His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
Parallel Translations
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His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
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And his rayment dyd shyne and was made very whyte even as snowe: so whyte as noo fuller can make apon the erth.
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And his rayment did shine, and was very white, as snowe, so white as no fuller can make vpon the earth.
Cross-references (11)
Passages linked to Mark 9:3 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
- Daniel 7:9 “I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.
- Psalms 51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
- Psalms 68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.
- Psalms 104:1-2 Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty. He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
- Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let’s reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Malachi 3:2-3 “But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderers’ soap; and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.
- Revelation 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
- Revelation 7:14 I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great suffering.They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.
- Acts 10:30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
- Revelation 19:18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (6 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Did sparkle as it were.
Did sparkle as it were.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as…
3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
Ver. 3. Became shining] στιλβοντα, glistering and sparkling as stars, which twinkle and beckon to us as it were to remember their and our Creator.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Observe here, 1. That to confirm the disciples faith…
Observe here, 1. That to confirm the disciples faith in the truth of Christ’s divine nature, he was pleased to suffer the rays of his divinity to dart forth before their eyes, so far as they were able to bear it. His face shined with a pleasing brightness, and his raiment with such a glorious lustre, as did at once both delight and dazzle the eyes of the disciples.
Observe, 2. The choice which our Saviour makes of the witnesses of his glorious transfiguration; his three disciples, Peter, James and John. But why disciples? Why three disciples? Why these three?
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1. Why disciples? Because this transfiguration was a type and shadow of his glory in heaven: Christ vouchsafes therefore the earnest and first-fruits of that glory only to saints, upon whom he intended to bestow the full harvest in due time.
2. Why three discples? Because three were sufficient to witness the truth and reality of this miracle. Judas was unworthy of this favour; yet lest he should murmur, or be discontented, others are left out as well as he.
But, 3. Why these three, rather than others?
Probably, 1. Because these three were more eminent for grace, zeal, and love towards Christ. Now the most eminent manifestations of glory are made to those that are most excelling in grace.
2. These three disciples were witnesses of Christ’s agony and passion; to prepare them for which, they are here made witnesses of his transfiguration. This glorious vision upon mount Tabor, fitted them to abide the terror of mount Calvary.
Observe, 3. The glorious attendants upon our Saviour at his transfiguration. They were two, two men; and those two men, Moses and Elias. This being but a glimpse of Christ’s glory, not a full manifestation of it, only two of the glorified saints attend at it. These two attendants are not two angels, but two men; because men were more nearly concerned than angels in what was done.
But why Moses and Elias, rather than other men?
1. Because Moses was the giver of the law, and Elias the chief of the prophets. Now both these attending upon Christ, did shew the consent of the law and the prophets with Christ, and their accomplishment and fulfilling in him.
2. Because these two were the most laborious servants of Christ, both adventured their lives n God’s cause, and therefore are highly honoured by him. For, Those that honour him, he will honour.
Observe, 4. The carriage and demeanor of the disciples upon this great occasion:
1. They supplicate Jesus, not Moses and Elias; they make no suit to them, but to Christ only: Master, it is good being here. O! what a ravishing comfort and satisfaction is the communion and fellowship of the saints! But the presence of Christ amongst them, renders their joys transporting.
2. They proffer their service to farther their continuance of what they did enjoy; Let us make three tabernacles. Saints will stick at no pains or cost for the enjoyment of Christ’s presence and his people’s company.
Learn hence, That a glimpse of heaven’s glory is sufficient to wrap a soul int extacy and to make it out of love with worldly company.
2. That we are too apt to desire more of heaven upon earth than God will allow. We would have the heavenly glory come down to us, but are unwilling by death to go up to that.
Observe, 5. How a cloud was put before the disciples eyes, when the divine glory was manifested to them; partly to allay the lustre and resplendency of that glory which they were swallowd up with: the glory of heaven is insupportable in this sinful state; we cannot bear it unveiled: and partly to hinder their farther prying and looking into that glory. We must be content to behold God through a cloud darkly here, ere long we shall see him face to face.
Observe, 6. The testimony given out of the cloud, by God the Father, concerning Jesus Christ his Son: This is my beloved Son, hear him.
Where note, 1. The dignity of his person; he is my Son. For nature co-essential, and for duration co-eternal, with his Father.
2. The endearedness of his relation; he is my beloved Son; because of his conformity to me, and compliance with me. Likeness is the cause of love; and an union and harmony of wills, causes a mutual endearing of affections.
3. The authority of his doctrine; Hear ye him; not Moses and Elias, who were servants, but Christ, my Son, whom I have commissioned to be the great Prophet and Teacher of my church. Therefore, adore him as my Son, believe in him as your Saviour, and hear him as your Law-giver. The obedient ear honours Christ more than either the gazing eye, the adoring knee, or the applauding tongue.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And his raiment became shining,.... With the rays of…
And his raiment became shining,.... With the rays of glory and brightness which darted from his body through his clothes, and made them as bright as the light of the sun at noon day: and
exceeding white as snow; than which nothing is whiter;
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so as no fuller on earth can white them. The Syriac version renders it, "as men cannot white on earth"; and the Persic thus, "so as men could not behold him". Just as the Israelites could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, because of the glory of his countenance, when he came down from the mount; See Gill on Mat 17:2.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain White as snow, such as no fuller can whiten…
White as snow, such as no fuller can whiten - Such as could not be equalled either by nature or art.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (3) Shining.—Better, perhaps, glittering.
(3) Shining.—Better, perhaps, glittering.
Exceeding white as snow.—The two last words are wanting in the best MSS. The comparison of the bright raiment with clothes that had just passed through the fuller’s or bleacher’s hands, is, in its homely vividness, peculiar to St. Mark.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.