Bible Strands
Mark 9:3
His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus stands before Peter, James, and John on a high mountain during the Transfiguration, immediately before Elijah and Moses appear to speak with Him.
The words — The Greek terms στῖλβοντα (stilbonta) and λευκὰ (leuka) literally describe garments becoming exceedingly white and shining.
The thread — Radiant white clothing appears in Matthew 28:3 and Daniel 7:9, while Psalm 51:7 applies the same whiter-than-snow imagery to ritual cleansing rather than garments.
Why it lands — The text reports a sudden physical alteration that marks a divine encounter, requiring the reader to note the boundary between ordinary human experience and supernatural manifestation.
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 his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
Cross-references
- Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
- Daniel 7:9 As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
- 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 the kings in the land, it was like the snow falling on Zalmon.
- Psalms 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty.
- Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
- Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
- Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
- Revelation 7:14 “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- Acts 10:30 Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me