Luke 9:34

34 But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.

Luke 9:34 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:34

While he thus spake there came a cloud
While Peter was making the above request, before an answer was returned, a cloud appeared, a very uncommon one, as a symbol of the divine presence: "and overshadowed them"; Jesus, Moses, Elias, and the disciples:

and they feared as they entered into the cloud;
either as they themselves entered into it, that coming gradually over them, because of the glory of it, and the solemnity that attended it; or as Moses and Elias entered into it; and so the Syriac and Persic versions read, "they feared when they saw Moses and Elias enter into the cloud"; which took them out of their sight: just as the cloud received Jesus out of the sight of his disciples, when he ascended to heaven, ( Acts 1:9 ) .

Luke 9:34 In-Context

32 Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him.

33 As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials —one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

34 But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.

35 Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”

36 When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.