Matthew 17 2

Matthew 17:2 kjv

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

Matthew 17:2 nkjv

and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Matthew 17:2 niv

There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

Matthew 17:2 esv

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

Matthew 17:2 nlt

As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.

Matthew 17 verses

Matthew 17 2 Meaning

Matthew 17:2 describes the physical manifestation of Jesus' inherent divine glory during the Transfiguration. Before the eyes of Peter, James, and John, Jesus underwent a profound transformation, revealing a glimpse of His divine nature. His face shone with the intense brilliance of the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white, reflecting pure light, signifying His holiness, divine presence, and the glory of God dwelling within Him. This event affirmed His identity as the Son of God, preparing the disciples for His coming suffering and subsequent exaltation.

Matthew 17 2 Context

Matthew 17:2 is part of the account of Jesus' Transfiguration, a pivotal moment in His ministry. It immediately follows Jesus' first clear prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection (Matt 16:21) and His teaching on taking up one's cross and following Him (Matt 16:24-26), culminating with a promise that some disciples would not taste death "until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom" (Matt 16:28). The Transfiguration thus serves as a powerful preview of Jesus' future glory and divine authority, offering reassurance and strengthening the faith of the inner circle (Peter, James, and John) in the face of the shocking news of His impending suffering. It also places Jesus in the context of Old Testament law and prophecy, as Moses and Elijah appear with Him (Matt 17:3). Historically and culturally, such an event would affirm Jesus' divine commissioning to a Jewish audience expecting a Messiah, but redefining the nature of that Messiah's kingdom.

Matthew 17 2 Word analysis

• and He was transfigured (μετεμορφώθη - metamorphōthē):

  • This Greek verb means to be changed into another form, transformed. It implies an internal change that is manifested externally.
  • It's used here in the passive voice, indicating a divine action; God was the agent of this transformation, not Jesus actively changing Himself, but rather allowing His inherent glory to be revealed.
  • The term also appears in Rom 12:2 ("be transformed by the renewing of your mind") and 2 Cor 3:18 ("being transformed into the same image from glory to glory"), showing a parallel between Christ's revealing His true nature and the Holy Spirit's work in believers to conform them to Christ's image.
  • This was not merely a change in appearance, but an unveiling of His essential divine nature, His glory that was veiled in human flesh (John 1:14).

• before them:

  • Refers to the chosen three disciples: Peter, James, and John (mentioned in Matt 17:1).
  • Emphasizes the eyewitness testimony, crucial for validating the event and for their future understanding and proclamation (2 Pet 1:16).
  • The event was intended for specific witnesses to bear witness to His unique identity and power.

• and His face (πρόσωπον - prosōpon):

  • Refers to Jesus' face, the focal point of a person's identity and expression.
  • The face shining directly echoes Moses' experience on Mount Sinai (Exo 34:29-35), where his face glowed after being in God's presence, signifying a direct connection between Jesus and God's glory that surpasses Moses'.

• shone (ἔλαμψεν - elampsen):

  • To beam, glitter, radiate light. A strong, active verb indicating intense luminosity.
  • The brightness signifies divine revelation, purity, and the manifestation of God's presence. God is light (1 John 1:5).

• like the sun (ἥλιος - helios):

  • A simile emphasizing extreme brightness, surpassing any earthly light. The sun is the most powerful natural source of light known.
  • Connects to Mal 4:2, prophesying the "sun of righteousness," identifying Jesus with divine justice and salvation.
  • Also relates to biblical imagery of God's glory being brighter than the sun (Acts 26:13).

• and His garments (ἱμάτια - himatia):

  • Refers to His outer clothes. Even His clothing participates in the glory, suggesting the pervasive nature of the divine radiance.
  • Not merely a new outfit, but a divine transformation of existing clothing, which itself speaks to the nature of sanctification and glorification in Scripture.

• became (ἐγένετο - egeneto):

  • Signifies a change or coming into being. His clothes did not just reflect light, but themselves became pure light, implying an intrinsic change.

• as white as light (λευκὰ ὡς τὸ φῶς - leuka hōs to phōs):

  • "White" (leuka) in biblical context often symbolizes purity, holiness, divine nature, righteousness (Rev 3:4, 7:9). The Greek "leukos" implies a dazzling, intense white, not just pale.
  • "As light" (hōs to phōs) amplifies the intensity and source of the whiteness. It wasn't simply earthly bleached white, but emanating from divine light itself. This goes beyond natural white; it is supernaturally illuminated. This connects to God dwelling in unapproachable light (1 Tim 6:16).
  • This imagery parallels descriptions of God in Daniel 7:9 (Ancient of Days' garments white as snow) and of heavenly beings/the glorified Christ in Revelation 1:14 (garments white as wool), Rev 1:16 (face like the sun).

Word-Group Analysis:

• "and He was transfigured before them": This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and purposeful unveiling of Jesus' true identity to specific witnesses, reinforcing the reality and authenticity of His divinity for future testimony. The revelation serves as an assurance of His future triumph, even after His predicted suffering.
• "and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light": This double imagery provides a comprehensive picture of Jesus' glory. The radiance of His face speaks to His divine person, while the transformation of His garments indicates the all-encompassing nature of His divine holiness, where even the mundane aspects around Him are imbued with His heavenly light. This visible glory authenticates His claims and underscores the true power behind the teachings they had just heard.

Matthew 17 2 Bonus section

The Transfiguration also implicitly reinforces Jesus' connection to the "glory cloud" (Shekinah glory) often associated with God's presence in the Old Testament, which reappears in Matthew 17:5 with the Father's voice. This visual display of God's power and presence through Jesus demonstrates His authority over the physical realm, transforming not just His appearance but even His clothing. This anticipates the future state of believers, who, according to passages like Philippians 3:21, will have their humble bodies "transformed into conformity with the body of His glory." The disciples' response in the subsequent verses (falling on their faces) highlights the awe and holy fear inspired by such a powerful divine manifestation, echoing biblical encounters with God's presence.

Matthew 17 2 Commentary

Matthew 17:2 unveils Jesus in a moment of unparalleled glory, acting as a crucial revelatory event. The "transfiguration" (Greek metamorphosis) points to an inner, inherent reality being revealed outwardly, not a superficial change. Jesus’ radiant face, like the sun, directly echoes Moses’ experience on Mount Sinai (Exo 34), positioning Jesus as the definitive mediator of God’s glory, superior to the Old Covenant. The dazzling white garments, whiter than any earthly substance, underscore His absolute purity and divine essence, paralleling descriptions of God in Daniel 7 and angels in the gospels. This event served multiple critical purposes for the disciples: confirming Jesus' divine Sonship just before His suffering, giving them a glimpse of His resurrection and ultimate glory, strengthening their faith against the coming shock of the cross, and visually demonstrating His kingship over creation, hinting at the heavenly kingdom that He proclaimed. It prefigures both His post-resurrection appearances and His second coming in glory. The revelation here is of a divine, suffering Messiah, balancing the human aspect that the disciples knew.