Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 9:6
For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
6. he wist not ] “Soli he wiste not what he schulde seie.” Wyclif. This word also occurs Exo 16:15, and = he knew not. Wist is the past tense of A. S. witan = to know. Compare wit = knowledge (Psa 107:27), and wit = to know (Gen 24:21), “And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not;” Exo 2:4, “And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him;” 2Co 8:1, “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit (= cause you to know) of the grace of God.” Witan = to know, Du. weten, G. wissen; the pr. t. in A. S. ic wt, Mso-Goth. ik wait, E. I wot; the pt. t. in A. S. ic wiste, Mso-Goth. ik wissa, E. I wist.
sore afraid ] The original word only occurs here and in Heb 12:21, “Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake;” comp. Deu 9:19. Wyclif’s rendering is very striking, “forsoe ei weren agast by drede.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For he wist not what to say,…. He did not know what he should say, or what was proper to be said by him, at such a time, in such circumstances, and before such persons;
for they were sore afraid. The Persic version reads, “he was”: and so the Latin translation of the Syriac, though that itself is, “they were”; for all three were filled with consternation at what they saw and heard; so that they were scarcely themselves, and knew not well what they said or did.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For he wist not what to answer ( ). Deliberative subjunctive retained in indirect question. But why did Peter say anything? Luke says that he spoke, “not knowing what he said,” as an excuse for the inappropriateness of his remarks. Perhaps Peter felt embarrassed at having been asleep (Lu 9:32) and the feast of tabernacles or booths () was near. See on Mt 17:4. Peter and the others apparently had not heard the talk of Moses and Elijah with Jesus about his decease (, exodus, departure) and little knew the special comfort that Jesus had found in this understanding of the great approaching tragedy concerning which Peter had shown absolute stupidity (Mr 8:32f.) so recently. See on Mt 17:5 about the overshadowing and the voice.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “For he wist not what to say;” (ou gar edei ti apokrithe) “Because he did not perceive what he was saying,” or what he responded, he did not realize the hasty, childish stupidity of his excited statement, Pro 14:29; Pro 29:20.
2) “For they were sore afraid.” (ekphoboi gar egenonto) “Because they (Peter, James, and John) had become exceedingly (deathly) fearful,” frightened, or afraid, in the presence of the rapture-glory or transfiguration glory they had seen in the faces of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, Mat 17:6-7; Heb 12:21.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
6. He wist not He knew not. The verb wist comes from the old English to wit. It is cognate with the words wit and wisdom.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Mar 9:6. He wist not He knew not.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Ver. 6. See Trapp on “ Mat 17:6 “
They were sore afraid ] . And even ready to run away, as unworthy, Deu 9:19 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 9:6 . , what he should answer to the vision; he did not know what else to make of it than that Moses and Elijah had come to stay. This is probably an apologetic remark added by the evangelist to the original narrative. Lk. reproduces it in a somewhat altered form. : they were frightened out of their wits (again in Heb 12:21 ); explains the stupidity of Peter. The fear created by the sudden preternatural sight made him talk nonsense. Mt. makes the fear follow the Divine voice.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
wist = knew. Greek. oida. App-132.
not. Greek. ou. App-105. Same word as in verses: Mar 9:18, Mar 9:28, Mar 9:30, Mar 18:37, Mar 18:39, Mar 18:40, Mar 18:44, Mar 18:46, Mar 18:48. Not the same as in Mar 1:39, Mar 1:41.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 9:6. ) So the LXX., , 1Ch 12:32, where also some have made a subjunctive of the optative.-) stricken with fear, and that a mild kind of fear; for otherwise Peter would not have wished to remain there.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mar 16:5-8, Dan 10:15-19, Rev 1:17
Reciprocal: Gen 19:8 – let Gen 19:31 – not Exo 34:29 – wist Dan 10:8 – and there Mat 17:4 – answered Luk 5:9 – he Luk 9:33 – and let Luk 9:36 – And they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
Wist is an obsolete word meaning he knew not what to say, or, he did not realize what he was saying. Sore afraid means they were exceedingly amazed.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 9:6. For they became more afraid. All three Evangelists speak of this fear, or religious awe: Mark here, Luke: as they entered into the cloud. Matthew: when they heard the voice. This indicates a continued and growing awe. It is placed earliest by Mark, who thus accounts for Peters words.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 6
He wist not, &c. The meaning is, that Peter, zealous, and eager to speak and to act on all occasions, brought forward his offers of service, though so much agitated as scarcely to know what he was proposing.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
9:6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore {c} afraid.
(c) They were beside themselves with fear.