His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Parallel translations
- WEB His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
- BSB His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were 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 1:10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
- Mark 9:3And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
- Mark 16:5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
- Rev 18:1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
- John 20:12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
- Matt 17:2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
- Rev 3:4–5Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
- Rev 10:1And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
- Rev 1:14–16His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
- Dan 10:5–6Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
- Dan 7:9I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
- Ezek 1:4–14And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
- Ps 104:4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
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.