---
title: Luke 9:31
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/luke-9-31/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/luke-9-31.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Luke 9:31
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Luke 9:31

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "These appeared with glory and began talking about his departure, which he was about to fulfill at Jerusalem."

## JW Usage

JW commentary treats the conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah as a symbolic vision rather than a real exchange. Because the dead are taught to be unconscious and non-existent, a centuries- dead Moses cannot actually be discussing Christ's coming crucifixion with him. The content of the conversation is treated as theological commentary on what the Transfiguration "represents," not as a real exchange between conscious participants.

## Protestant Usage

Read the content of the conversation. Moses and Elijah are "talking about his departure, which he was about to fulfill at Jerusalem." The Greek for "departure" is exodos — a Christ-saturated word that points to the cross and resurrection. A non-existent Moses cannot have informed views on a future crucifixion. Either these are real conscious individuals discussing the climax of redemptive history with the incarnate Son, or Jesus is staging a theatrical performance with figments. The plain reading vindicates the intermediate state: Moses died, Moses is conscious, Moses knows what the Son is about to do at Jerusalem. Read alongside Luke 16:22-23 (Lazarus carried to Abraham's side) and Hebrews 12:1 (the cloud of witnesses) for the consistent New Testament picture of conscious post-mortem existence prior to resurrection.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Moses Was Conscious at the Transfiguration](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/transfiguration-conscious-dead.md) — Matthew 17:1–3, Luke 9:30–31 [Soul & Hell]