Mark 9:2-3

The Transfiguration

9:2 Six days later ¹  Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain privately. And he was transfigured before them, ²  9:3 and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them.

Exodus 34:30

34:30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone; ³  and they were afraid to approach him.

[9:2]  ¹ tn Grk “And after six days.”

[9:2]  ² sn In 1st century Judaism and in the NT, there was the belief that the righteous get new, glorified bodies in order to enter heaven (1 Cor 15:42-49; 2 Cor 5:1-10). This transformation means the righteous will share the glory of God. One recalls the way Moses shared the Lord’s glory after his visit to the mountain in Exod 34. So the disciples saw Jesus transfigured, and they were getting a sneak preview of the great glory that Jesus would have (only his glory is more inherent to him as one who shares in the rule of the kingdom).

[34:30]  ³ tn This clause is introduced by the deictic particle הִנֵּה (hinneh); it has the force of pointing to something surprising or sudden.