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Matthew 28:3
ESV His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
NIV His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
NASB And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
CSB His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
NLT His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as 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.

What does Matthew 28:3 mean?

Matthew has described an angel descending from heaven and rolling back the large stone that was sealing Jesus' tomb (Matthew 27:60, 66). The angel's appearance is shocking. Matthew says that he looked like lightning, with clothes as white as snow. This kind of fiery white light seems to be the garb of heavenly beings. Matthew described Jesus in a similar fashion when He was revealed in His glory to Peter, James, and John: "His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light" (Matthew 17:2).

The appearance of angels in the Old Testament often provoked great fear from the humans who saw them. An almost universal part of angels' spoken messages to people is reassurance not to be afraid (Luke 1:11–13; 2:9–10; Acts 10:3–4). Terror was obviously the experience of the soldiers guarding the tomb, as the following verse reveals (Matthew 28:4).
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