What Does Luke 9:29 Mean in the King James?
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
As he prays, the Greek says his face’s visible appearance becomes “other,” while his clothing flashes like lightning.
THE MEANING
Here, prayer and visible change occupy the same moment: his face appears different, and his clothing flashes white. The verse leaves that change vivid and concrete, without explaining it away.
THE ROOT
ἕτερον
heteron
GROWS FROM
ἕτερος
heteros
Other, different; distinct from what was before.
The word rendered “altered” literally describes the face’s appearance as becoming “other.” The wording emphasizes a difference in what is seen, rather than naming how or why the change happens.
ALSO GROWS
heteros: Other, another, different.
ἕτερος
This is the adjective’s base form and keeps the sense of “other” in view.
hetera: Other or different, feminine form.
ἑτέρα
The same word family describes something as distinct or other.
εἶδος
eidos
GROWS FROM
εἴδω
eidō
See, perceive; εἶδος names visible form or appearance.
“Fashion” here means the appearance that can be seen, not a style he chooses. The Greek links visible form with perception: his face’s appearance is what becomes different.
ALSO GROWS
idea: Form, appearance, or image.
ἰδέα
It shares the family’s sense of form as something perceived.
idein: To see.
ἰδεῖν
This verbal form makes clear how the word family connects appearance with seeing.
ἐξαστράπτων
exastraptōn
GROWS FROM
ἀστράπτω
astraptō
Flash or shine like lightning.
“White and glistering” carries more than whiteness: the clothing flashes with the sudden brightness of lightning. The word gives the scene motion and brilliance.
ALSO GROWS
astrapē: Lightning or a flash of lightning.
ἀστραπή
The related noun names the bright flash evoked by the clothing’s appearance.
astraptō: To flash or shine like lightning.
ἀστράπτω
The verb family preserves the force of a sudden, brilliant flash.
THE PATTERN
When a person is turned toward God, scripture can describe the encounter as light becoming visible on the face.
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.They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.THE THREAD
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.Luke uses the same Greek noun, εἶδος (eidos), rendered “shape” here and “fashion” in Luke 9:29. In both verses the word points to visible form; here that form belongs to the face, whose appearance becomes different as Jesus prays.
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