comes.”

Here are some other ways to translate this:

before the Christ does
-or-
before the Christ comes

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