His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.
Parallel translations
- WEB His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
- KJV And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
- NKJV His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
- NASB and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
- NLT and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus' clothing becomes dazzlingly white, beyond any earthly whitening. His appearance radiates heavenly glory.
Overview
The supernatural whiteness signifies divine glory and holiness, recalling visions of God and heavenly beings in Scripture. Unlike Moses, whose face reflected borrowed glory, Jesus' radiance shines from within, testifying to his own deity. The scene gives the disciples a glimpse of the glory that is rightfully his and will be fully revealed at his return.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 28:3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
- Dan 7:9As 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.
- Isa 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.
- Rev 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.
- Mal 3:2–3But 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.
- Ps 51:7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
- Ps 68:14When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like the snow falling on Zalmon.
- Ps 104:1–2Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty.
- Rev 7:9After 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.
- Acts 10:30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
- Rev 19:18so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 9:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.