“The voice 2 of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make 3 his paths straight.’” 4
6:16 “When 5 you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive 6 so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, 7 they have their reward.
1 tn Grk “was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying.” The participle λέγοντος (legonto") is redundant and has not been translated. The passive construction has also been rendered as active in the translation for the sake of English style.
2 tn Or “A voice.”
3 sn This call to “make paths straight” in this context is probably an allusion to preparation through repentance.
4 sn A quotation from Isa 40:3.
5 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
6 tn Here the term “disfigure” used in a number of translations was not used because it could convey to the modern reader the notion of mutilation. L&N 79.17 states, “‘to make unsightly, to disfigure, to make ugly.’ ἀφανίζουσιν γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ‘for they make their faces unsightly’ Mt 6:16.”
7 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”
8 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the appearance of Moses and Elijah prompted Peter’s comment.
9 tn Grk “Peter answering said.” This construction is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.
10 tc Instead of the singular future indicative ποιήσω (poihsw, “I will make”), most witnesses (C3 D L W Θ [Φ] 0281 Ë[1],13 33 Ï lat sy co) have the plural aorist subjunctive ποιήσωμεν (poihswmen, “let us make”). But since ποιήσωμεν is the reading found in the parallel accounts in Mark and Luke, it is almost surely a motivated reading. Further, the earliest and best witnesses, as well as a few others (א B C* 700 pc) have ποιήσω. It is thus more likely that the singular verb is authentic.
11 tn Or “booths,” “dwellings” (referring to the temporary booths constructed in the celebration of the feast of Tabernacles).
sn Peter apparently wanted to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles or Booths that looked forward to the end and wanted to treat Moses, Elijah, and Jesus as equals by making three shelters (one for each). It was actually a way of expressing honor to Jesus, but the next verse makes it clear that it was not enough honor.