Matthew 17:7

Mat 17:7. Ἥψατο, touched) They were prostrated by what they saw and heard; they were raised again by His familiar and efficacious touch.—μὴ φοβεῖσθε cease to fear.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mat 17:7 . ἁψάμενος … εἶπεν : a touch and a word, human and kindly, from Jesus, restore strength and composure.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 7. Jesus came and touched them] Exactly parallel to this account is Da 8:18, I was in a deep sleep, i, e. (a trance) on my face towards the ground; but he TOUCHED me, and set me upright. From Jesus alone are we to expect Divine communications, and by his power only are we able to bear and improve them. It is very likely that this transfiguration took place in the night, which was a more proper season to show forth its glory than the day time, in which a part of the splendour must necessarily be lost by the presence of the solar light. Besides, St. Luke, Lu 9:37, expressly says, that it was on the next day after the transfiguration that our Lord came down from the mount.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(7) Jesus came and touched them.—Act and words were both expressive of an almost brotherly tenderness. The touch of the hand they had so often grasped—as, e.g., in Mat_14:31—the familiar words that had brought courage to their fainting hearts in. the hour of danger (Mat_14:27), these recall them again to the realities of life. They need not fear the glory of the divine Presence, for He is with them still as its most perfect manifestation.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Jesus came and touched them,.... The disciples were at some little distance from Christ, but he observing the fear and surprise they were in, came to their relief and assistance; which he did not disdain to give, notwithstanding the glory he was covered with; but acts the part of a mediator between God and them, and lays hold on them to raise them up, whom the majesty of God's voice had cast down: the Persic version renders it, "he came and brought them to themselves"; who were just fainting and swooning away, at the awfulness of the voice:

and said, arise, and be not afraid: it is not the voice of an angry God, but of God well pleased with me, and in me with you; it is the voice of my God, and your God, of my Father, and your Father; arise, stand on your feet, take heart, and be of good courage, no hurt will come to you.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Ver. 7. Jesus came and touched them] Christ therefore kills his, that he may quicken them; casts them down, that he may revive and raise them in the opportunity of time (εν τω καιρω, Hos 6:1-2 1Pe 5:6): not so the devil, that destroyer, that hath not his names for nought, Apollyon and Abaddon.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Jesus came and touched. The terrified disciples were still prostrate on the ground, and unable to rise, when Jesus, with his usual benevolence, approaches, touches them, expels their fear, and restores them to the use of their limbs. (St. Jerome)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

7. Jesus came and touched them… be not afraid — So the same Saviour touched John in the Apocalypse, (Rev_1:17.) He “laid his right hand upon him, saying unto him, Fear not.”

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Came and touched them. Jesus gently and lovingly aroused them from their stupor, showing that he was near, and that they had nothing to dread. (comp. Isa_6:5-7 Dan_10:8-10 Rev_1:17) He adds the assurance of his own beloved and well known voice, Arise, and be not afraid. Such comfort he gave to the affrighted disciples when he came to them treading on the waters of the storm-tossed sea. (Mat_14:27)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Be not afraid - And doubtless the same moment he gave them courage and strength.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

7. Arise, be not afraid. So the Lord ever speaks to his disciples in danger or fear.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

7. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Rise up, and fear not.] Mk. has nothing corresponding to these two verses. Mt., who has omitted ἔκφοβοι γὰρ ἐγένοντο from 6, where “He knew not what to answer; for they were very afraid” seems to express a degree of bewilderment on the part of the Apostles which is unexpected, expands it here into the statement that the disciples were exceedingly afraid when they heard the divine voice from the cloud of light. Lk. places the “fear” at the entry into the cloud.—σφόδρα] occurs 7 times in Mt., 1 in Mk., 1 in Lk.—προσῆλθεν] see on 4:3.

(M)

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.