Translation commentary on Matthew 17:2

And he was transfigured before them: the phrase before them means “in their presence” (New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). Good News Translation inverts the order of the Greek text and avoids the traditional was transfigured: “As they looked on, a change came over Jesus.” Elsewhere in the New Testament the verb “transfigured” occurs only in the Marcan parallel (9.2), and in Romans 12.2 (“transformed”) and 2 Corinthians 3.18 (“changed”). The basic meaning is “undergo a change in form.” In the transfiguration accounts it refers to a change that is outwardly visible; in the other two passages the change is internal and cannot be seen by the physical eye. Some English translations provide a dynamic equivalent: “his whole appearance was changed” (Phillips) and “his appearance underwent a change” (An American Translation). Another expression is “the way he looked to them changed.” Some have found it natural to say “And as they were watching, they saw him change.”

His face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light explains the nature of the change that came over Jesus. In the Gospel of Mark the nature of the change is not explained; there “he was transfigured” is simply followed by the additional statement “and his clothes became shining white—whiter than anyone in the world could wash them” (9.3, Good News Bible). Luke does explain the change, though in different terms from that of Matthew: “his face changed its appearance, and his clothes became dazzling white” (9.29, Good News Bible). A comparison of the three accounts reveals that in Matthew the transformed Jesus is more nearly described in terms which identify him with God, who covers himself with light (Psa 104.2).

His face shone like the sun can also be expressed as “his face shone as brightly as the sun.” Similarly, his garments became white as light means his clothes were shining brightly, so that “his garments shone (or, shone white) like light” can be used. But translators may find that a fairly literal rendering of the text is natural too. Garments refers to “clothes” (Good News Translation) or “clothing.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 17:2



17:2a

In Greek, 17:2 begins with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated, but many English versions translate it as “And.” This conjunction joins the next event to the previous one. New Testament Greek uses this joining conjunction far more often than modern English does. So in Greek, many verses in chapter 17 begin with this same conjunction. Since it is not always natural in English, many English versions do not translate it.

(The Translator’s Notes will not always comment on this conjunction. If you see the conjunction “And” at the beginning of a verse, you should decide whether it is natural in your language to use a conjunction there.)

For 17:2a, some English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, begin this verse with a location word. For instance:

There, he was transfigured (New International Version)

He was transfigured: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as transfigured means “changed his appearance.” The way that Jesus changed is explained in 17:2b–c.

This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

Jesus’ appearance was changed (New Century Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

Jesus’ appearance changed (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus changed the way he looked to them

Many cultures have terms to describe a major change in appearance. Often these changes have supernatural causes and purposes. If you consider using one of these terms, be sure that it does not communicate a wrong meaning. Jesus did not begin to look like someone else, and he did not become a different being. Also, his appearance did not change in any bad way.

before them: This phrase emphasizes the fact that Peter, James and John actually saw Jesus change.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

before their eyes (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
While they watched

17:2b

His face shone like the sun: This is a figure of speech called a simile. It describes how Jesus changed. In this simile, Matthew compared Jesus’ face to the sun. The way that they are similar is that both shine/shone brightly.

The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shone indicates something that produces light, like a lamp. It is not something that just reflects light.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

his face shone like the shining/brightness of the sun
-or-
his face became bright like the sun (New Century Version)

17:2c

His clothes became as white as the light: This is another simile that describes how Jesus changed. In this simile, Matthew compared Jesus’ changed clothes to light. The way they are similar is that both are white or bright.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Keep the simile. For example:

his clothes became as white as light (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
his clothes became/turned very bright like the light

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

his clothing became dazzling white (New Living Translation (1996))

-or-

his clothes became very white

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