What Does Matthew 17:2 Mean in the King James?
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
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
The change in Jesus’ form becomes visible as light breaking through both his face and his clothing.
THE MEANING
You see Jesus’ form disclosed in radiance: his face shines like the sun, and his clothing is white as light. The change reaches both what is seen first and what covers him, making the whole scene a revelation of brightness.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that transformation must remain invisible: here, the changed form is unmistakable in face and clothing.
THE ROOT
μετεμορφώθη
metemorphōthē
GROWS FROM
μορφ-
morph-
Form, shape; the recognizable mode in which something appears.
“transfigured” in this verse is metemorphōthē. The verb presents the scene as a change of form, not merely a change in brightness. What is usually unseen in Jesus becomes perceptible in his appearance.
ALSO GROWS
metamorphoō: Transform, change form.
μεταμορφόω
The same verb family appears in Romans 12:2 for transformation connected with the renewing of the mind.
morphē: Form, appearance.
μορφή
Philippians 2:6 uses this word for the form of God, showing how form can disclose what something is.
ἔλαμψεν
elampsen
GROWS FROM
λαμπ-
lamp-
Shine, give off light.
“shine” in this verse is elampsen. The verb presents brightness as something emitted, not simply assigned as a quality. The face becomes the visible point of radiance, compared directly with the sun.
ALSO GROWS
lampō: Shine, give light.
λάμπω
Matthew 5:16 uses the same verb for light shining before others, making radiance something seen.
eklampō: Shine out, radiate.
ἐκλάμπω
Matthew 13:43 uses this related form for shining like the sun, echoing the image here.
φῶς
phōs
GROWS FROM
φωτ-
phōt-
Light, illumination.
The clothing is compared with light itself, carrying the image beyond ordinary whiteness. This word family also names illumination and light-bearers, extending the scene’s brightness from the face to the clothing.
ALSO GROWS
phōtizō: Illuminate, bring to light.
φωτίζω
Ephesians 1:18 uses this word for the enlightening of the eyes of understanding, linking light with perception.
phōstēr: Luminary, light-bearer.
φωστήρ
Philippians 2:15 uses this word for lights in the world, showing the same family can name a bearer of brightness.
THE PATTERN
What is brought into divine light becomes visible as radiance and marks a transformed form.
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.And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.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.THE THREAD
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.The Greek verb for “transfigured” in Matthew belongs to the same word family as “transformed” in Romans. Romans links that change with renewed understanding, opening Matthew’s radiance as a visible disclosure of form.
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