KJV: And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
YLT: And his disciples questioned him, saying, 'Why then do the scribes say that Elijah it behoveth to come first?'
Darby: And his disciples demanded of him saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first have come?
ASV: And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?
ἐπηρώτησαν | asked |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἐπερωτάω Sense: to accost one with an enquiry, put a question to, enquiry of, ask, interrogate. |
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μαθηταὶ | disciples |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: μαθητής Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple. |
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λέγοντες | saying |
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
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Τί | Why |
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: τίς Sense: who, which, what. |
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γραμματεῖς | scribes |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: γραμματεύς Sense: a clerk, scribe, esp. |
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λέγουσιν | say |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
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ὅτι | that |
Parse: Conjunction Root: ὅτι Sense: that, because, since. |
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Ἠλίαν | Elijah |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: Ἠλίας Sense: a prophet born at Thisbe, the unflinching champion of the theocracy in the reigns of the idolatrous kings Ahab and Ahaziah. |
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δεῖ | it behooves |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: δεῖ Sense: it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper. |
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ἐλθεῖν | to come |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active Root: ἔρχομαι Sense: to come. |
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πρῶτον | first |
Parse: Adverb, Superlative Root: πρῶτον Sense: first in time or place. |
Greek Commentary for Matthew 17:10
So this piece of theology concerned them more than anything else. They had just seen Elijah, but Jesus the Messiah had come before Elijah. The scribes used Malachi 4:5. Jesus had also spoken again of his death (resurrection). So they are puzzled. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 17:10
This late double compound verb, usual form apokathistēmi in the papyri, is Christ‘s description of the Baptist as the promised Elijah and Forerunner of the Messiah. See note on Matthew 17:10-13. The disciples had not till now understood that the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy in Malachi 3:5. They had just seen Elijah on the mountain, but Jesus as Messiah preceded this coming of Elijah. But Jesus patiently enlightens his dull pupils as they argue about the exegesis of the scribes. [source]