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In Matthew 17, Jesus refers to Elijah’s return to restore order before the end of the age, using language also found in Sirach. Both describe Elijah as a figure chosen to renew Israel’s unity, following an interpretation of Malachi.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Sirach 48:10
Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon
3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens. He brought down fire three times. 4 How you were glorified, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is like yours? 5 You raised up a dead man from death, from Hades, by the word of the Most High. 6 You brought down kings to destruction, and honorable men from their sickbeds. 7 You heard rebuke in Sinai, and judgments of vengeance in Horeb. 8 You anointed kings for retribution, and prophets to succeed after you. 9 You were taken up in a tempest of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses. 10 You were recorded for reproofs in their seasons, to pacify anger, before it broke out into wrath, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
Date: 195–180 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Matthew 17:11
New Testament
8 When they looked up, all they saw was Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does indeed come first and will restore all things. 12 And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Date: 70–90 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The reappearance of Elijah was connected with eschatological events. This verse has as its biblical background Malachi 3:23–24 (NRSV 4:5–6, which has the phrase “to turn the hearts of parents to their children”) ... The Hebrew participle 'haketuv' is most often translated “it is written.” But this translation breaks up the consistent use of the participles in verses 5–10 to refer specifically to Elijah. This one must refer to the prophet as well. An alternative translation might be: “The one who is certainly appointed (or: enrolled) for the time.” ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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