What Does Matthew 28:3 Mean in the King James?
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
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 messenger becomes unmistakably visible through two kinds of brightness: lightning that flashes and snow that holds its whiteness.
THE MEANING
You are shown a presence through its appearance: a face like lightning, a garment white as snow. One image flashes with force; the other holds an unshadowed brightness. The verse makes recognition visual before it gives you anything to hear.
THE ROOT
εἰδέα
eideā
GROWS FROM
ἰδ- / ϝιδ- (id- / wid-)
to see, perceive
“countenance” in this verse is eideā. The Greek noun εἰδέα (eideā) means “appearance” or “visible form,” from the seeing-root ἰδ- / ϝιδ- (id- / wid-). Its branch οἶδα (oida) means “know, perceive,” preserving a link between seeing and knowing; here the messenger is disclosed in what can be seen.
ALSO GROWS
eidos: form, visible appearance
εἶδος
This related word makes clear that the verse describes the figure’s visible form, not only a facial expression.
oida: know, perceive
οἶδα
This branch links seeing with knowing, fitting a scene where recognition comes through what appears.
THE PATTERN
A presence beyond ordinary perception becomes visible through extraordinary radiance.
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.His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.THE THREAD
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.Daniel’s figure is recognized through the same overwhelming brightness: lightning in the face, fire in the eyes, and polished metal in the limbs. Matthew holds the radiance in two images, pairing lightning in the appearance with snow in the clothing.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us