Matthew 28 · Verse 3

Matthew 28:3

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Matthew 28:3, King James Version

Matthew 28:3 in other translations

BSBHis appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
WEBHis appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
ASVHis appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
YLTand his countenance was as lightning, and his clothing white as snow,
DARBYAnd his look was as lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
BBEHis form was shining like the light, and his clothing was white as snow:
WebsterHis countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.

What does Matthew 28:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. His countenance--appearance. was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow--the one expressing the glory, the other the purity of the celestial abode from which he came.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. His countenance. In our language, the word countenance refers to the face only. In the original, it refers to his whole person. His general aspect, or the appearance of the angel himself, was, etc.

Like lightning. Peculiarly bright and shining.

His raiment white as snow. Celestial beings are usually represented as clothed in white, Acts 1:10, Dan 7:9, Rev 3:4, 6, 4:4, 7:13, 14. White, among the Jews, was the symbol of purity, or innocence.

(e) "countenance" Ps 104:4, Eze 1:4-14, Dan 10:6, Rev 1:14-15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 His countenance - His appearance, ἡ ιδεα αυτου; or, his face, for so the word is used in some of the best Greek writers. It seems, from Mar 16:5, that this angel had assumed the appearance of a young man. Like lightning - Coruscations of glory continually flaming from his face. This might produce the confusion mentioned Mat 28:2. His raiment white as snow - He was clothed in garments emblematical of the glad tidings which he came to announce. It would have been inconsistent with the message he brought, had the angel appeared in black robes, such as those preposterously wear who call themselves his successors in the ministry of a once suffering, but now risen and highly exalted, Savior. But the world is as full of nonsense as of sin; and who can correct and bring it to reason and piety?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 28:1-8

Christ rose the third day after his death; that was the time he had often spoken of. On the first day of the first week God commanded the light to shine out of darkness. On this day did He who is the Light of the world, shine out of the darkness of the grave; and this day is from henceforward often mentioned in the New Testament, as the day which Christians religiously observed in solemn assemblies, to the honour of…

Read the full comment on Matthew 28:1-8 →

Matthew 28:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἦνēnWasG1510
δὲdenowG1161
ἡhētheG3588
εἰδέαeideaappearanceG2397
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ὡςhōslikeG5613
ἀστραπὴastrapēlightningG796
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸtotheG3588
ἔνδυμαendumaclothingG1742
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
λευκὸνleukonwhiteG3022
ὡςhōsasG5613
χιών.chiōnsnow.G5510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 28:3

  • Mark 9:3

    And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

  • Acts 1:10

    And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

  • Mark 16:5

    And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

  • John 20:12

    And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

  • Revelation 18:1

    And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

  • Matthew 17:2

    And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

  • Revelation 3:4-5

    Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

  • 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 1:14-16

    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.

  • Daniel 10:5-6

    Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

  • Ezekiel 1:4-14

    And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. …

  • Daniel 7:9

    I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
countenance.
17:2; Ps 104:4; Eze 1:4-14; Da 10:5,6; Re 1:14-16; 10:1; 18:1
his raiment.
Mr 9:3; 16:5; Ac 1:10; Re 3:4,5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 28:2

    And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

  • Matthew 28:3

    His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

  • Matthew 28:4

    And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

Read all of Matthew 28

Matthew 28:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y su aspecto era como un relámpago, y su vestido blanco como la nieve.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et son aspect était comme un éclair, et son vêtement blanc comme la neige.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Sein Ansehen aber war wie der Blitz, und sein Kleid weiß wie Schnee.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
erat autem aspectus ejus sicut fulgur: et vestimentum ejus sicut nix.