His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
Parallel translations
- WEB His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
- KJV His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
- NKJV His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
- NASB And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
- NLT His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
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
The angel's appearance is dazzling like lightning, with clothing white as snow. This conveys his heavenly origin and the glory of God's presence.
Overview
The imagery of lightning and brilliant white recalls descriptions of divine glory elsewhere in Scripture, including the transfigured Christ. Such radiance signals that this messenger comes directly from God's holy presence. The brightness underscores that the resurrection is a heaven-sent event, accompanied by signs of God's power and majesty.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Acts 1:10They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
- Mark 9:3His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.
- Mark 16:5When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
- Rev 18:1After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory.
- John 20:12and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.
- Matt 17:2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
- Rev 3:4–5But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.
- Rev 10:1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.
- Rev 1:14–16The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.
- Dan 10:5–6I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
- 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.
- Ezek 1:4–14I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,
- Ps 104:4He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 28:3 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.