Matthew 17:2

17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

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

KJV

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

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

17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

What does Matthew 17:2 mean?

Matthew 17:2 is a verse in the book of Matthew, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include καί (kai), μεταμορφόω (metamorphoo), ἔμπροσθεν (emprosthen). It connects to 15 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Greek interlinear

Andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

was

transfiguredμεταμορφόωmetamorphoo/met-am-or-fo'-o/G3339from 3326 and 3445; to transform (literally or figuratively, "metamorphose"):--change, transfigure, transform.

beforeἔμπροσθενemprosthen/em'-pros-then/G1715from 1722 and 4314; in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time):--against, at, before, (in presence, sight) of.

them:αὐτόςautos/ow-tos'/G846from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.

andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

hisαὐτόςautos/ow-tos'/G846from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.

faceπρόσωπονprosopon/pros'-o-pon/G4383from 4314 and ops (the visage, from 3700); the front (as being towards view), i.e. the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person:--(outward) appearance, X before, countenance, face, fashion, (men's) person, presence.

did

shineλάμπωlampo/lam'-po/G2989a primary verb; to beam, i.e. radiate brilliancy (literally or figuratively):--give light, shine.

asὡςhos/hoce/G5613probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.

the

sun,ἥλιοςhelios/hay'-lee-os/G2246from hele (a ray; perhaps akin to the alternate of 138); the sun; by implication, light:--+ east, sun.

andδέde/deh/G1161a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).

raimentἱμάτιονhimation/him-at'-ee-on/G2440neuter of a presumed derivative of ennumi (to put on); a dress (inner or outer):--apparel, cloke, clothes, garment, raiment, robe, vesture.

wasγίνομαιginomai/ghin'-om-ahee/G1096a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.

whiteλευκόςleukos/lyoo-kos'/G3022from luke ("light"); white:--white.

the

light.φῶςphos/foce/G5457from an obsolete phao (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays; compare 5316, 5346); luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative):--fire, light.

Commentary on Matthew 17:2

HENRY_FULL · Matthew 17:2

ver. 22, 23 . 2. Paying tribute, ver. 24-27 . So that here is Christ, the Brightness of his Father's glory, by himself purging our sins, paying our debts, and destroying for us him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Thus were the several indications of Christ's gracious intentions admirable interwoven. The Transfiguration of Christ. 1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 34:29

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.

Matthew 28:3

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

Mark 9:3

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

Luke 9:29

And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

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.

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.

Acts 26:13

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.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Philippians 2:6

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:7

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Revelation 1:13

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.

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 19:12

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.

Revelation 19:13

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

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.

Topics

Miracles of Christ, the Mountain Sun, the Transfiguration Vision

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Matthew 17:2.

Mark 1:2

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. by the: or, of the Lord the Spirit

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. hath: Gr. is he who hath

Luke 7:27

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mark 8:9

And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

Matthew 1:24

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Matthew 11:10

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Matthew 13:43

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Frequently asked questions

What does Matthew 17:2 say?

Matthew 17:2 (King James Version) reads: "And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."

Is Matthew 17:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Matthew 17:2 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Matthew.

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As you read Matthew 17:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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