Matthew 17:2
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Matthew 17:2 in other translations
| BSB | There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. |
|---|---|
| WEB | He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. |
| ASV | and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light. |
| YLT | and he was transfigured before them, and his face shone as the sun, and his garments did become white as the light, |
| DARBY | And he was transfigured before them. And his face shone as the sun, and his garments became white as the light; |
| BBE | And he was changed in form before them; and his face was shining like the sun, and his clothing became white as light. |
| Webster | And he was transfigured before them: and his face shone as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. |
What does Matthew 17:2 mean?
Barnes' Notes
(1.) His face shone as the sun; that is, with a peculiar brightness. A similar appearance is described respecting Moses when he came down from the mount, Ex 34:29,30. See also Heb 1:3, where Christ is called the brightness of the glory of God; in the original, the splendour, or shining, like the brightness of the sun.
(2.) The second change was that of his garments. They were white as the light. Mark says, white as snow, so as no fuller on earth could whiten them. The word "fuller" means, commonly, one who dresses cloth, or fulls it, so as to make it more thick and strong. Here it means one who bleaches cloth, or makes it white; one who cleanses garments, when by wearing they become soiled. Among the Greeks, that was a distinct trade. Luke says, white and glistering; that is, resplendent, shining, or a very bright white. There is no evidence here that what is commonly said of him is true, that his body was so changed as to show what his glorified body is. His body, so far as the sacred writers inform us, underwent no change. All this splendour and glory was a change in appearance only. The Scriptures should be taken just as they are, without any attempt to affix a meaning to them which the sacred writers did not intend.
Raiment. Clothing; apparel. John refers to this transfiguration in Jn 1:14; and Peter in his second Epistle, 2Pet 1:16,17.
(h) "as the sun" Rev 1:16
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 17:1-13
Now the disciples beheld somewhat of Christ's glory, as of the only begotten of the Father. It was intended to support their faith, when they would have to witness his crucifixion; and would give them an idea of the glory prepared for them, when changed by his power and made like him. The apostles were overcome by the glorious sight. Peter thought that it was most desirable to continue there, and to go no more down…
Matthew 17:2 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Matthew 17:2
- Psalms 104:2
Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
- Matthew 28:3
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
- John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
- Luke 9:29
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
- John 17:24
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
- Revelation 10:1
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
- Revelation 20:11
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
- Revelation 19:12-13
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
- Mark 9:3
And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
- Acts 26:13-15
At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
- Revelation 1:13-17
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. …
- Exodus 34:29-35
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai. …
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lu 9:29; Ro 12:2; Php 2:6,7; *Gr:
his face.
28:3; Ex 34:29-35; Joh 1:14; 17:24; Ac 26:13-15; Re 1:13-17; 10:1
Re 19:12,13; 20:11
raiment.
Ps 104:2; Mr 9:3
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Matthew 17:1
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
- Matthew 17:2
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
- Matthew 17:3
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Matthew 17:2 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y se transfiguró delante de ellos; y resplandeció su rostro como el sol, y sus vestidos fueron blancos como la luz. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et il fut transfiguré devant eux; et son visage resplendit comme le soleil, et ses vêtements devinrent blancs comme la lumière. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und er wurde vor ihnen umgestaltet. Und sein Angesicht leuchtete wie die Sonne, seine Kleider aber wurden weiß wie das Licht; |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | et transfiguratus est ante eos. Et resplenduit facies ejus sicut sol: vestimenta autem ejus facta sunt alba sicut nix. |