Matthew 17:3

Καὶ ἰδού, ὤφθησαν αὐτοῖς Μωσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας, μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ συλλαλοῦντες.

RBT Greek Interlinear:

Strongs 2532; Kai; Καὶ; And; Conj

Strongs 2400; idou; ἰδοὺ; behold; V-AMA-2S

Strongs 3708; ōphthē; ὤφθη; was perceived; V-AIP-3S

Strongs 846; autois; αὐτοῖς; to themselves; PPro-DM3P

Strongs 3475; Mōusēs; Μωϋσῆς; Moses; N-NMS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 2243; Ēlias; Ἠλίας; Elijah; N-NMS

Strongs 4814; syllalountes; συλλαλοῦντες*; those who are talking with; V-PPA-NMP

Strongs 3326; met’; μετ’; in company with; Prep

Strongs 846; autou; αὐτοῦ; himself; PPro-GM3S

RBT Translation:

Moses Sees, Elijah Sees

And behold! He was perceived by themselves: Drawn Out ("Moses") and He Is God ("Elijah"), those who are jointly uttering in company with himself!³⁶

Three

ὤφθη is 3rd person singular "he was seen" not third person plural "they were seen."

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And, behold, Moses and Elias were seen to them, conversing with him.

LITV Translation:
And, behold! Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

Footnotes

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Mat 17:3

The Greek phrase "ὤφθη αὐτοῖς" (ōphthē autois) translates literally to "he/she/it was seen by them" in English. The Greek word "ὤφθη" (ophthē) is a verb that means "he/she/it was seen" or "appeared." It is a third person singular aorist passive indicative form of the verb "ὁράω" (horáō), which means "to see" or "to perceive." In biblical contexts, particularly in the New Testament, ὤφθη is often used to describe appearances or manifestations of divine or supernatural beings, such as angels or Jesus.

Because it is not plural, ὤφθη cannot grammatically refer to "Moses and Elijah."