Mark 9:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And Peter answered and said to 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Overwhelmed, Peter proposes building three shelters, one each for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.
What Does Mark 9:5 Mean?
Peter speaks into the glory: Master, it is good for us to be here. He proposes three shelters, booths like those Israel built at the feast of tabernacles, one each for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. He wants to house the moment, to keep glory camped on the mountain.
His instinct to honor is right; his arithmetic is wrong. Three equal booths set Jesus alongside Moses and Elijah as one great figure among others, and the voice from the cloud will shortly correct him: this is my beloved Son. The mountain is not given so that we may stay on it but so that we may come down changed. Glory is for sending, and the Son is not one voice among many but the Voice to be heard.
Mark 9:5 in the Original Language
skene (σκηνή), 'tabernacle' -- a tent or booth, the word used for Israel's wilderness sanctuary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 9:5
What does Mark 9:5 mean?
Overwhelmed, Peter proposes building three shelters, one each for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.