Mark 9:7 AV
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them:
and a voice came out of the cloud,
saying, This is my beloved Son:
hear him.
Other translations
And a cloud threw a shadow upon them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My Son, the [most dearworthy] Beloved One. Be constantly listening to and obeying Him! [AMP] And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." [ESV] Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: "This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him." [MSB] And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. [KJV] Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" [NIV] Then a cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." [NLT] And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" [NKJV]
Some further information
A cloud … and a voice
The cloud and the voice are the pinnacle of the transfiguration on the mountain.
The presence of the cloud indicates the presence of God (Exodus 40:34-38; 2 Chronicles 5:13,14; compare Isaiah 6:4; Revelation 15:8).
Cloud
The cloud (according to Matthew 17:5 a luminous cloud) has a double function here: it reveals (namely that God is present in a special way) and it conceals (so that God is not visible to people).
The Hebrew word so rendered means “a covering,” because clouds cover the sky.
▪︎ The word is used as a symbol of the Divine presence, as indicating the splendour of that glory which it conceals (Exodus 16:10, 33:9; Numbers 11:25, 12:5; Job 22:14; Psalms 18:11)
▪︎ A “cloud without rain” is a proverbial saying, denoting a man who does not keep his promise (Proverbs 16:15; Isaiah 18:4, 25:5; Jude 1:12)
▪︎ A cloud is the figure of that which is transitory (Job 30:15; Hosea 6:4)
▪︎ A bright cloud is the symbolical seat of the Divine presence (Exodus 29:42,43; 1 Kings 8:10; 2 Chronicles 5:14; Ezekiel 43:4) and was called the Shechinah.
Jehovah came down upon Sinai in a cloud (Exodus 19:9) and the cloud filled the court around the tabernacle in the wilderness so that Moses could not enter it (Exodus 40:34,35)
At the dedication of the temple also the cloud “filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:10).
Thus in like manner when Christ comes the second time he is described as coming “in the clouds” (Matthew 17:5, 24:30; Acts 1:9,11)
False teachers are likened unto clouds carried about with a tempest (2 Peter 2:17).
The infirmities of old age, which come one after another, are compared by Solomon to “clouds returning after the rain” (Ecclesiastes 12:2)
The blotting out of sins is like the sudden disappearance of threatening clouds from the sky (Isaiah 44:22)
The pillar of cloud indicated God’s presence leading the ransomed people through the wilderness (Exodus 13:22, 33:9,10). This pillar preceded the people as they marched, and was resting on the ark (Exodus 13:21, 40:36). By night it became a pillar of fire (Numbers 9:17–23).
Overshadow
The cloud “overshadows” (Exodus 40:35 LXX; cf. Psalm 90:4 LXX) Jesus, Moses and Elijah (“them”), hiding them from the sight of the disciples.
The used word means: To throw a shadow upon, to envelop in a shadow, to overshadow
From a vaporous cloud that casts a shadow the word is also transferred to a shining cloud surrounding and enveloping persons with brightness.
Used of the Holy Spirit exerting creative energy upon the womb of the virgin Mary and impregnating it (a use of the word which seems to have been drawn from the familiar Old Testament idea of a cloud, as symbolising the immediate presence and power of God)
Voice
A sound, a tone as from as musical instruments, or a voice, the sound of uttered words.
They hear a voice sound from (ek: from) the cloud.
God’s audible voice has been heard many times (Genesis 3:8; Deuteronomy 5:22-25; Matthew 3:17; John 12:28; Revelation 10:3). Nearly 3,000 times God is referred to as speaking to men (Hebrews 1:1-2).
The words spoken are much the same as at Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan (Mark 1:11); there Jesus Himself was addressed (“You are my Beloved Son”), here the words are interpreted to the disciples (“This is My Beloved Son”).
This is my beloved Son
This is the second time God has declared by an audible voice, that Jesus of Nasareth is His beloved Son (Matthew 3.17); the only begotten Son (John 1:14,18, 3:16-18; 1 John 4:9). He is the only person that was brought into being in the sense of being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a woman (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:34-35; Galatians 4:4).
Men who are “born again are “adopted” sons (Romans 8:14-16,23, 9:4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5)
The title ‘beloved son’ recalls Psalms 2:7 (cf. Genesis 22:2,12,16 LXX) and is an indication of the Messiah. Unlike Mark 1:11 (“in whom I am well pleased”) the words here are concluded with a call to the disciples to obey the words and teachings of Jesus: “hear Him.”
With these words, reminiscent of Deuteronomy 18:15, Jesus is identified with a prophet like Moses, i.e., the Messiah.
So, at the beginning of the time of suffering, Jesus is once again designated by God Himself as the Messiah and the disciples are admonished to remain faithful to Jesus and to obey Him.
Beloved (Greek: ἀγαπητός – agapetos)
Esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love
▪︎ By God of the Christ (Matthew 3:17, 17:5; Mark 1:11, 9:7; Luke 3:22, 9:35).
▪︎ By God of men (Romans 1:7).
▪︎ By Christians of one another (1 Corinthians 4:14, 10:14)
As opposed to ‘enemy’ (Greek: ἐχθρός – echthros) see Romans 11:28.
which means: hostile, hating, and opposing another.
This is used of men
▪︎ as at enmity with God by their sin
▪︎ as a man opposing (God) in the mind
▪︎ of a man that is hostile
▪︎ of a certain enemy
▪︎ of the hostile one
▪︎ of the devil who is the most bitter enemy of the divine government
Hear Him
▪︎ Attend to what He says,
▪︎ Consider what is, or has been said, by Him
▪︎ Understand, perceive the sense of what is said
▪︎ Learn from what He says, as in giving ear to a teaching, or a teacher.
Now let us reflect on this
To whom are you listening?
Although we can hear many different voices, we can follow only one.
So to whom are you going to listen, to make your decisions about morality, values, ethics, and character?
Who has earned the right to be heard regarding life, death, salvation, and sin?
God makes it unmistakably clear: we must listen to his Son Jesus!
Prayer suggestions
▪︎ Ask the almighty God to help you to silence the voices of doubt, and deception, that surround you.
▪︎ Ask God to help you to hear the voice of Jesus clearly
▪︎ Ask God to help you to follow Him
▪︎ Ask God to help you to obey His will in all things, no matter what everyone else around may choose to do.
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website 1: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
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