Matthew 17

garments
The Greek word here is ἱμάτιον (himation), the general word for “garment.” Thus, it is translated with “garment” here and throughout the New Testament (excepting two occurrences [John 19:2, 5] where it specifically describes the purple “robe” put mockingly on Jesus).

booths
Peter’s suggestion to build “booths” (σκηνή; skēnē) for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah calls to mind the Jewish celebration of the Feast of Booths (cf. Lev 23:34; Deut 16:13, 16; 30:10; 2 Chr 8:13; Ezra 3:4; Zech 14:16, 18, 19). It may be that Peter had booths in mind because the Transfiguration took place during the Feast of Booths, as some commentators suggest. It is also possible that the vision of Christ’s glory brought to his mind the eschatological Feast of Booths prophesied in Zechariah 14:16. Whatever Peter’s motives, his mention of “booths” (Greek σκηνή [skēnē]; “booth, tent, tabernacle) implies living or dwelling. God’s intention, however, was not that Jesus would set up a dwelling place at that point, but that this glimpse of Jesus’ glory would motivate His disciples to “listen to Him” (v. 15) and depend on the promise that He would come again (Matt 16:28), especially with the cross so quickly approaching.

has seizures
The Greek verb translated “has seizures” is σεληνιάζομαι (selēniazomai). It comes from the Greek word for “moon” (σελήνη; selēnē), and has even been translated with the Latin alternative, lunatic (“moon” in Latin is luna). This is because the condition of epilepsy and its accompanying fits of seizures were at one point seen as influenced by the moon. Matthew uses the word here, not because of superstition, but because this was simply the common way of speaking about seizures, which is why it is translated here simply as “has seizures.”

little faith
Jesus describes their “little faith” with a single compound Greek word (ὀλιγοπιστία; oligopistia). Using a compound noun rather than modifying “faith” with an adjective puts a greater emphasis on the faith itself. While the terms for faith (πίστις; pistis) and faithlessness (ἀπιστία; apistia) are common in Greek usage, the term “little faith” here (ὀλιγοπιστία; oligopistia) is used only in the New Testament by Jesus and later by Greek speakers and writers quoting and explaining New Testament passages (e.g., Chrysostom in Homiliae in Mattaeum 90, 7.516A). It is employed specifically to describe the disciples (ὀλιγόπιστοι; oligopistoi [cf. Matt 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Luke 12:28]) and their faith (ὀλιγοπιστία; oligopistia)—who they are and what their faith is. The translation as “little faith” also helps the reader link this verse with the verses in which Jesus calls the disciples “you of little faith” (ὀλιγόπιστοι; oligopistoi), as the phrase “little faith” translates all such occurrences (cf. Matt 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Luke 12:28).

taxes
Other translations sometimes render the Greek word κῆνσος (kēnsos) as “poll-tax.” It is translated here simply as “taxes” because it seems to reference taxation in general rather than a more specific kind of fee.

spoke to him first
The Greek προεφθασεν (proephthasen) is literally “came before,” but here it points to Jesus taking up the matter before Peter has a chance to mention it, in this way demonstrating Jesus’ omniscience, since He knew what Peter intended to ask.

a stater
This is a standard coin equating to four drachma, or about four days’ wages. This was the precise amount necessary to pay the two-drachma tax for two people, efficiently covered by a single coin.