Bible Strands
Luke 9:29
And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — While Jesus prays on a mountain with Peter, John, and James, His countenance and garments undergo a visible transformation. This event occurs roughly eight days after His prior teaching and immediately precedes the arrival of Moses and Elijah.
The words — The Greek εἶδος (eidos) literally denotes "appearance" or "form," specifying the visible alteration of Jesus' face. The verb ἐγένετο (egeneto) translates as "it came to pass" or "became," anchoring the change as a concrete historical occurrence rather than a subjective vision.
The thread — This account runs parallel to the transfiguration narratives in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2, and directly recalls the radiant face of Moses following his encounter at Sinai in Exodus 34:29.
Why it lands — The text first establishes the physical alteration of Jesus' appearance and clothing during prayer before any theological meaning is assigned. It requires the reader to acknowledge the observable event as the foundation for subsequent interpretation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
Cross-references
- Matthew 17:2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
- Mark 9:2 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.
- Exodus 34:29 And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was unaware that his face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD.
- 2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
- Isaiah 33:17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty and behold a land that stretches afar.
- Isaiah 53:2 He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.
- Philippians 3:7 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
- Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.
- Mark 16:12 After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked along in the country.
- John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.