Tag Archives: Matthew 17:2

Brilliance in the Verb: Morphology of the Transfiguration

Posted on June 2, 2025 by New Testament Greek
καὶ μετεμορφώθη ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔλαμψε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος, τὰ δὲ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο λευκὰ ὡς τὸ φῶς. (Matthew 17:2)

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white like the light.

Introduction: Three Verbs, One Glory

Matthew 17:2 describes the transfiguration of Jesus with a burst of vivid imagery. But underneath that glowing scene lies a triad of Greek verbs, each carefully chosen to convey supernatural transformation and divine glory. They are:

μετεμορφώθη — aorist passive indicative, describing the transformation ἔλαμψε — aorist active indicative, describing the radiant shining ἐγένετο — aorist middle indicative, describing the becoming of brightness

Each verb is in the aorist tense, but each contributes differently to the theological portrait.… Learn Koine Greek

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“And He Was Transfigured Before Them” — A Study in Voice, Light, and Theological Transformation

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Advanced Greek Grammar
καὶ μετεμορφώθη ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔλαμψε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος, τὰ δὲ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο λευκὰ ὡς τὸ φῶς.

In this radiant moment from Matthew 17:2—the Transfiguration of Jesus—we witness one of the most visually and theologically rich scenes in the Gospels. Yet beyond its theological grandeur lies a subtle but profound grammatical feature that shapes our understanding of divine revelation: the passive voice as a vehicle for divine transformation.

The verb μετεμορφώθη, “He was transfigured,” stands at the head of the passage like a door swung open to glory. It is not Jesus who acts upon Himself; rather, something—or Someone—acts upon Him, revealing His inner reality.… Learn Koine Greek

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