The Meaning of 2 Peter 1:18 Explained

2 Peter 1:18

KJV: And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

YLT: and this voice we -- we did hear, out of heaven borne, being with him in the holy mount.

Darby: and this voice we heard uttered from heaven, being with him on the holy mountain.

ASV: and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  this  voice  which came  from  heaven  we  heard,  when we were  with  him  in  the holy  mount. 

What does 2 Peter 1:18 Mean?

Study Notes

holy mount
Where the reference is to things, the meaning of "holy" or "sanctified" is, simply, set apart for the use of God, or rendered sacred by the divine presence.

Context Summary

2 Peter 1:12-21 - "eye-Witnesses Of His Majesty"
Peter could never forget what the Master had predicted of his death. See John 21:18. Oh, that in our death, whatever be its mode, we may glorify God! The fulfillment of those words was already looming before Peter's eyes, but he had no fear. He describes his home-going by the word used by Moses and Elijah when they spoke of the decease (lit., exodus) which the Lord would accomplish. Compare 2 Peter 1:15 with Luke 9:31, r.v., margin.
Then the whole scene of the Transfiguration rose before his mind. It seemed as if he were again on that holy mount, beholding the majesty of the Lord and hearing the Father's attesting voice. There are three infallible proofs of Christianity: (1) the witness of the Apostles; (2) the light of prophecy as fulfilled in Christ; (3) the testimony of the Holy Spirit. These three burn in the dark night of the present and we may count on them till we see the first glimmer of dawn. Then we shall need no candle, for the Lord God will give us light. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Peter 1

1  Peter confirms the hope of the increase of God's grace,
5  exhorts them, by faith, and good works, to make their calling sure;
12  whereof he is careful to remind them, knowing that his death is at hand;
16  and assures them of the authenticity of the Gospel, by the eyewitness of the apostles and the prophets

Greek Commentary for 2 Peter 1:18

This voice [ταυτην την πωνην]
The one referred to in 2 Peter 1:17. [source]
We heard [ηκουσαμεν]
First aorist active indicative of ακουω — akouō a definite experience of Peter.Brought (ενεχτεισαν — enechtheisan). “Borne” as in 2 Peter 1:17.When we were with him Present active participle of ειμι — eimi “being with him.”In the holy mount (εν τωι αγιωι ορει — en tōi hagiōi orei). Made holy by the majestic glory. See Ezekiel 28:14 for “holy mount of God,” there Sinai, this one probably one of the lower slopes of Hermon. Peter‘s account is independent of the Synoptic narrative, but agrees with it in all essentials. [source]
Brought [ενεχτεισαν]
“Borne” as in 2 Peter 1:17. [source]
When we were with him [συν αυτωι οντες]
Present active participle of ειμι — eimi “being with him.”In the holy mount (εν τωι αγιωι ορει — en tōi hagiōi orei). Made holy by the majestic glory. See Ezekiel 28:14 for “holy mount of God,” there Sinai, this one probably one of the lower slopes of Hermon. Peter‘s account is independent of the Synoptic narrative, but agrees with it in all essentials. [source]
In the holy mount [εν τωι αγιωι ορει]
Made holy by the majestic glory. See Ezekiel 28:14 for “holy mount of God,” there Sinai, this one probably one of the lower slopes of Hermon. Peter‘s account is independent of the Synoptic narrative, but agrees with it in all essentials. [source]
Voice [φωνὴν]
Note the same word in the account of Pentecost (Acts 2:6), where the A. V. obscures the meaning by rendering, when this was noised abroad; whereas it should be when this voice was heard. [source]
Which came [ἐνεχθεῖσαν]
Lit., having been borne. See on 2 Peter 1:17. Rev., This voice we ourselves ( ἡμεῖς , we, emphatic) heard come (better, borne )out of heaven. [source]
Holy mount []
It is scarcely necessary to notice Davidson's remark that this expression points to a time when superstitious reverence for places had sprung up in Palestine. “Of all places to which special sanctity would be ascribed by Christ's followers, surely that would be the first to be so marked where the most solemn testimony was given to the divinity of Jesus. To the Jewish Christian this would rank with Sinai, and no name would be more fitly applied to it than that which had so constantly been given to a place on which God first revealed himself in his glory. The 'holy mount of God' (Ezekiel 28:14:) would now receive another application, and he would see little of the true continuity of God's revelation who did not connect readily the old and the new covenants, and give to the place where the glory of Christ was most eminently shown forth the same name which was applied so oft to Sinai” (Lumby). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Peter 1:18

John 3:8 Sound [φωνὴν]
Rev., voice. Used both of articulate and inarticulate utterances, as of the words from heaven at Jesus' baptism and transfiguration (Matthew 3:17; 2 Peter 1:17, 2 Peter 1:18); of the trumpet (Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 14:8), and of inanimate things in general (1 Corinthians 14:17). John the Baptist calls himself φωνή , a voice, and the word is used of the wind, as here, in Acts 2:6. Of thunder, often in the Revelation (Revelation 6:1; Revelation 14:2, etc.). [source]
2 Peter 1:21 Came [ἠνέχθη]
Lit., was borne or brought. See on 2 Peter 1:17, 2 Peter 1:18. [source]
2 Peter 1:17 When there came [ἐνεχθείσης]
Lit., having been borne. Compare come (Rev., 2 Peter 1:18); moved (2 Peter 1:21); and rushing wind, lit., a wind borne along (Acts 2:2). [source]
2 Peter 1:17 For he received [λαβων γαρ]
Second aorist active participle nominative singular of λαμβανω — lambanō “he having received,” but there is no finite verb, anacoluthon, changing in 2 Peter 1:19 (after parenthesis in 2 Peter 1:18) to εχομεν βεβαιοτερον — echomen bebaioteron rather than εβεβαιωσεν — ebebaiōsen there came such a voice to him Genitive absolute with first aorist passive participle feminine singular of περω — pherō (cf. 1 Peter 1:13), repeated ενεχτεισαν — enechtheisan in 2 Peter 1:18. Πωνη — Phōnē (voice) is used also of Pentecost (Acts 2:6). Τοιοσδε — Toiosde (classical demonstrative) occurs here alone in the N.T. [source]
2 John 1:10 Bring [φέρει]
For the use of the verb see John 18:29; Acts 25:18; 2 Peter 2:11; 2 Peter 1:17, 2 Peter 1:18; 1 Peter 1:13. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Peter 1:18 mean?

And this - voice we heard from heaven having been brought with Him being in the holy mountain
καὶ ταύτην τὴν φωνὴν ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἐνεχθεῖσαν σὺν αὐτῷ ὄντες ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ ὄρει

ταύτην  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
φωνὴν  voice 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: φωνή  
Sense: a sound, a tone.
ἠκούσαμεν  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
οὐρανοῦ  heaven 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.
ἐνεχθεῖσαν  having  been  brought 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: φέρω  
Sense: to carry.
ὄντες  being 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ἁγίῳ  holy 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
ὄρει  mountain 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄρος  
Sense: a mountain.