Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 9:8

"And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves." — Mark 9:8 (ASV)

The OT background of v.7 lies in the passages where the cloud symbolized God’s presence (Exodus 16:10; 19:9, 24:15f.; Exodus 33:9; Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 11:25); from it he spoke. At Jesus’ baptism, the Voice had spoken to him (1:11); here the disciples were addressed. God assured them that in spite of Jesus’ coming death, he loved his Son and accepted his mission.

“Listen” (GK 201) must be given its full sense of obedience. The only true listening known in the Bible is obedient listening (cf. James 1:22–24).